I can tell you exactly where I was and what I was doing 31 years ago to the minute! I was lying on the dining room table in an efficiency apartment here in Monrovia too weak to hold my newborn son! They don't call it "labor" for nothing; it's not easy to deliver a 10 pound moose!!!
Any mother could bore you with details you'd probably rather not hear--even 31 years later--so I'll spare you for the most part! But I will say my home delivery with a midwife was way better by far than my experience in the hospital in the States 2 years earlier. Way better!
And for what are we now waiting? Today is the due date for the son of that 31 year old "baby" of ours! Yes, we will soon be grandparents again; we're just waiting for the good word. And then we will have to wait several months before we get to meet the little guy. My parents had to wait 13 months before they met their grandson and they survived, so I have no doubt we will survive, too.
I praise the Lord for our 2 sons and the fine young men they have grown up to be. I also praise Him for the 2 fine daughters our sons have given us! And now the grandchildren--it just keeps getting better and better!
There was a time when we had just about given up hope of having any kids of our own, but I remember the peace the Lord gave me in spite of my longing. At one point, after we had been told we would probably never have kids, I wondered if I would ever be able to hold a baby again without crying. I cried out to the Lord for His grace, strength, and peace. Within a day or two I was holding a tiny baby and rejoicing at the marvel of new life--without tears! God's peace truly is beyond our understanding. Philippians 4:7 It would be 3 more years before I got to hold our firstborn. What a day of rejoicing, not just at the marvel of new life but also rejoicing over God's blessings showered upon us. And then, 2 years later, another son.
And now we wait for that grandson. God is so good!!!
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Jigger-toe, Jigger-foot, and Drs. D and D
Yep, it's happened. Both Darrell and I have had jiggers this week! At first I thought I had been bitten by a red ant on the side of my foot because it itched so much, but as it started to feel as if I was stepping on something I asked Darrell to check it out. He confirmed my suspicions and went to work with a needle to dig it out.
A jigger is the smallest of fleas that burrows under the skin to live comfortably--at least for the jigger--until its belly swells with eggs. During removal, care must be taken to get the whole thing; sometimes, depending on how big it got, it can leave quite a hole. This one wasn't too big.
Today Darrell asked me to check out his little toe. We're quite sure he had a jigger too, though it didn't itch. His was in a crazy spot--right on the end of his toe by the nail. He trimmed the nail as short as he could and I went to work with the needle. It was partly under the nail and I wasn't able to get it out in one piece, but by the time I was done he had the typical hole.
It's not surprising that this happened, especially for me since I wear flip-flops, and we both had had them when we lived here before. What really surprised us is that Sackie told us he has had only one in his life. He must know a secret that we don't know! Oh well, it's just part of living in the tropics!
A jigger is the smallest of fleas that burrows under the skin to live comfortably--at least for the jigger--until its belly swells with eggs. During removal, care must be taken to get the whole thing; sometimes, depending on how big it got, it can leave quite a hole. This one wasn't too big.
Today Darrell asked me to check out his little toe. We're quite sure he had a jigger too, though it didn't itch. His was in a crazy spot--right on the end of his toe by the nail. He trimmed the nail as short as he could and I went to work with the needle. It was partly under the nail and I wasn't able to get it out in one piece, but by the time I was done he had the typical hole.
It's not surprising that this happened, especially for me since I wear flip-flops, and we both had had them when we lived here before. What really surprised us is that Sackie told us he has had only one in his life. He must know a secret that we don't know! Oh well, it's just part of living in the tropics!
Monday, March 19, 2012
Worthy Causes
I don't know about you, but I know I greatly dislike pleas for money. Please give for this and please give for that--and then if you do give they only want more. I do know sometimes people would like to help but just aren't sure which causes are legitimate. Also people wonder how much of their money actually reaches the spot that needs it.
Well, we have never asked for money for ourselves; we've only asked the Lord to take care of us and He has provided in some amazing ways over the years. But we don't hesitate to make known some worthy causes just to make people aware of the need. I WILL NOT USE THIS BLOG TO BE CONSTANTLY BEGGING FOR MONEY! I'm going to tell you just this once about four areas that could stand some help; if any money comes in, I will report once in a while on what has been accomplished. And I can guarantee that 100% of any money given will go directly to the causes mentioned--no overhead, nothing skimmed off the top. And no one will ask for MORE.....EVER.
Cause #1: The folk in our home church gave money to buy Thompson Chain Reference Bibles for pastors and Bible school students in Liberia. Some pastors have told us they lost theirs during the war. Tommy Ben, who is pastoring the church at Zondo where Darrell grew up and where we spent some time when we lived here, told us soldiers in the 90's took his Bible and other books to destroy them and he has been trying to get another Thompson ever since. I wish I could have captured the smile on his face when he first held a new one in his hands. He was/is one happy man and very grateful.
