Furlough Update

Time has seemed to fly by this last month, as we have filled our days and weeks in the States completely full. 

We have traveled to and shared with churches almost every weekend, and what an adventure that has been. You, those who support us, have welcomed us, fed us, housed us, listened to us, and invested in our involvement in God’s mission work in Papua New Guinea. It has been humbling to spend time with so many incredible Christ-followers here in the States who not only are part of the ministry overseas, but also are living out the call to love as we have been loved, right here in America. Please know that you are such a vital part of God's Kingdom. We are priviledged to have witnessed your ministry. Thank you for choosing also to be a part of our involvement in the critical mission work that we have fallen in love with, as God is reaching so many hurting people through the ministry at Kudjip, PNG.

During the week we have been living and working at Golden Bell camp ground. We love camp ministry! It feels very much like the mission station we live on in PNG, with so many friends living and working in close proximity to each other. You have to learn to be a team player for sure! 

We want to report that so far, we have raised almost half of our current need for $11,000, some in single gifts or offerings and some in monthly commitments over the next 8 months. We are praying about what needs to happen next financially to allow us to return to the mission field in 3 weeks. Please be praying with us, and please consider whether God is calling you to further partner with us financially. We are currently hoping to be able to return to Papua New Guinea to continue meeting the important need for a highschool teacher to the missionary kids and maintenance/construction, but this is contingent upon our having the required funds in our support account to be able to do so. 

If we have not been able to get together with you because we have not been in your area, but you would like to talk with us via skype or a phone call, please email and let us know, and we will set up a time! We would love to share with you however we can. 

Thank you for joining with us on this journey of following God's calling. 

Extravagance

I have always loved the word "extravagant." 

Something about it just sounds so... Extravagant. 

It brings to my mind luxuriant bubble baths.

Lush bouquets of red roses.

Exotic perfume.

Rich dark chocolate.

Thanksgiving feasts everyone walks away achingly full from. 

More than what is practical. 

More than what might be deemed necessary. 

More than the basics.

God seems to also love the idea of extravagance, I am finding.

He does not seem to be content to settle with a practical kind of love.

Practicality does not compel the God of Forever to the harshest, most ugly point in all of Time. 

Necessity not compel the Eternal to the cross.

The basics do not include loving the way He loves us. 

God seems to love extravagantly, I am finding. 

And He calls us to love the same way.

He invites us to enter into this overflowing exchange of extravagant love

Of impractical generosity

Of unnecessary kindness

Of life beyond the basics.

And I am finding that this extravagance flows several ways.

Like the extravagant gifts that are handed to our family by our home church, and other churches that have taken us in this summer.

Physical gifts of items that make our life easier.

Monetary gifts that support our life in ministry.

Gifts of time, and attention, allowing us to share our hearts with them.

Or like the impractical gifts we find ourself called to give others.

Gifts of our time and abilities, working and sharing.

Gifts of money or items that we find ourselves called to give.

Gifts of love and attention and conversation and life.

 And as we are called to give of ourselves extravagantly, 

We are in the same way gifted extravagantly.

In love

In life

In experience

And what an amazing existence, I am finding.

To dwell extravagantly.

To dwell with God.

To hold lightly to our possessions 

To our time

To our plans

Because The Eternal may choose at any point to interrupt us with extravagance.

And I, for one, am finding that I want to be ready to live extravagantly. 

The Case of the Jet Lagged Toddler

Well, as some of you have no doubt heard, our flight here was the definition of Horrible.
I will post Morgan's telling of that story at some point soon.
Let's just cite a few stats for now:
June 10, 2014: Leave Kudjip.
30 minute drive.
1 hour flight.
4 hour layover (tired toddler. first tantrum. first dose of Benadryl. Tantrum. Nap. Delayed flight. Toddler wakes up from nap as we finally board flight)
3 hour flight. (no toddler sleep. much toddler screams.)
bus ride to hotel (wrangling screaming children)
hotel (Toddler refuses to sleep in pack n play. finally goes to sleep on mommy.)
6 am get up. 7:20 bus ride. 8 am check in.
10:30 flight.

13 hour flight. 2 toddler naps, 45 minutes each. much toddler screams. much toddler tantrums. terrible, horrible flight from the Hot Place that never, ever, ever was going to ever, ever end.

