We arrived on Saipan Tuesday evening (Tuesday morning for any IL folks)! We arrived around 10:00 p.m. Tuesday, dropped our luggage off at the apartment and were taken to a LATE dinner. By that point, Jason, Emilia and I were all pretty well brain-dead, but we were glad to not eat airplane food.
The first nights were pretty rough for Emilia. No matter how tired she was from the day, she would wake up around 3:30 ready for the day. A couple of those days, I was able to convince her to stay in her room quietly, and she made it until about 5:00 before coming back in to get me. I know it's mostly due to jet lag, but I think she is also still adjusting to the warmer climate.
Because electricity is so expensive, we do not use AC during the day. We only run it for about an hour before we go to bed, in the bedrooms, just to take the humidity out of the air a little. We are SOSO thankful that we were able to purchase two fans from the previous apartment occupants (Grant and Kara)...they are definitely a necessity for keeping relatively cool, at night and especially during the day. I have been told by a 2nd year teacher that they pretty much move their fan to whatever room of the apartment they are in.
Emilia and I try to spend as much time outside, in the shade, as we can. During the day, it is usually a little cooler outside than in our apartment- even with our front and back doors open. It has been challenging to keep her occupied and entertained when I have to rest so frequently, but we are working on it.
I know I am truly blessed to be able to stay home with her every day, but I agonize over what to do with her each day. I'm not sure if it's more difficult this time because she is older or because I have to try and make sure we stay cool whatever we are doing...but I already feel like I'm failing her somehow. I am hopefully going to look into a part-time preschool option that will give her some social interaction. That has been a little tricky so far too...none of the other teachers in the apartments have any kids so we spend most of our time just the two of us. So far it has been fun, but I know she needs (and WANTS) to be around other kids. She asks almost every day if she gets to play with any new friends today. That makes my heart hurt a little. But I know it's only a matter of time before she gets to make new friends and have someone other than me to play with. ;-)
We attended church services for the first time yesterday and they were really great. The English speaking service is at 10:30 a.m. and everyone was very friendly. There were several familiar faces, even more so for Jason since he has been here before. Emilia fell asleep in my lap and totally missed Children's Church. She was pretty bummed about that. We went to lunch with a group of the teachers and then took E to the park in the afternoon. The Filipino service is at 5:00 p.m. and it was also very welcoming. They invited us to dinner afterwards at a local, authentic Japanese restaurant. Our group was very large, so it took well over an hour to get our food. But it was really fun getting to know some of the congregation and there was a little 9-yr-old girl who played with Emilia the whole time (yay!!). We got home pretty late, but that helped Emilia sleep in until 7:30 so I'm good with that!!
The other thing we've done so far is move E's bed into our bedroom so we are only running 1 AC unit at night. We were given this suggestion by another family who used to live in the apartments. While it is not ideal to have Emilia sleeping in the same room as us, it will really help keep our electricity costs down, which is totally worth it.
I apologize for the randomness of this post...I still haven't quite figured things out but I wanted to give a little update. I am also sorry if any of this sounds like complaining; it isn't meant to. I am just logging some thoughts from the beginning of this journey. I know God is moving in our lives and hearts and it will be good to look back and see how far we've come.
Showing posts with label Travel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Travel. Show all posts
Monday, July 30, 2012
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Just a matter of weeks
The closer we get to our Saipan launch date, the more I begin to count big milestones by number of weeks. This helps make these events more tangible, and also makes them a little scary! This is my life, in a matter of weeks:
3 Weeks left at my current job
4 Weeks left until we go on full mission support
4 Weeks until we *hopefully* find out Saipan Baby's gender (Make your guesses now!) ;0)
(Less than) 5 Weeks until we (Emilia included) leave for a month-long Cultural Training course in North Carolina
8 Weeks until our Commissioning Service at Skyline Church
9 Weeks until the General Baptist Missions & Ministry Summit in Springfield, MO
10 Weeks until we say Goodbye to everyone and everything we have ever known, board a plane (or three...) and say Hello to a whole new life God has planned for us!
24 Weeks to Saipan Baby's due date
Whew! Does that list make anyone besides me tired and a little anxious?? More tired than anxious. I Know God has this all under control, and I trust Him with everything.