Well, we have never asked for money for ourselves; we've only asked the Lord to take care of us and He has provided in some amazing ways over the years. But we don't hesitate to make known some worthy causes just to make people aware of the need. I WILL NOT USE THIS BLOG TO BE CONSTANTLY BEGGING FOR MONEY! I'm going to tell you just this once about four areas that could stand some help; if any money comes in, I will report once in a while on what has been accomplished. And I can guarantee that 100% of any money given will go directly to the causes mentioned--no overhead, nothing skimmed off the top. And no one will ask for MORE.....EVER.
Cause #1: The folk in our home church gave money to buy Thompson Chain Reference Bibles for pastors and Bible school students in Liberia. Some pastors have told us they lost theirs during the war. Tommy Ben, who is pastoring the church at Zondo where Darrell grew up and where we spent some time when we lived here, told us soldiers in the 90's took his Bible and other books to destroy them and he has been trying to get another Thompson ever since. I wish I could have captured the smile on his face when he first held a new one in his hands. He was/is one happy man and very grateful.
Tommy Ben with his new Bible
The reason we list this as a worthy cause is that the 48 Bibles provided by the people in our church are not enough. Each Bible costs approximately $50 when buying by the case of 12.
Cause #2 Darrell and I have both written booklets that we would like to use while here. Darrell's booklet is called "Back to Basics" and gives the Biblical plan of salvation in 6 easy lessons. My booklet is called "I Dare You: A Challenge that Requires a Response" and presents the Biblical concept of tithing. We would like to see both of these printed in English and Bassa.
Cause #3 The Mother Susie Guenter Orphanage was started by Jefferson and Helena Zeon and named in honor of Darrell's mother who had a great influence on Jefferson. There are 28 children in the orphanage and they also run a Christian day school with 370 students. The work will continue even though Jefferson has been promoted to Heaven.
Cause #4 Baptist Mid-Missions still has a lease from the government on 100 acres at Zondo even though no resident missionaries have been there since 1980. The Liberians have carried on the work of the church and Christian day school (70 students) and have maintained the buildings to the best of their ability financially. The church building had to be rebuilt; they were able to use the same foundation and also were able to salvage some of the mud bricks from the original building. However, one of 2 school buildings is no longer standing and the two houses need repair. (We stayed in Darrell's folk's house for a night in 2010 and saw the sky through a large hole in the roof.) Some local people have petitioned the government to take the land back for development, saying missionaries will never go back there again. So far they have been unsuccessful and the work of the Lord goes on. I know they would be greatly encouraged by any help that came their way.
I had hoped to include some pictures from Zondo but they are only in my Facebook albums and I don't know how to download them to this page. If you are my facebook friend, you can go to my albums and look for Liberia--Places--2010. Scroll through and you will find pictures of the church building, the remaining school building, and Darrell's folk's house.
If any of these causes interest you and you would like to help, any money can be sent to Liberia Projects, Northfield Baptist Church, 87 Main Street, Northfield, MA 01360 and they will send you a receipt if you would like one. Please designate the money for whichever cause you would like to support. If enough comes in for the printing, we will put any leftover money into the other causes.
Thank you for taking the time to read about these causes which are close to our hearts and thank you for any help you may give.
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Catching Up
Wow! Where has the time gone? I don't want to believe it has been over a week since I last posted. It's not that I don't have anything to write about. I probably could go on forever, but it's late so I'll keep this short.
Jefferson's wake and funeral were a real blessing. We stayed at the wake until 12:30am when they were starting a time of singspiration. Mind you, wakes and funerals are different here from what we're used to at home.
Darrell preached for only 45 minutes instead of the 3 hours he was told he could take. I'm sure he was told that with tongue in cheek as a way to tell him he could take as long as he wanted, but I'm also sure people would have been disappointed if he had made it too short. He preached from Isaiah 40:12ff about how big our God is, including the fact that He is big enough to know how to take care of the empty spots left by Jefferson's departure.
Many tributes were given both at the wake and funeral testifying to the impact Jefferson had on many lives, young and old. One of the saddest parts was when the orphans--28 of them--got up to sing and we all knew they had just lost their "daddy." And then a group of students from the school sang, some of them singing their hearts out with tears streaming down their faces. Believe me, I had tears streaming down my face too!
