Wrap up the Summer

Where do you go/what can you do when you live in Central Asia/The Middle East and you want to escape the summer heat? Excellent question, excellent question....if anyone comes up with an affordable/do-able answer to that question before next August, please email me!!! I confess I am a big wimp, and this summer has been (still IS!) miserable for me. I am not sure if it was that we really didn't have a spring, (We went from cool in the 70s to 110 degrees!) or if it was the fact that we moved again and were just so busy all summer. This is our 3rd summer without central air. You would think I would be adjusting!! We did have pleasant weather at the lake for Family Camp this month. We traveled to a higher elevation. I didn't think that it would make that big of a difference; however, the nights were actually cold! Then for the holiday after Ramazan we traveled north again. It was nice just to have relief in the evenings. (see our facebook pages for pictures). Well, we will begin our full homeschool program on the 12th of September. Sorry, I have not written much this summer. I'll blame it on the heat again....I guess my brain has been fried. I pray the new year gets off to a good start for each of you, and that you are starting to enjoy Fall weather, smells and food!! Much Love, AT

PICTURES: the family picture is taken at an old church carved into the side of a mountain; the Starbucks was our big splurge in the big city!! GOD IS GOOD : )

How devoted am I to prayer?

2 years ago, shortly after we arrived in country, Matt wrote a blog briefly describing Ramazan and an experience he had with a new friend. (click here to read) I would love to report that the friend has become a Believer or that any one of our new friends has come to faith; however, that is not the case. Is it heartbreaking? YES, of course! We have grown to love our new "family" and friends. We desperately desire for them to walk in truth. However, we are choosing not to be discouraged. We know that God is working. It has been a blessing to be serving alongside a local fellowship of Believers in our current city. Their testimonies are a treasure to behold and hearing each one has grown us and strengthened our hearts for this work. If I had to sum up what most "MBBs" would share as their one "life-line" on how they survive as a persecuted individual; their main thing that drew them to faith; their one thing that they depend on each day; their advice to all believers...it would be the importance and the power of prayer!! We have available to us 24/7 the ear of the Almighty and HIS Son sitting beside him making petitions on our behalf!! HOW POWERFUL IS THAT!! I am ashamed that I do not spend more time just sitting at the feet of the Father talking, praising and standing in the gap for others. Many MBBs still do two things that I think are great "habits" to help them in the area of prayer. The first one is continuing to pray during the 5 daily "calls to prayer". I am not talking about the memorized prayers. I mean that they use the sound of the minaret as a reminder to stop what they are doing and spend time connecting with the Lord. When we first moved overseas getting use to the new sounds took some doing. However, it was Grace that decided she liked the "music" and was going to pray along. We were a little shocked at first, but decided she was right. We didn't know a word of the local language, so of what other use could we be for HIS work, but to pray. (and of course, as it turns out, prayer is still the best and most effective work!!) I think that the churches in Christian countries need to consider going back to playing music from their steeples. This is a great daily reminder. Perhaps when we are back in the States we will set a clock to chime just to stay in the habit!! The second thing that some MBBs still do is carry their "prayer beads". Much like many other religions in the world, the beads are used to remind a person of prayers or other things of importance. When I was a kid the popular thing at camps, VBSs, etc. was to make the bracelets of colored beads that symbolized "the plan of salvation". We wore them as a reminder to share the good news. In recent years, many people have been wearing rubber bracelets. The colors remind them of things of importance....cancer awareness, remembering the military, save the rainforest, etc.! Many also wear items asking WWJD? and/or post stickers all over their cars, refrigerators and mirrors....all in an effort to help them keep their priorities in line. (at least that is what I am choosing to believe!) When we were leaving to begin this journey, our pastor gave Matt and I each very special Saint Christopher medals. They are a powerful reminder to us of the importance of the Great Commission. I guess that it really doesn't matter if you are carrying special beads, wearing cross or a medal, sporting handmade beads/colored bracelets, or leaving yourself stickers & notes. What matters is that we are strategical in devoting ourselves to prayer and the work of the Lord. So I guess this blog leads me back to my original question...How devoted am I to prayer? Do I have focused times each day, each week, each month or each year to fast and pray? If not, what do I need to do right now to make prayer a priority?
Prayerfully growing in Him....AT

How is a parking lot better than a park?