7:00 am touchdown in LA.
Toddler finally passes out waiting for our flight to Denver, followed by the rest of the family. We almost miss our flight to Denver because we are all sleeping.
3 hour flight. Toddler and baby both sleep the entire flight. Heaven.
layover.
1 hour flight. Toddler is antsy, but containable.
6:30pm get to OKC.
Exhausted parents, but Trip From You Know Where is finally over! Sleep approaches! ... or not.

Enter: the Case of the Jet Lagged Toddler.
Theron took until 4am that first night to finally go to sleep, after going into hysterics many times. He was so very tired, but he didn't feel like it should be night time. We finally got him calmed down in a bath... and then I tried to put a diaper on him. Cue screams. He finally went to sleep on the living room floor watching his favorite movie. At a couple points during this night, which had followed many many hours of awake and emotional trauma, all members of the family were crying. Poor family.

Night 2: to bed at 11pm. Up at 12. Not down again until 3.
Nights 3-5: much the same as night 2, with slightly improving times and shorter Wake Ups.
Night 6: Down at 11:30, stayed down all night (Hallelujah!)

Lula did have some trouble staying asleep at the start of the nights, but improved each night pretty drastically. She just didn't want to go to sleep until 11 or so, even by Night 6.

Well, I have sworn that I will not rest (metaphorically speaking. I need all the literal rest I can get.) until I find some Magic Substance that will Knock Out my toddler for the return flight. Because we can't go through this again.
I hate using "drugs" on my kids unless absolutely necessary -- plus, Theron doesn't seem to respond well to them always. Needless to say, Benadryl on the flight was a dismal failure.
So, I'm starting with essential oils. I'm a little skeptical about them actually working, but a lot of people have told me to try them and hey, they smell really good. So why not? At least my kids will smell good while they are screaming!

So, on Night 7 (last night) I tried the essential oil blend we settled on in Theron's bath and on Lula's basket she sleeps in.
Both children went to bed at 9 and slept like they do at home all night long! (Theron all night, Lula with feeding) Now, I don't know if I have discovered Wonder Oil, or if jet lag is finally passing, but something worked last night. I'll keep trying this essential oil at different times (like the 10 hour drive we undertake later this week) and see if it works then.

If you know any Wonder Knock Out Toddler Substances that are safe and effective... let me know! I'm compiling a list for further testing. Hopefully, in two months, our flights are not such Purgatory Experiences.

Home Assignment!

The time has come which of course you have all been waiting for with bated breath: Home Assignment!

We will be coming back to the States this summer to share with some churches, to attend my (Danielle's) brother's wedding, and to raise support to enable us to return and continue serving in the fall. Our support goal is $11,000, which will pay for our plane tickets as well as housing, food, and transportation on the field. 

Right now our schedule stands as follows:

June 15, 10:30am: The Vine Community Church (49th & Western, OKC, OK)

June 18, evening: Edmond First Church of the Nazarene (3001 S Boulevard, Edmond, OK)

June 20, VBS evening: Tulsa Hills Church of the Nazarene (840 W. 81st St., Tulsa, OK  74132)

June 22, 10:30 am: Tulsa Hills Church of the Nazarene (short sharing during Sunday Morning)  

June 29, AM: Hope Springs Community Church of the Nazarene (559 Denver Ave. Loveland, CO)

July 6, AM: Valley Church of the Nazarene (228 Madison Street, Monte Vista, CO)

July 13, AM: Chapel Hill Church of the Nazarene (10 Chapel Hill Dr Brighton, CO)

August 3, 10am: Woodland Park Church of the Nazarene (750 N Hwy 67, Woodland Park, CO)

August 13, 7pm: Mountain Home Church of the Nazarene (950 N 7th E., Mountain Home, Idaho)


We will be updating that schedule as more is added. You can see our updated schedule at any time by clicking the Home Assignment link at the top of our blog.

If you are interested in having us come share with your church, your Sunday school, a group, or just getting together with us for coffee or dinner, email us at asmidgenofmadness@gmail.com 

If you are interested in joining our financial support team, see the Join Us link at the top of our blog. 

We're packing our suitcases! See you soon!

What the Parents Think

After doing interviews of all the highschool students to introduce you to them, I decided to ask their parents an "interview" question. I thought I'd share a couple responses with you, just to give you an idea of why I am here doing what I do!

Question: What does it mean to you and your ministry to have a highschool for the missionary kids here at Kudjip?