The funeral was scheduled to start at 10am--probably started more like 10:30--and went until about 2. I couldn't see everyone there since many--maybe most--were seated outside under canopies, but when they filed past the casket at the end, the line kept coming and coming and coming. I asked later if anyone knew how many people were there and Jefferson's sister-in-law said they planned for 1,000. I'm sure there were at least that many there which is another tribute to the impact of Jefferson's life.
After the burial we went back for a feast of rice and soup. I can't imagine cooking for that many people, but they did an excellent job. It was a good end to a day honoring Jefferson and the God he served so faithfully.
Jefferson's wake and funeral were a real blessing. We stayed at the wake until 12:30am when they were starting a time of singspiration. Mind you, wakes and funerals are different here from what we're used to at home.
Darrell preached for only 45 minutes instead of the 3 hours he was told he could take. I'm sure he was told that with tongue in cheek as a way to tell him he could take as long as he wanted, but I'm also sure people would have been disappointed if he had made it too short. He preached from Isaiah 40:12ff about how big our God is, including the fact that He is big enough to know how to take care of the empty spots left by Jefferson's departure.
Many tributes were given both at the wake and funeral testifying to the impact Jefferson had on many lives, young and old. One of the saddest parts was when the orphans--28 of them--got up to sing and we all knew they had just lost their "daddy." And then a group of students from the school sang, some of them singing their hearts out with tears streaming down their faces. Believe me, I had tears streaming down my face too!
The funeral was scheduled to start at 10am--probably started more like 10:30--and went until about 2. I couldn't see everyone there since many--maybe most--were seated outside under canopies, but when they filed past the casket at the end, the line kept coming and coming and coming. I asked later if anyone knew how many people were there and Jefferson's sister-in-law said they planned for 1,000. I'm sure there were at least that many there which is another tribute to the impact of Jefferson's life.
After the burial we went back for a feast of rice and soup. I can't imagine cooking for that many people, but they did an excellent job. It was a good end to a day honoring Jefferson and the God he served so faithfully.
Friday, March 9, 2012
Jefferson's Funeral
Jefferson's funeral is tomorrow at 10 with the wake tonight at 9. Darrell also went out there this afternoon at 5 for the arrival of the body.
Wakes in Liberia usually last all night with preaching and singing, and we expect this one will be the same. We will probably stay until about midnight unless Darrell hasn't had his turn to preach by that time.
Darrell will also be preaching tomorrow at the funeral, and Jefferson's brother told him to preach 3 hours if he wanted to! I'm sure everyone would be asleep if he did that after an all-night wake. Mind you, I'm not saying Darrell's preaching puts people to sleep, but there is a limit! And don't worry, he won't preach 3 hours!!!
It is so comforting to know where Jefferson is and that his suffering is over. We pray that others will come to that place as a result of Jefferson's testimony and the godly example he set.
"These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that you may know that you have eternal life..." I John 5:13
Wakes in Liberia usually last all night with preaching and singing, and we expect this one will be the same. We will probably stay until about midnight unless Darrell hasn't had his turn to preach by that time.
Darrell will also be preaching tomorrow at the funeral, and Jefferson's brother told him to preach 3 hours if he wanted to! I'm sure everyone would be asleep if he did that after an all-night wake. Mind you, I'm not saying Darrell's preaching puts people to sleep, but there is a limit! And don't worry, he won't preach 3 hours!!!
It is so comforting to know where Jefferson is and that his suffering is over. We pray that others will come to that place as a result of Jefferson's testimony and the godly example he set.
"These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that you may know that you have eternal life..." I John 5:13
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Bug-a-bugs
How do you know when a missionary is ready for furlough? It's easy! The first year on the field, when a bug flies in his coffee, he throws the coffee out. The second year, he takes the bug out and drinks the coffee. The third year, he drinks the coffee along with the bug. The fourth year, he goes looking for bugs to put in his coffee! I must add that this is more truth than fiction!
Martha came back from the market today with a twinkle in her eye. She had bought a special treat for us--fried bug-a-bugs! Yummy!!! I had told her a story about bug-a-bugs so she knew we liked them. More about that story in a bit.
Bug-a-bugs are termites, the ones that make the huge ant hills you may have seen in pictures. In February, after the second rain signaling the approach of the rainy season, the female bug-a-bugs fly, searching for their spot to establish a new colony. The Liberians go out with a torch and, since the bugs are attracted to the light, they get their wings singed and fall into the pan which has been placed under the torch. After they are roasted they make a tasty treat.
When Martha was up-country last week for a conference, she said it rained hard twice, so I asked her if the bug-a-bugs flew. Yes, they did. That's why she found some in the market today: enterprising folk from the country gathered and roasted some to bring to sell to us city folk!