It just doesn't seem possible that we are THIS CLOSE to leaving. Wasn't it just September when we were announcing the initial decision? How did so much time sneak by us? Crunch time is here and I feel under-prepared. It looks like it might be time to start making lists again...oh rats! ;-)
3 Weeks left at my current job
4 Weeks left until we go on full mission support
4 Weeks until we *hopefully* find out Saipan Baby's gender (Make your guesses now!) ;0)
(Less than) 5 Weeks until we (Emilia included) leave for a month-long Cultural Training course in North Carolina
8 Weeks until our Commissioning Service at Skyline Church
9 Weeks until the General Baptist Missions & Ministry Summit in Springfield, MO
10 Weeks until we say Goodbye to everyone and everything we have ever known, board a plane (or three...) and say Hello to a whole new life God has planned for us!
24 Weeks to Saipan Baby's due date
Whew! Does that list make anyone besides me tired and a little anxious?? More tired than anxious. I Know God has this all under control, and I trust Him with everything.
It just doesn't seem possible that we are THIS CLOSE to leaving. Wasn't it just September when we were announcing the initial decision? How did so much time sneak by us? Crunch time is here and I feel under-prepared. It looks like it might be time to start making lists again...oh rats! ;-)
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Update :: 15 Weeks
I am 15 weeks pregnant as of today and still feeling good. Not much has changed since last week, but here are the highlights:
*Baby is now about the size of an apple!
*Still not nauseous, still tired.
*No new cravings. I did feed the fried fish craving last night (YUM!!) and continue to drink apple juice almost daily. Oddly, I haven't been very interested in food this week. Nothing sounds all that good. I'm still eating, it's just not as fun. Haha!
*Weight: Holding strong, no weight gain! (I just wanted to mention that I know it probably seems like I am overly concerned about weight gain. I really over-did it in this area while pregnant with Emilia. So I am trying to do better this time of watching what I eat and exercising regularly. Also, I started this pregnany a little overweight, so I'm not supposed to gain as much during the pregnancy. Don't worry about me- I'm still eating plenty; I am just trying to make better decisions this time around!)
*According to Jason and my mom (and me, if I am being honest), my belly has started to poke out a little. This is probably my least favorite stage because I don't look pregnant...just like I gained a few pounds. I don't like the "chubby belly preggo stage" and hope it passes quickly. My regular clothes still fit well, you can just notice my belly more than before.
*Zumba is starting to kick my butt! I have to modify several moves and I Really don't like having to do that. I want to be able to give 110%, but I know it isn't a good idea for me, or the baby. So I do all the moves I can and modify the rest. Again, since I do not exactly look pregnant yet, I feel like announcing to the class that "I am pregnant, not just a wuss". I doubt anyone else cares about this as much as I do anyway. ;-)
In other news:
The search rages on for a good double jogging stroller. I have been looking into a friend's recommendation about the Baby Jogger City Mini Double Stroller. From what I am told, they actually fold down to the size of a regular single stroller. This would be great because we would be able to take it on the planes- not just on our initial move to Saipan, but anytime we visit surrounding areas. The trouble is- these strollers are EXPENSIVE!! Way outside our budget, for sure. I have been scouring Craiglist and even eBay for a good deal on one. I feel like I am really obsessing over this one item, and maybe I am. The reason I am overly concerned about finding a good double jogger is because Walmart does not ship strollers overseas. So far, everything else I have looked up (pack n play, swing, car seat, etc.) will ship for $1.97 each (YAAY!!). But, strollers are just too big. I don't really want to test my luck about finding one once on island, so I am trying to plan ahead. I honestly don't entirely care about the brand, as long as it has kid trays and a swivel wheel. But, I am trying to find the best (and most cost-effective) option for our family.
J and I also discussed baby's sleeping options this week. I looked at a couple mini-cribs and came across a review that mentioned putting a mini crib mattress in a pack n play. The reviews said it fit perfectly. Soo, I think we might give this option a try. Baby will be sleeping in our room for who-knows-how-long (only a 2 bedroom apartment and we don't think Emilia will do well with a roommate...she's not a great sleeper). But our room is pretty small, so we were worried about how much space a full-sized crib would take up. A pack n play seems like a perfect solution. It is small and with the added 3" crib mattress, it will have the same level of comfort as in a crib. That's the opinion of the week, at any rate.
I have a little collection of white onesies already underway, yay! I decided to start looking for them at yard sales, clearance, etc. so that once we know the gender of our baby, I can start dyeing some, appliqueing others, and fill the wardrobe this way. If we have a girl again, I have most of the onesies we will need. But if we have a boy, I am seriously lacking. (Notice I didn't say empty-handed...yes, I have a tote *or two* of cute little boy clothes I have picked up over the years, just in case we ever had a boy. I'm THAT girl.)