When we moved almost a year ago, one of the things that we were very excited about was living right on the largest park in the city. We had all kinds of dreams of spending hours meeting people and allowing the children tons of exposure to language and play. As the year moved forward, we discovered the lush allure of the park had a really big down side. The park is constantly crowed with people from all over the city. It is rare to run into the same people over again. This made it hard for Matt & I to build relationships with adults and made it unsafe for William and Grace to go out and play without supervision. The neighborhood children were allowed to go out alone, but because there were no adults to monitor them, they were often mischievous and acted like little gangs often vandalizing cars, buildings and park equipment. William and Grace held their own most of the time, but the teasing and constant pestering was beginning to wear on them. Grace is very outgoing, but even she would often vote to simply play alone in her room. However, when we were told we were going to need to find a new apartment, we immediatety began looking around the park. It still seemed in our minds to be the best location in the city. It was close to our store, friends, most major markets, etc., and despite the constant craziness of the park kids, we thought it was the best option for exercise and play. I confess as the month wore on in looking for a house, I was quite discouraged. I really did not want to move AGAIN away from what had become familiar. My neighbors were just opening up, and the local bakers and grocers were finally comfortable with us. The day that Matt found our current apartment I was in an awful mood. Perhaps, it was that I knew God was going to take us through a bigger change than I wanted, or maybe it was just that fact that I realized once again I had assumed upon what God was doing. Whatever the case, I pitched a big fit. Yep, you read that right. As Matt kept driving what seemed like further and further and further out of the city, my aggravation level kept going further and further and further up! When I saw the building, I refused to even go up and look at the flat. SOOOOO, Matt patiently and with a great deal of love began turning around (W & G were almost in tears!). PTL, the Father got a hold of me and I realized my stupidity! I apologized, and Matt turned back again so that we could look at the apartment. The rest of the story most of you know. It took about a month to get moved and some water and electrical issues worked out, but here we are. Today as I looked down at our parking lot and watched William and Grace playing with the other kids in our building it struck me: In God's hands, a plain, flat parking lot can be a hundred times better than a park with all its walking trails and equipment. In the short time that we have been here, W&G have made real friends. The kind of kids that come to your door and ask you to come out; the kind that teach you new games and encourage you to keep trying; the kind that miss you when you aren't there; and that we miss when they aren't there. Yes, we still have to have safety rules, and finding shade in this crazy heat is a big factor, but GOD IS GOOD!! If He can take coal and make it into a diamond, he can take a parking lot and make it into playground!! We are blessed! AT

Birthday Girl

Grace had a wonderful birthday. She started the day with a small family party opening gifts from us and packages that have come in the mail. She then celebrated with a trip to the pool...which is a major treat in this city. She had a small party in the evening after her karate class sharing cake and balloons with friends. One of her favorite things to do is to go on a "date with daddy", so she got all "spiffed-up" and hit the town with her favorite fella. Blessings to our sweet 8 year old!! AT

Letting Go...

...well, for the week anyway...Yes, I have confessed before that one area I struggle with is holding on too tightly to William and Grace. I know that the Father has great things for them, and William has proven himself over and over to be a trustworthy boy of integrity. However, he is still only 9...an YEP, you got it...I am the momma!! I like for all my chicks to be in the coop at night! We are now half way through his first time away at camp. We have heard from him once. He is having a good time. I imagine he is going to come back having grown in language 10 times. He will speak circles around the rest of us, but my prayer for him this week is that he experiences God in a new way. I have been praying that the Holy Spirit speaks to his heart and reveals truth. William accepted Christ as Savior when he ws 6 years old. He has been growing and learning; however, I know that God has an amazing plan for him. The Father will walk with him each step of that path, but it does not mean it will be an easy journey. William (like each of us) needs to know the taste, the smell, the voice & sounds, the presence and the ways of God so intimately that he knows without hesitation the will of the Father. It is our prayer that he always walks in wisdom and truth. He now has 3 more full days of camp and then a long 4th day of 8 hours in a packed van! Please pray alongside us for William and the many children at camps, VBSs, Backyard Bible Clubs and retreats all around the world this summer. Let 2011 be a year that many hear and receive the Gospel of Christ. Let the nations be glad and the heavens rejoice at the harvest!! AT