Now back to that story. Back in the '80s when Darrell was pastoring in the States, a missionary appointee came to speak in the church. He was in our home and proceeded to let us know that when he got to Africa he was going to do this and he was going to do that and he was going to eat what the Africans ate and on and on and on ad nauseum! I had finally heard enough so went to the freezer and pulled out a treat for him: roasted bug-a-bugs! (Darrell's folks had been back here for a short visit and brought us a small bottle of the real deal.) I wish you could have seen the look on the guy's face when I poured some into my hand and offered them to him. He asked if I was serious and, as I popped a few into my mouth, I assured him I was very serious. Well, as he turned several shades of green, he took a few. And guess what! We didn't hear anything more about all the wonderful things he was going to do in Africa.
Now comes the question: as I sit here with a dish of bugs beside me, does that mean we're ready for furlough? But we've only been here 2 months!! I think we're in trouble!!!
Martha came back from the market today with a twinkle in her eye. She had bought a special treat for us--fried bug-a-bugs! Yummy!!! I had told her a story about bug-a-bugs so she knew we liked them. More about that story in a bit.
Bug-a-bugs are termites, the ones that make the huge ant hills you may have seen in pictures. In February, after the second rain signaling the approach of the rainy season, the female bug-a-bugs fly, searching for their spot to establish a new colony. The Liberians go out with a torch and, since the bugs are attracted to the light, they get their wings singed and fall into the pan which has been placed under the torch. After they are roasted they make a tasty treat.
When Martha was up-country last week for a conference, she said it rained hard twice, so I asked her if the bug-a-bugs flew. Yes, they did. That's why she found some in the market today: enterprising folk from the country gathered and roasted some to bring to sell to us city folk!
Now back to that story. Back in the '80s when Darrell was pastoring in the States, a missionary appointee came to speak in the church. He was in our home and proceeded to let us know that when he got to Africa he was going to do this and he was going to do that and he was going to eat what the Africans ate and on and on and on ad nauseum! I had finally heard enough so went to the freezer and pulled out a treat for him: roasted bug-a-bugs! (Darrell's folks had been back here for a short visit and brought us a small bottle of the real deal.) I wish you could have seen the look on the guy's face when I poured some into my hand and offered them to him. He asked if I was serious and, as I popped a few into my mouth, I assured him I was very serious. Well, as he turned several shades of green, he took a few. And guess what! We didn't hear anything more about all the wonderful things he was going to do in Africa.
Now comes the question: as I sit here with a dish of bugs beside me, does that mean we're ready for furlough? But we've only been here 2 months!! I think we're in trouble!!!
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Just News
Today was a good day in fellowship with other believers. We heard a good message on doing things God's way in God's timing. King David, in the Old Testament, wanted to build a temple for worship in place of the portable tabernacle that had been used for years. It bothered David that he lived in a nice house but the place of worship was just a tent. God told him he had a good idea BUT he was not the one who should build the temple. God had chosen David's son, Solomon, to do it.
Applying it to me, that means I can find something good--even great--to do, but if it's not what God wants me to do, then I'm not obeying. Also, while doing that "wonderful" task, I'm NOT doing what God intended for me to do. That's double trouble! It's better just to obey, knowing that God knows what He's doing and His ways are always best.
Okay, sermon's over!!!
Today I was reminded again that I'm different. It's so easy to forget that my skin is a different color--until some little kid stands and stares and stares and stares. Then I remember that, yeah, I am an oddity! (Okay, family and close friends, no comments!!!) Sometimes they come up and run their hands up and down my arm; maybe they think my skin feels different from theirs???
This morning the cutest little tyke, probably 2-2 1/2, stood in the aisle by us and stared. She was all dolled up in a beautiful red dress with white shoes and socks and her hair was fixed so cute. I could have squeezed her but I had to remember we were sitting in church and I should be paying attention. At one point she reached out and touched Darrell's hand. I wished I had brought my camera, but I wouldn't have used it even if I had had it since we were still in the service. Oh, well.....
I guess that's enough for now. Just remember: God is good!!!
Applying it to me, that means I can find something good--even great--to do, but if it's not what God wants me to do, then I'm not obeying. Also, while doing that "wonderful" task, I'm NOT doing what God intended for me to do. That's double trouble! It's better just to obey, knowing that God knows what He's doing and His ways are always best.
Okay, sermon's over!!!
Today I was reminded again that I'm different. It's so easy to forget that my skin is a different color--until some little kid stands and stares and stares and stares. Then I remember that, yeah, I am an oddity! (Okay, family and close friends, no comments!!!) Sometimes they come up and run their hands up and down my arm; maybe they think my skin feels different from theirs???