I have an appointment this coming Monday (5/9) for a regular check up. I think I will get the results of my blood tests and that should be about it. I am trying to psych myself up to ask for a sneak ultrasound (which my doctor is known for doing from time to time). I want to test this theory I was told about by my friend Lacey- The Nub Theory. She says she was able to tell her second baby was going to be a boy at 12 weeks. She was right! I have only done minimal research on the subject, but I think it would be fun to test the theory. I am planning to ask my doctor if she has ever heard of it and say I would love to test the theory if we had time for a quick u/s. Wish me luck! (O:
OK, so I guess a thing or two happened this week, now that I look back at this post! Haha! I hope I didn't bore you too much! ;-)
*Baby is now about the size of an apple!
*Still not nauseous, still tired.
*No new cravings. I did feed the fried fish craving last night (YUM!!) and continue to drink apple juice almost daily. Oddly, I haven't been very interested in food this week. Nothing sounds all that good. I'm still eating, it's just not as fun. Haha!
*Weight: Holding strong, no weight gain! (I just wanted to mention that I know it probably seems like I am overly concerned about weight gain. I really over-did it in this area while pregnant with Emilia. So I am trying to do better this time of watching what I eat and exercising regularly. Also, I started this pregnany a little overweight, so I'm not supposed to gain as much during the pregnancy. Don't worry about me- I'm still eating plenty; I am just trying to make better decisions this time around!)
*According to Jason and my mom (and me, if I am being honest), my belly has started to poke out a little. This is probably my least favorite stage because I don't look pregnant...just like I gained a few pounds. I don't like the "chubby belly preggo stage" and hope it passes quickly. My regular clothes still fit well, you can just notice my belly more than before.
*Zumba is starting to kick my butt! I have to modify several moves and I Really don't like having to do that. I want to be able to give 110%, but I know it isn't a good idea for me, or the baby. So I do all the moves I can and modify the rest. Again, since I do not exactly look pregnant yet, I feel like announcing to the class that "I am pregnant, not just a wuss". I doubt anyone else cares about this as much as I do anyway. ;-)
In other news:
The search rages on for a good double jogging stroller. I have been looking into a friend's recommendation about the Baby Jogger City Mini Double Stroller. From what I am told, they actually fold down to the size of a regular single stroller. This would be great because we would be able to take it on the planes- not just on our initial move to Saipan, but anytime we visit surrounding areas. The trouble is- these strollers are EXPENSIVE!! Way outside our budget, for sure. I have been scouring Craiglist and even eBay for a good deal on one. I feel like I am really obsessing over this one item, and maybe I am. The reason I am overly concerned about finding a good double jogger is because Walmart does not ship strollers overseas. So far, everything else I have looked up (pack n play, swing, car seat, etc.) will ship for $1.97 each (YAAY!!). But, strollers are just too big. I don't really want to test my luck about finding one once on island, so I am trying to plan ahead. I honestly don't entirely care about the brand, as long as it has kid trays and a swivel wheel. But, I am trying to find the best (and most cost-effective) option for our family.
J and I also discussed baby's sleeping options this week. I looked at a couple mini-cribs and came across a review that mentioned putting a mini crib mattress in a pack n play. The reviews said it fit perfectly. Soo, I think we might give this option a try. Baby will be sleeping in our room for who-knows-how-long (only a 2 bedroom apartment and we don't think Emilia will do well with a roommate...she's not a great sleeper). But our room is pretty small, so we were worried about how much space a full-sized crib would take up. A pack n play seems like a perfect solution. It is small and with the added 3" crib mattress, it will have the same level of comfort as in a crib. That's the opinion of the week, at any rate.
I have a little collection of white onesies already underway, yay! I decided to start looking for them at yard sales, clearance, etc. so that once we know the gender of our baby, I can start dyeing some, appliqueing others, and fill the wardrobe this way. If we have a girl again, I have most of the onesies we will need. But if we have a boy, I am seriously lacking. (Notice I didn't say empty-handed...yes, I have a tote *or two* of cute little boy clothes I have picked up over the years, just in case we ever had a boy. I'm THAT girl.)
