Well we're moving on up....

...to the East side...to a deluxe apartment in the SKY....well we're moving on uppppp... Okay, anyone singing with me? Am I the only one that remembers the Jeffersons? Yes, I confess that I am just that goofy. Every time someone says, "moving up", I hum or sing that song even if it is just in my head. Well, for us it is kind-of true. We are moving from what is considered the American 5th floor to the 8th floor, and we are moving about 18 hours East. However, to say that we are getting a deluxe apartment would be a bit of a stretch, but we are getting (as I mentioned in our last post) what we believe is a hand-picked apartment from the Lord....so I guess that does make it deluxe! If all goes as scheduled, a moving truck will pack up our things this coming Thursday, August 5th. We will fly out that evening and stay with the couple that we are joining. Matt's new job will be helping to run an office supply/book store. We are super excited about all that God is doing in and around that job and opportunity. It is, of course, bitter sweet to leave where we have been the past year. The Father has given us some amazing friendships and experiences. We trust that on this new road of our journey He will be just as faithful and just as powerful in our lives. What an amazing adventure He is allowing us to partake in. We are truly blessed. Thank you for your continued prayers and words of encouragement. The next post will be from down under.... no wait...we're not going that far...AT

Surrendering All...and Doing it AGAIN tomorrow...

This month we took a week to travel out east to look for a house. Just like on our previous trip, by mid-trip we were all sick to our stomachs. I know that is just "par for the course" when living abroad, but I confess it still is a tough road to walk. It is especially a difficult road to watch your children walk. On Wednesday evening, we had planned to attend a fellowship with other local like-minded people; however, William & I were too ill to go. While William slept, I decided to spend some time looking out over the city and praying. During my time, the Father kept bringing the old hymn "I Surrender All" to my mind. (If you can't remember the tune or complete lyrics, you can click here.) I know that I have sung it countless times, and I truly do want to surrender all to Him. However, if I am perfectly honest with myself, I continue to find areas that are not completely surrendered. As I looked out over what will be my new city, it seemed as if I stared in the face of two huge areas of non-surrender. The first one is my desire for "things that are pretty." I know that seems incredibly shallow; however, it is the truth. The city we are moving to is anything but "pretty". It is basically a village that has grown stack by stack, block by block on top of its self. It is hot, dry and just plain brown. The people are not pretty people. They live a hard life at or below poverty. They don't have "pretty things", and they don't "act pretty". As I watched a small child passing on the street below me, I heard the Father say, "Amy, I will not be able to use you here if you do not choose to see this city and these people like I do." Wow, I realized in that moment that it is not enough to say, "I will go, and give up all the "pretty"." I need to change my view of "pretty". God not only needed my mind and my will to surrender to His plan; He needed by heart to surrender. In order to do that, He needs me to surrender to the transformation of my eyes so that I can view His world and His people through His lenses. I know that may sound basic, but when it is daily staring me in the face, I confess it is difficult. But oh how the Father is good...in a city that does not readily welcome foreigners; in a city that it is very unusual to lease apartments; in a city that does not have a lot of "pretty"....HE allowed us to find an apartment that is directly overlooking the only real park. I am continually amazed at how the Father blesses as we are willing to completely surrender.




Since this was our second trip to this city and subsequently the 2nd time we "caught something", the second thing of non-surrender that hit me was the health of my children. Our new city will not have the medical care that our current one has. Don't miss read this blog...if my children are in an emergency or serious need of care, we can leave the city to seek help. However, I felt the Lord asking me if I was truly trusting Him with the care and health of my children. Do I really believe that they are loved more by Him than by me? Do I really believe that He has a plan and purpose for them? Do I really believe that this life that He has chosen for "us" truly includes them?... I DO - I HAVE TO! I will never truly be 100% surrendered if I don't. Is it still hard to walk down that road of surrender? - YES - Almost 3 weeks later, our bodies have still not fully healed from whatever we picked up on our trip. It could very well be that we are always slightly ill in our new city. Is that scary to me? - YES- However, I know that we are never promised an easy life - not even our children. One of Matt & my parenting philosophies is: We are more interested in our children's holiness than their happiness. It is God's plan for our family to move; therefore, it is a part of His plan for our children's ability to grow in holiness. He is in control of their health. Only He knows the number of our days. If our life purpose is to give Him glory, I must surrender to His desire for our health and trust Him to give us all the strength we need to continue serving Him.