Ethan's parents: "We could not do our jobs if it weren’t for the HS.  We feel strongly that sending our kids to a boarding school is not an option for our family.  We are also committed to serving in our areas of ministry which requires full-time work.  In order to do that we need to know that our kids can get the education they need here on our station.  God has been faithful every year for as long as we have been here to provide teachers for our children and they have thrived!"

Allison's parents: "We would be having long conversations with our Father about His direction in our lives.  We have always felt that God has called our family to stay together.  If Kudjip did not have a high school and boarding school was the only option, that would directly affect our mission career. 

"Homeschooling would be an option, but Gail (me) helping as a teacher for the highschool age students would be a large stress!"

Jo and Lydia's parents:
"Having a highschool for the MK's at Kudjip means:
-our chlldren can live at home and still go to school!
-they have a teacher to help organize and supervise their schooling
-we parents can have input and make decisions about curriculum for our students
-they have a teacher who is also a spiritual mentor and a friend in their everyday life. (they see their teacher outside of the classroom).
-the kids can enjoy each other's company during the school day and for after-school activities
-our MK's participate in prayer and evangelism, as well as hospital visitation because they live right where ministry is taking place.
We love having our children as a part of our team at home, at work and at church!"

Caleb Hartwig

Meet Caleb.

Age: 14
Grade completed: 8th

His mom: Same as Zach's (Home Ec Teacher)

His dad: Same as Zach's (project manager for hydro)

They have been here in Papua New Guinea for: 2 years (previously in Ecuador) 

Most challenging thing about being an MK:

The responsibility of being an MK – people think so much of an MK that it can be harder to live up to. 

The best:

I’m not sure—I haven’t ever not been an MK, so I don’t know what is different

Favorite thing about the MK highschool:

Teachers (gold stars for Caleb)

That we can work ahead on our schedules, and we don’t need to wait for other students

Learning style:

People showing it to me

Favorite subject:

The ones that are finished

Least favorite subject:

English.

Because it’s English, It’s grammar. I don’t like English.

Want to study:

Probably… some kind of engineering. Probably an electrical engineer. 

Favorite things:

Short walks on the beach

Fire

Swimming

Air, air is nice. Oxygen.

Long airplane rides.

Favorite hobbies:

Computer games.

Movies. Board games, models, burning things. Throwing knives. 

Voted most likely to: 
Lick a spark plug

Sniff a stink bug

Become a gladiator

Grow a mustache

Build a robot named Herman

Best quote from the year:

Aunt Rachel:  Does anyone else have an example of a struggle with pride in their life?

Caleb: I used to have pride, before I came here, but Jo and Ethan have crushed it!

My favorite thing about Caleb
His deadpan sense of humor... either that, or he honestly doesn't know he's being funny.

Either way, it's humorous.

Ethan Myers

Meet Ethan.

Age: 16
Grade completed: 10th
His mom: Pediatrician working in the hospital

His dad: works with local church development

They have been here in Papua New Guinea for: 13 years

Most challenging thing about being an MK:

Separation from family in the states, and siblings that go to college in the states

The best:

"Family" of Kudjip station, close friends here

Favorite thing about the MK highschool:

It’s very relaxed and informal ( I don’t have to ask to go to the bathroom, and that is nice.)

Learning style:

Short sprints with long breaks

Favorite subject:

Math or biology

Biology because it is interesting

Math because it doesn’t take too much memorization and general learning, and I get to listen to music while I do it. It is mindless work.

Least favorite subject:

Literature

It’s subjective,  completely open to opinion, and positively boring. 

Interested in doing:

I have interest in military, but I’m not sure. 

Possibly flying helicopters. 

Favorite things:

Hanging out with small groups of close friends

Watching movies with friends

Talking

Computer games

weapons

Favorite hobbies:

Guitar and running

Voted most likely to: 
Become a bald hermit with a shotgun

Shave a chipmunk

Only ever use one chair in the course of his life

Interpret everything the teacher says as an insult that will scar him for life

Quotes from the year:
"I hate the pictures in my history book of people who already have facial hair, because that leaves nothing for me to do!"

"I can't help it, I have deep-set eyes. Which is actually better because they are more protected this way."

"It’s like sucking jello through a small straw…possible, but difficult."

My favorite thing about Ethan:
His refusal to be anything but his own crazy self.