I'm Back

Hello! I finally found my way back to a computer with high speed internet in order to update my right-brain-exercise- blog site. :) So, what have I been up to? Well, there was one time that I wanted to write a whole story on being sick in the summer. I went to visit some of the kids from my Orphanage class who were sick and in the hospital. When you're a kid without a family and you become sick, you are basically stuck in solitary confinement for up to 3 weeks. So, I went to bring goodies, encourage and just say hello, and the moment I left the room it was hard to swallow. So, of course, the next day I woke up with an extremely soar throat that got worse and worse until I found myself with no energy laying on the couch (no air conditioning) in 100+degree weather drinking mug after mug of hot tea and sucking on cough drops. And I thought to myself, hmmm, this is the first time I've ever been this sick in the summer... it's not too fun to sweat from a high temp, then drink hot tea and have no air to cool off. But, I made it through after a 2 week run of strong antibiotics and lots of Ecineca and Vitamin C!

Then, I wanted to write a blog about the concept of saying goodbye or rather, "see ya later" to friends. In the last few months we have been closely involved in helping several missionary families leave Crimea. Our little red van 'that could' has toted around boxes, washing machines, furniture, luggage and people for what seems like every day for the last two months! I think when you're a missionary or anybody who is a minority in the culture in which you live you develop a stronger bond with those of the same heritage and purpose around you. You also end up helping alot when you have a work vehicle that can haul possessions to and fro! Hey, we did pray that our little van would have her own little ministry, and boy does she ever.
Anyways, we have felt blessed to serve our brothers and sisters and enjoyed their friendships even if it had been just for a short time. I think we just experienced a season of change and it will die down soon. We've been calling it the mass Exodus! I don't know if I'm just too busy or just a little numb, but from all the changes I haven't shed one tear. Maybe it's because I am excited for all my friends, as they move into a new chapter in their lives, and I am excited to see what new relationships God is going to bring to me, or how He is going to deepen the ones I already have, especially with my Ukrainian and CT friends... But, then sometimes I feel guilty for not being sad enough when saying goodbye. Weird, I know.

Moving.
Let's see... the last idea for now... the concept of travel. Yes, when we are born, even from the moment of our conception, we are traveling (at least the sperm is traveling). We are moving, changing, growing, learning. Our bodies move, our brains stretch, maybe we can't move ourselves as infants; but someone is carrying us to one place or the other. When we get older, we travel to a from school, to and from the school bus, to and from college, to and from work. As missionaries, Matt and I are always traveling. We travel to and from the village, to and from church, to and from the Orphanage, to and from...
And lately, we've been carrying others to and from where they need to be. The other day I was thinking about the 'Little House on the Prairie' people and how they would travel in horse and buggy and build their home from one homestead to the next. Then I thought about my Great Great Grandfather Klein who bravely traveled from Germany all the way to western Oklahoma to have the freedom to worship God without persecution. And recently I've been thinking about some new friends I met who have traveled here to adopt and how they have spent all their money and endured so much frustration with Urkaine's crazy laws and bribes to take their babies home. And then, the other day, I thought about my Grandy and Papa who up and drive to Canada just for fun and love the idea of traveling. Grandy always ends up making an entire quilt in the process. She never wastes any time!
There is always a reason for traveling.

When you live as an ex-pat in Ukraine you have to either register yourself in the country every three months and go through a huge government process with fees and documents, or leave the country twice a year. So, the purpose for leaving is just to get one little stamp in your passport that allows you to come back and live for another 6 months without problems. Traveling.

If I thought about the opposite side for 2 seconds I could see that being in one place, stationary, could become stuffy and too comfortable. When we get out and around we gain fresh perspective and a little fresh air.

Matt and I have lived in 11 places in our 7 years of marriage and have traveled all over the world. Sometimes I really miss routine. I loved watching 'Super Nanny' in the states because she always talked about routine. Sometimes I feel like I need my own Super Nanny here to help me manage all the traveling with a unique routine. If it wasn't for the consistency of the Bible, and the companionship of my dear partner and husband, I would probably go crazy from all the traveling. But, somehow through it all, I'm learning to welcome it, be flexible, look at life as one big traveling adventure until we finally reach Heaven. :)

We are trying to build our home in a village right outside of town in order to live and work among our CT friends for the next ?? years. I'm not sure how we will manage, not having to travel so much! :) I pray we'll not get too comfortable and always appreciate the perspectives we gain from leaving every 6 months and going home to the states for home assignment. Things always look a little different after you spend time away from it.

What do you think? Why do you travel?