I surrender All...and I'll need to do it again tomorrow... AT

The Pit of Compare

Yes, I am one of those girls from the generation that loves the film "The Princess Bride". I remember as a young teen sitting on my aunt's couch and watching it for the first time and thinking how wonderful it must be to love so much that not even THE PIT OF DESPAIR would kill me. Boy, the Father has taught me and is still teaching me a lot about love...mostly HIS love. I admit so often I really mess up in the "genuinely loving" department. It has come to my attention lately how much time I spend comparing instead of simply accepting and loving...whether it is comparing cities, cultures, new apartments, friends, family, myself, my children.....the list I am afraid to say goes on and on... Yes, I know I have been told since my feet hit the ground in this new country not to compare myself to other language learners. For the past 9 year, I have been told not to compare myself to other mothers, and I have most certainly been told not to compare my children...SO, why is it such a natural trap to fall into!? July 1st was our one year anniversary of living overseas. We decided to check out the new aquarium that was built about 30 minutes from our apartment. We had a great time, but while we were there Grace made a comment that really struck me. We were walking past an open fish tank and she so matter-of-factly stated, "Wow, these fish STINK....Not as bad as the bums on the train, but they stink!" Of course, I had to chuckle. She was right. The smell was bad, but not awful. However, in that moment the Lord convicted me with the futility in my sin of comparison. Why would I hold any two things up and compare them? EVERYTHING stinks outside of God! People are sinners no matter how "perfect" and "put together" they may appear to be. Children have different personalities and develop differently. Cities and cultures all over the world have positive and negatives! So, if everything stinks and yet God created everything and loves everyone, why do I fall into THE PIT OF COMPARE? I think the answer for me is most likely the sin of worry/anxiousness. I justify my "curiosity" about what someone else is doing by telling myself, "Well, I just want to make sure I am doing what is best for my family; I want to go deep in language & culture; I just wonder what others are facing in their culture." Hummm; if that is the case, then why do I feel emotionally better or worse based on the answer. Philippians 4:6 commands believers not to worry. In Matthew 6, Jesus assures us that our heavenly Father will take care of all of our needs. So, how do I stop? 1 Peter 5:7 tells us that we can cast our cares on Him. He will take care of us. Philippians goes on to say in 4:7 that He will give us peace. Practically speaking, what does that look like for me right now? Well, I have been repeating a very British phrase lately "MIND MY MOUTH". I am not just talking about what is coming audibly out of my mouth, but also the little conversations am I having with myself in my own head!! #1 God has our family right where HE wants us. Since, that is the case, there is nothing that we will face that HE will not see us through: I will learn language; My family will have our needs met; whatever comes our way physically - He is sovereign. #2 God has a standard set for all people, and my children need to be proactively parented to that standard. However, I need to be diligent to bring my two VERY different children lovingly to that standard without comparison to each other or to other children; and #3 I need to look to the positives with the new city and culture that God has for me. I need to love without "requirements". I need to accept without comparison. I guess that brings me to...what is the pitfall if I choose to live a life constantly comparing? I believe that the pitfall will be a life spent searching for favor with man rather than a life focused on offering unconditional love. What can I truly accomplish or gain that will have any lasting value if my basis for ministry, basis for parenting or basis for life is to find man's approval? It's funny how often when I hear or read about love, my ideal is still compared to "The Princess Bride" type of love. Would I face the pit of despair? Would I love faithfully over years of separation and unknown death? The truth is God gives us a perfect standard for love in His Son and in 1 Corinthians 13. Wow, it is a steep challenge, but I should be loving the world....even the stinky....with unconditional love. This is what will last. This is the standard. This is the only thing with which I should compare my actions and attitudes.
Climbing out of the Pit with faith, hope & love, and trusting that the plans He has for me are unique and perfect. AT