In confirming with the movers, they asked me the other morning,
"And, do you know yet WHERE will we take these boxes for storage?"
I said, "I don't know yet."
"Wow." he said, "That's less than 2 weeks from now."
I told him that the Lord had it under control (but my faith was starting to waver from the tone of his voice).
Storage here is tricky: it's humid, so mold is a problem on anything natural material.
And space is a premium*, so it's costly...and often full.
(*Singapore has 6 times more people per sq mile than Los Angeles County - the most populous county in USA!)
I prayed as I hung up the phone, "Am I being irresponsible to trust you in this area? We've felt like you are asking us to do this move and will provide, so help me not to worry. Guide us and open doors for us in your timing."
He did. He has taken the wheel. At noon Jim got a call from someone here who wants to bless us by offering free storage space. That's a big answer that is easily fixed by a friend with a warehouse.
In all of this we're trying to have good goodbyes, because even though we plan to come back, one never knows who will still be here. For the children, some of their friends at the international school may have moved on by the time we get back, so they had one last big sleepover as a goodbye.
Cameron's was last weekend with 10 boys. Tyler's was Thursday. One last time for them to play the 21st century version of the boys game - Cops and Robbers: "Counter Terrorism." This 2 story apartment with a circular staircase is an awesome venue for nerf guns and setting up a security camera to spy on the other team. School was out for summer last Wednesday, so you can imagine what the week is like. Oh, yes. And in the midst of all this I've learned that Cameron doesn't have all his vaccinations! (Oops) We also went for a special Tuberculosis skin tests required for California schools. Just a few more details to navigate in the next 10 days. And glad to do it hear for a few dollars rather than navigate it in USA! Yeah for Singapore health care! Jesus take the wheel!
We had the first of 4 open houses Saturday. Farming out some items to friends, and doing the old "garage sale" thing too. We really don't like doing the selling part, but it is a good way to get to see more people before we leave. Gotta keep that in perspective when people start 'nickel and diming' me over something I'm a little reluctant to part with in the first place.
But plans for life in USA are taking shape. Tyler is signed up for an FCA football camp at UCSB the first week of July! He's excited (And so are we: football...or any sports is what this kid needs to humble and build character!). The golden boy was just was notified that he has "highest honors at entrance" for 9th grade at Maranatha High School in Pasadena. He's handling the transition well. Sweet 10 year old Cameron however is crying everyday about leaving his friends and parting with beloved toys and the unknown future for him in California. We're still praying for direction about school for him and his summer activities. These are small issues (even if it seems big to Cameron and I must not minimize it for him).
Right now there are other issues not as easily solved. Our helper Loonni has also been crying everyday. She recv'd news 2 weeks ago, the day after our return from China, the day we were kicking it into 'high gear' for the move, that her 13 year old son (in Thailand) had not attended the first 3 weeks of the school year there. He failed his exams last year and is being asked to repeat a grade. As is typical in her culture, she's been working abroad for 5 years to send money back to support the family. There is no dad in this boys life. She was panicked because of the hardened tone in her son's voice. He'd told her he was going to join a buddhist monastery. He's given up. He feels his only hope is to be a monk. And he wasn't going to wait for her to return in 2 weeks. He was going to do it over the weekend. Our cheerful Loonni was despondent over this...as any mother would be!
Our packing, sorting, tying up ministry stuff and goodbyes etc came to a halt as we helped her navigate this with loads of talking and praying, international directory assistance, long distance phone calls to the school and her family (only one person in her village has a phone!). In the end he's agreed to not commit himself to the monastery and will go back to school when she comes back (her non-refundable air ticket is for June 14th).
In all of this, Loonni is starting to realize that she will probably have to stay in Thailand for good. This means that she'll not return to work with us in a year (which she does like millions of others do to support the family financially). This realization feels to her like a death sentence of poverty, loneliness, and backbreaking work (if you recall, we've been to her village, so we know a little of what she's in for). Not to mention that she's the only Christian for miles (in a region of people living in fear of evil spirits and following Buddhism). This past weekend, with loads of people praying for her here, she got advice at her Thai church to not return immediately but to stay with us until the scheduled flight. We're having her call home everyday. It's an emotional rollercoaster for her. This is the sobering backdrop to any of my stresses or sadness about leaving, or uncertainty about this next year for me.
That contrast for me is not the only thing that gives me perspective. We have long time missionary friends with boys Tyler and Cameron's ages, the Saucys who packed up and left Ukraine 3 months ago. In less than a month start to finish they were all back in California because they'd discovered that cancer has returned for Bonnie. We've been planning our move for more than a year. This wonderful family is now back in USA trusting God for bigger things than where to store their stuff and which school the children will attend. It is amazing to read their emails filled with courage and confidence that "God is able to supply all their needs according to his riches in Christ Jesus."
This has been a year of prayer for me. I feel like I'm only just beginning to grasp some of the power we have through faith to "move mountains." I'm learning a reality of our strength in Jesus over the Enemy when he schemes to find where we're weak and is bringing on the full assault in that area. For me one of those areas is self-reliance. I'm seeing how in ceasing to strive (if I start to feel overwhelmed, I used to work harder, now I just stop and lay on my bed and cry out to God). He has been showing me that he will supply greater capacity whether we're needing to cut back or ramp up. He has taken the wheel when life needs to be simplified (like last year with the neck injury), or juggled because of an overflowing season of life in transition. He is filling me with compassion and resources to live beyond myself as I abide in him.
How do people live without Jesus?
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