Marriage Monday

"Oh, that my ways were steadfast in obeying your decrees!"  Psalm 119:5

The Psalmist here confesses that even for the smallest part of his duty, he felt unable without grace.  He longed for the Lord to influence his will, as well as to strengthen his hands.  We need a rod to point out the way as much as a staff to support us in it.  ~C.H. Spurgeon, "The Golden Alphabet"

 It's that time again.  Packing up boxes and searching for ships.  When we checked on Friday, the Lavucy was the only ship headed our direction that was hanging around the wharf.  Sweet Betsy has made it very clear that she wants us to steer clear of any copra ships.  She prefers that we ride on the Kosco, a larger vessel.  This morning, the choices at the wharf were even more slim. 

No matter which ship we take, we need the Lord to influence his will and strengthen our hands.  The transition from Honiara to village always stresses our marriage, too, like nothing else on the face of this planet.  We desperately need His rod to point the way to grace and soft hearts and His staff to support us through these challenging and unsure times.

Sweet Sabbath

Galatians 6:2 charges us to "Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ."  To carry each other's burdens is to fulfill the call to love one another....But to carry each other's burdens requires us to admit them.  It means we have to invite others into the hard things.  We need to be honest about what we have lost, where we feel weak, how we are grieving.  We have to set aside the guilt and the shame that our enemy heaps on us for needing others.  

~Gina Brenna Butz, "Making Peace With Change: Navigating Life's Messy Transitions With Honesty and Grace"

It's no secret that I love living in community.  Vulnerability and authenticity don't come easy, but they reap sweet benefits.  For community to work, we have to "invite others into the hard things" as well as the happy things and the funny things.  

Earlier this week, one of our colleagues needed to pick something up from the part of the wharf where the shipping containers unload.  One must wear closed toe shoes to go into that section safely, but flip flops or bare feet are the footwear of choice for most people here.  Time was of the essence, and our colleague came knocking on our door to borrow a pair of shoes very quickly.  My old running shoes fit him perfectly, and not knowing whether I would get them back, I sent him out the door to hustle to pick up his cargo and jump on a ship.  As he left, I thought, "This would never happen in America!"  And I did get the shoes back.

 

Advanced Biology

 

We began our second semester of school this week, and Olivia is especially excited because she begins her dissections for Advanced Biology.  

This girl is still very much on track to tackle nursing school.  I love to watch her awe and amazement as she learns about God's creation.

Explosion

As I observe God's creation around me, I'm awestruck.  This trough clearly defined in the clouds made me hustle home from shopping to get clothes off the line before the rain hit (my amazing daughters had already moved the laundry when I arrived home).  Since it was "cold", I made a turmeric latte, my first one with fresh turmeric and fresh ginger.  Have you ever really looked at turmeric and ginger roots?  They smell amazing, but who in the world discovered that they also tasted great and had anti-inflammatory properties?  I'm reminded of God at work, once again. 

 "He is a lyricist, carving us with words; a singer giving us a song; an author setting the rhyme and rhythm of our lives.  This is the beautiful work of the Holy Spirit, who undergirds us with the truth of Christ, convicts us of sin, transforms us into Christlikeness, and causes us to explode with works and words of worship." 

~Christine Hoover, "Searching for Spring: How God Makes All Things Beautiful in Time"

I needed the lesson to be retaught.  Again.  That the God who created the weather and the roots that are good for our bodies is also at work in me and in those around me.  And the result is an explosion of works and worship.

Marriage Monday

 "The distinction between Christians and the world should be crystal clear.  Not because we're better people or come from better upbringings.  In fact, we're not inherently any different from anyone else.  Our hearts would love to march to the same self-absorbed cadence that drives the rest of the world.  The only difference - the only difference - is Jesus."  

~Nancy Wolgemuth, "Adorned:  Living out the Beauty of the Gospel Together"

March to the same self-absorbed cadence as the rest of the world?  I frequently make that choice.  But one of the least selfish people I know is my husband. I think that characteristic is one of the biggest reasons we are still married.  His giving of self is almost always quiet and hidden.  On Saturday, he made two trips into town (not an undertaking for the faint of heart).  The first trip was dedicated to navigating all of the stops needed to buy groceries.  We don't have a big super store, one-stop for everything.  He offered to go early so the girls and I could have time to exercise.

What we didn't know was that he was also going to have to fight the dragon of no water before he could go shopping.  Somehow the line from the house's pump to the water tank got turned off, so thankfully it was an easy fix.  Aaron humbly asked for help and saw the problem through to its conclusion.  Then off he went into town.  When he got home, we shoved the cold things into the fridge and set out again.  This time, the goal was to get pictures made for our visa renewal.  We're ready to turn in everything now - yippee!