Contentment

I am sure that I don't know a single person that doesn't struggle with this at least some of the time. It is one of those things in life that if not kept in check, runs away with our heart's affections and mental attitude. Isn't it interesting how when we are asked to speak about, teach about or counsel on a particular subject, it is often the very area that we need to grow in!! That is where I found myself this week. I was presented with a particular problem by someone I am discipling. I do have a strong opinion (of course) on their situation, and I would really like to step in and take matters into my own hands; however, as I prayed for them; prayed for the situation; prayed for what I should say; prayed for how I should proceed...the Father asked me one thing, "What do you think I want to be the lasting lesson in this?" WOW....the lasting lesson. To "solve" the problem would not really be lasting. There would be other similar things that would quickly come along. Life is just like that....one thing after another... The only thing that is constant is God. Being content with our situation is always hard. In the waiting process sometimes we think we are going to waste away. However, God uses the processes of making us wait and helping us find satisfaction as tools to grow us into His likeness. They are tools that sharpen us and mold us for service to Him. If we always want something, whether it be an item of some sort or a change, when will we ever be truly satisfied? Satisfaction only comes when we decide to have thankful hearts that praise Him in all situations at all times. We have a friend that is in prison. Matt took his wife, children, sister and mother to visit him this week. I am ashamed to say that the report I was expecting to get was of how hard it is for him, how he is struggling, etc. Instead, the report that came was one of praise to the Lord for His goodness. He gave Matt a beaded pen holder covered in crosses that he had made. He is boldly sharing his faith in everything he is doing; and in faith walking with a thankful heart in his difficult circumstance. WOW....that is the lasting lesson!! What will I choose today - thankfulness & contentment? AT "We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;....Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal." II Corin. 4:8-9; 16-18

May Flowers

Is the month of May really almost over? Wow, it seems like it has been non-stop! The month started a little rough. As I mentioned in my last post, we were all quite ill at Easter. However, we pushed through and have been running all month. The first weekend, I attended a local ladies' conference. It was about 9 hours from here...twisting through mountains and driving sometimes ridiculous roads (to American standards). I was able to sit in the front so I only "heaved" a few times - nothing traumatic!! However, it was so worth it to gather with believers and learn and grow together. These women have amazing stories. I can't wait to share them with those that are interested!! (Fall 2012 - now scheduling!) We returned on Mother's Day. My sweet family had the house cleaned and had found a nice table and chair set for the balcony. On the 10th, I celebrated my 35th birthday! WOW! I now have to move up a level in my face cream, but at least by company standards I am allowed to weigh more!! (YEAH!) The second weekend, we had locals from our first city in country fly over for a visit. It was so wonderful to reconnect. Praise the Lord for language growth as I was able to share more of my faith. We also attended the local fellowship together. There is nothing like hearing truth from people that know your background. I am so thankful to be a part of this special group. The third weekend, we took a trip out of the city. We traveled straight up into the mountains - 5 hours from here about a mile above sea level. It was an amazing 3 days. We climbed all over the biggest castle any of us have ever seen. We rode a ferry out to an island that had a monastery from 700AD. Grace's big event of the weekend was a trip to a cat reservation. There are only 300 pure Van cats left on the planet. The university in Van is now trying to preserve the breed. Honestly, I think they are a little freaky looking, but Grace enjoyed herself. You can Google it if interested. We have pictures on facebook of all these weekends. The kids have one more week of homeschool; however, we will continue having our language tutor through the summer. The kids are now working on language books with the grade levels they just finished in American school. (2nd & 3rd) I am so proud of them! May has been a wonderful and exciting month for the Travis family. We pray you all enjoy a wonderful Memorial Weekend and the start to an amazing summer.

I just wanted to catch everyone up; sorry this blog was a bit random....I love wild flowers! AT