This morning the cutest little tyke, probably 2-2 1/2, stood in the aisle by us and stared. She was all dolled up in a beautiful red dress with white shoes and socks and her hair was fixed so cute. I could have squeezed her but I had to remember we were sitting in church and I should be paying attention. At one point she reached out and touched Darrell's hand. I wished I had brought my camera, but I wouldn't have used it even if I had had it since we were still in the service. Oh, well.....
I guess that's enough for now. Just remember: God is good!!!
Friday, March 2, 2012
Mr. Fix-It
Anyone who has lived in the tropics knows that the climate does a number on most everything. We wish we could live without "things" that need our attention, but so far we haven't found a way to make that feasible. It is amazing the number of things Darrell has had to fix in the short time we've been here. It's a good thing he has a good brain for things like that or we'd either be out of money or living with things in disrepair.
When we arrived the Sheppards told us that the AC in the vehicle needed to be repaired; Mark had hoped to get to it before they left, but all those last minute things kept popping up. That was Darrell's first repair, but that one had to be done at a shop that Mark told him about. Soon after that was fixed, the fan for the AC went. Mark knew there was a problem so had left a spare fan for them to put in the same time they made the first repair, but they told Darrell the fittings weren't right. Well, don't tell Darrell something can't be done! He fixed it himself, but.....now he thinks the original repair is not holding, so it may be going back to the shop.
We have 2 water systems--city water when it is running and well water for the rest of the time. We pump water from the well into a holding tank on the roof. There is a one-way valve in the line so when city water is running it by-passes the tank, but that valve quit working so water was constantly overflowing the tank when the city water was on. That meant Darrell had to climb up on the roof umpteen times--to find out what he needed to fix it, back up to fix it, back up to tighten it to stop a leak, etc., etc.
Shortly after getting that fixed, water started dripping from the kitchen ceiling. That didn't make sense because he hadn't been working over the kitchen, so he had to go up into the "attic" to see what was going on. He wasn't too impressed to find a pressure tank that had sprung a leak--not in the pipes or fittings but in the actual tank. He "fixed" that by putting a piece of roofing up there to catch the water and direct it outside. Well, it wasn't quite as simple as that, but you get the idea.
Not long after that I was walking by the bathroom and heard running water. Uh-oh! The shower control had decided to die and needed to be replaced..... NOW .....because there was no shut-off valve.
Add to these things the screens that needed to be replaced (which meant he had to run all over trying to find aluminum screening only to find it in a small shop down the street), the fans that needed fixing, the toilets that needed adjusting, and on and on it goes.
These things weren't a shock to us since we had lived here before, but it still amazes us how much time can be spent just keeping things working. One thing to be thankful for is that these things make life so much easier or more pleasant for us. God is good!
When we arrived the Sheppards told us that the AC in the vehicle needed to be repaired; Mark had hoped to get to it before they left, but all those last minute things kept popping up. That was Darrell's first repair, but that one had to be done at a shop that Mark told him about. Soon after that was fixed, the fan for the AC went. Mark knew there was a problem so had left a spare fan for them to put in the same time they made the first repair, but they told Darrell the fittings weren't right. Well, don't tell Darrell something can't be done! He fixed it himself, but.....now he thinks the original repair is not holding, so it may be going back to the shop.
We have 2 water systems--city water when it is running and well water for the rest of the time. We pump water from the well into a holding tank on the roof. There is a one-way valve in the line so when city water is running it by-passes the tank, but that valve quit working so water was constantly overflowing the tank when the city water was on. That meant Darrell had to climb up on the roof umpteen times--to find out what he needed to fix it, back up to fix it, back up to tighten it to stop a leak, etc., etc.
Shortly after getting that fixed, water started dripping from the kitchen ceiling. That didn't make sense because he hadn't been working over the kitchen, so he had to go up into the "attic" to see what was going on. He wasn't too impressed to find a pressure tank that had sprung a leak--not in the pipes or fittings but in the actual tank. He "fixed" that by putting a piece of roofing up there to catch the water and direct it outside. Well, it wasn't quite as simple as that, but you get the idea.
Not long after that I was walking by the bathroom and heard running water. Uh-oh! The shower control had decided to die and needed to be replaced..... NOW .....because there was no shut-off valve.
Add to these things the screens that needed to be replaced (which meant he had to run all over trying to find aluminum screening only to find it in a small shop down the street), the fans that needed fixing, the toilets that needed adjusting, and on and on it goes.
These things weren't a shock to us since we had lived here before, but it still amazes us how much time can be spent just keeping things working. One thing to be thankful for is that these things make life so much easier or more pleasant for us. God is good!
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