  

My husband's unselfishness doesn't just pop up occasionally, it's an everyday occurrence.  Sunday morning, he offered to make "Boston Cake", a twist on the old classic cinnamon rolls.  He washed copious amounts of dishes.  All of these small acts of unselfish service add up to something big - a beautiful example for the rest of us to love and serve each other.

"Follow God's example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."  

Ephesians 5:1-2

Sweet Sabbath

 

Sunrise and this song.

"Let my children tell their children.  Let this be their memory.  That all my treasure was in heaven, and You were everything to me....When I'm old and grey and all my days are numbered on the earth, let it be known, in You alone, my joy was found."

Inconsolable Things

"It's as if God is allowing us a rest while he does the heavy lifting.  We don't have to navigate or figure; we don't have to calculate.  He expects that we'll trust his heart and his intentions and lie down as clay on the potter's wheel.  It seem as as if this posture of trust and submission is the only way we can rest, really rest, with inconsolable things roiling in our hearts."  

~Christine Hoover, "Searching for Spring: How God Makes All Things Beautiful in Time"

My mom sent this picture to me: my lovely mama's hand holding her mama's hand.  My grandmother is in "comfort care", waiting for Jesus to take her home.  Being on this side of the world is hard when I really want to be in Arkansas to help my family, but we're choosing a posture of trust and submission even in the midst of "inconsolable things".

Changes

 Technology continues to improve here in the Solomon Islands.  It's still hard for me to wrap my head around the fact that Aaron can meet with a translation consultant via Zoom, but that's exactly what happened earlier this week in preparation for a consultant check of the first part of Matthew.

During the discussion, James, the translation consultant, and Aaron decided to postpone the planned check and reschedule it for November in Honiara via Zoom.  This means that our family can return to the village earlier than anticipated, so we'll soon start the list making, shopping, freezing, and packing.

Intro to Opera

 

Somehow, we have missed the free operas the Metropolitan Opera has been offering throughout the COVID crisis.  But now we know about them!  We find ourselves munching through bowls and bowls of popcorn as we enjoy Wagner, Mozart, and Puccini.  The music starts and stops as our slow internet strives to handle the load, but the hiccups are a small price to pay as we rejoice in the music.  We've had SO much fun introducing our kids to the Tristan chord and reminiscing about playing in the pit for operas.

He's Back!

See all that rain on the horizon?  That's the direction the boats go to reach the Russell Islands.  And the wind and rain meant that Aaron's return to Honiara was delayed by a day.

So when he finally returned, we were extra happy to get him home.

He even came bearing gifts!  A big container full of fish and taro with coconut cream that had been cooked on the motu.  Our friend Henci went out fishing in the rain so that we could have a "taste of home".  His family sent so much food that we had plenty to share at SITAG, and their gift made us feel cherished and missed.

Glimpses into my world...

"To stay anchored, we practice what we know.  We hope in the His goodness and trust in His sovereignty to shape our paths.  We don't squirm away from our weakness but instead let it push us to Him.  We loosen the grip we hold on our expectations and let go, then we cling to him like our lives depend on it because they do.  We worship.  We thank Him for what we see and trust Him for what we don't."  ~Gina Brenna Butz, "Making Peace With Change"

One would think I had learned to hold my expectations loosely after living in the Solomon Islands for so many years, but that's a lesson I'm constantly revisiting.  So I'm still learning to cling tenaciously to Jesus like my tomatoes cling to their vines.  I'm seeking to set aside time for intentional worship with songs like Shane and Shane's Vintage album and Smokie Norful's "I Need You Now" (I played for his wedding and taught school at the same junior high, so it's been extra fun to watch his music flourish!).

 With Aaron still gone, I find my Enneagram 9 self tendency toward sloth is even greater, so focusing on nourishing my body, spirit, mind, and heart is more important than ever.  So I'm not neglecting exercise or good nutrition, I'm listening to Christy Nockels podcasts about Psalm 119 and I've downloaded "The Golden Alphabet" which is free right now!  I'm enjoying the beautiful moonrise and worshiping the God who created it when I refill water bottles at the rain tank.  I'm reading #austeninaugust while waiting longer than I anticipated at the doctor's office.  And I'm thanking the Lord for the things I see and trusting Him for what I don't.

On My Virtual Bookshelf

- Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingslover.  I totally embrace her reasons for choosing to be self sustaining for a year, but I don't see myself trying it.  I am, however, strengthening my resolve to eat local, especially when we return to America next year, and to eat ethically, particularly when it comes to meat and feedlots.  Arkansas has local rice producers, too, and our hometown boasts an incredible Community Supported Agriculture.

"Food brings people together.  Where bread is broken, trust follows."  

~Barbara Kingslover

-Life Together in Christ by Ruth Haley Barton.  Aaron and I have lived in communities most of our married life, so it takes some adjusting to move back to America where the neighbors hardly know each other and nobody ever borrows an egg.  I'm learning everything I can because I think authenticity and community are key to healthy and whole people.  Including me.

"When our dreams and convictions about what we think community should be are dashed against the jagged reef of human limitations and failure to live up to one another's needs and expectations, then and only then are we ready to accept the fact that Christian community is not about us at all.  It is about the transforming presence of Christ -- all he will do in and and through and for each of us."  

~Ruth Haley Barton

Panning for Gold

Sometimes, we find big, shiny pieces just waiting for us to pick them up and turn them around in the light....But other times, practicing gratitude is more like sifting for specks of gold mixed in with the mud.  We hunt for the truth, the glimmers of goodness.  We train our eyes to search for those little bits and rejoice in them because they are valuable, and they remind us that we are in the hands of the One who blesses.  When we find them, we scoop them up and treasure them, and realize we are deeply blessed and incredibly rich.  

~Gina Brenna Butz, "Making Peace With Change"

National Root Beer Float Day

We did our best to celebrate National Root Beer Float Day.  But root beer is an American invention and difficult to find in the Solomon Islands.  Our German colleagues here didn't know what root beer was.  When we tried to explain it, suddenly one of them exclaimed, "Oh!  I've tried that before.  It tastes like toothpaste!"

So we improvised with Coke, made in Papua New Guinea.  And when I went to the store for vanilla ice cream, they didn't have any.  So we made do with what was in our freezer at home.  Boysenberry.  

The girls think this is an acceptable flavor combination.  I'll take my boysenberry ice cream mixed with coffee instead.

Favorite Foods

I don't think I could choose a favorite food, but I certainly have memories heavily associated with food.  Holidays often have traditional foods, but even more precious to me are the people I connect with food.  I have handwritten recipe cards that will be one of the first things I grab if our house ever catches on fire.  And many of the stories we tell around our table to our children revolve around recipes that have been shared.  One of the best conversations starters I know is to ask somebody about their favorite food.

For example, the breakfast casserole recipe we use is from my mom.  It's one of many variations on bread and eggs and cheese.  It came to my mom from a friend at church when my grandfather died.  And now that friend's daughter is married to my youngest brother, so the recipe is doubly special.  So take the time and ask, you never know what you might learn about somebody.

If at first you don't succeed...

Saturday morning, Aaron got the confirmation that, indeed, the Kosco was sailing that evening.  So he bought a ticket  The girls and I took him down to the wharf where we discovered bumper to bumper traffic because several other boats were also planning to leave Honiara on Saturday night.

We found good old Kosco loading cargo, so we stepped aboard and found a spot for Aaron to spend the night as the ship chugged its way toward the Russell Islands.

We've made so many memories on board this ship!

But there was no reason for us to dilly dally, so the girls and I said our goodbyes and went home to sleep (while praying that Aaron would be able to sleep well on that bench!).

At 4:38, I got a text from Aaron saying the boat was still in Honiara's harbor.  I immediately called him back to say I was on my way to pick him up.  (This has happened before!)  And when we got home, we enjoyed the coffee from the pot he had so thoughtfully set the night before.

We had an extra two year old to enjoy all day Sunday, so Aaron jumped right back in (even though he hardly slept a wink on the boat).  The ship's crew was supposed to call whenever they had more information about the new departure time, so we were waiting for the phone to ring all day.  

Finally, the call came, the ship might leave as early as 7:00.  When the sun began to set, we repeated the previous day's trip down to the wharf (those bright lights you can see in the picture above).

This time, the ship wasn't anchored next to a dock, so we had to climb from one ship to another.  If you look closely, you can see Aaron in between the ships.  And getting on the first ship was more of a challenge, too.  We're used to jumping a little bit from the dock to the ship, but this time we scrambled up a narrow plank, thankful that Aaron's strong hand was there to guide each one of us.

Getting Aaron settled didn't take long this time, and the girls and I were home quickly.  I got a text at 8:30 from Aaron saying, "We're actually pulling out!"  But the next morning, I learned that the ship had turned around after half an hour because they were missing a crew member.  By the time everything was straightened out again, the clock was striking midnight.  Two nights on a ship made a very tired husband, but he arrived late Monday morning in Marulaon and was soon sending cheerful emails.

Thanks for all of the prayers for this trip!