I have an appointment this coming Monday (5/9) for a regular check up. I think I will get the results of my blood tests and that should be about it. I am trying to psych myself up to ask for a sneak ultrasound (which my doctor is known for doing from time to time). I want to test this theory I was told about by my friend Lacey- The Nub Theory. She says she was able to tell her second baby was going to be a boy at 12 weeks. She was right! I have only done minimal research on the subject, but I think it would be fun to test the theory. I am planning to ask my doctor if she has ever heard of it and say I would love to test the theory if we had time for a quick u/s. Wish me luck! (O:
OK, so I guess a thing or two happened this week, now that I look back at this post! Haha! I hope I didn't bore you too much! ;-)
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Rely {Fully} on God
The last few weeks have been a little rough in the Warren household. I really feel like Satan has been attacking me with a few things and I haven't been doing very well with it. It wasn't until one day last week while praying on my way to work that God told me exactly what to do. {TRUST ME}.
As you may know, our main focus at present is raising support before leaving for Saipan in July. This involves seeking out Support Team Partners who will commit to donating as little as $10/month for the 2 years we will be gone. This money is what makes our mission work on Saipan possible. In addition to that, we also have one lump sum amount to raise to pay for travel to Saipan, shipping of goods, etc. A lot of numbers that are always on my mind. In the course of only a couple days the week before last (it may have been last week actually...?), we had a couple sets of bad news in this area. They really rocked my heart and I was honestly struggling with each sad response.
I do not want to go into great detail about this, because in the grand scheme of things it isn't overly important. But, I will say that we have been heart broken to realize some relationships aren't as strong as we believed them to be. Relationships that span over one or more decades. It hurts. It hurts hearing "no" from people of power within churches and not even being offered prayer or encouragement in its place. It hurts to find out a church's promised commitment has to be revoked due to grumblings of a few. It hurts being told "we can't help" from people we have known for years and considered close friends. While maybe I shouldn't take it to this extreme, it feels like we are being told that we are not worth a sacrifice on their part- like the work God is calling us to do on Saipan isn't worth their $0.34 a day.
Yes, I do understand that there truly are circumstances out there in which some of our loved ones will not be able to support us financially. The economy is rough and people have other obligations. I am not saying any of this as a judgement against anyone. The point I am trying to make is that even when a person (or group) says they cannot support us monetarily, it has rarely been followed up with an offering of prayer and encouragement. We are in desperate need of the prayers and encouragement of those around us. Prayer will be the fuel for everything we do Here and on Saipan. I understand if one cannot afford to sponsor us, but please keep us close in your prayers and share words of encouragement.
As I said, Satan has really been pushing these sad thoughts on my mind recently and it has worn me down. I started feeling defeated. I started talking to God about each specific situation and how it felt. Once I poured out my heart, I felt a sense of calm. That is when I heard Him- not audibly, but definitely from Him- saying {TRUST ME}. It was time to stop relying on my own efforts or the efforts of my husband, our missions director or other people. It is time to rely FULLY on God and to know that His timing is excellent and perfect. Yes, I am scared at the loss of shares we encountered last week and find myself wishing to reach our goal {soon}. But, these are not things within my control. God has the plan. I just need to keep working towards the goal and HE will make sure we get there.
I want to add- This journey has had way more joys than sorrows, for sure. God has used a number of people to bless us beyond our expectations. More than once, a Share Card has come in or a conversation has been had and we are blown away by the generousity of our friends and family. God's blessings are not coming from the places we had deemed most likely or the places/people we were "counting on". His blessings are being poured out by His servants- those willing to sacrifice for the mission on Saipan.
These people do not even know how much they have touched our lives, and they may never fully know. But it was the reminder I needed to refocus my energy and emotions. I only need to rely {fully} on God and His timing. July is coming and through God's provisions, we WILL be ready.
As you may know, our main focus at present is raising support before leaving for Saipan in July. This involves seeking out Support Team Partners who will commit to donating as little as $10/month for the 2 years we will be gone. This money is what makes our mission work on Saipan possible. In addition to that, we also have one lump sum amount to raise to pay for travel to Saipan, shipping of goods, etc. A lot of numbers that are always on my mind. In the course of only a couple days the week before last (it may have been last week actually...?), we had a couple sets of bad news in this area. They really rocked my heart and I was honestly struggling with each sad response.
I do not want to go into great detail about this, because in the grand scheme of things it isn't overly important. But, I will say that we have been heart broken to realize some relationships aren't as strong as we believed them to be. Relationships that span over one or more decades. It hurts. It hurts hearing "no" from people of power within churches and not even being offered prayer or encouragement in its place. It hurts to find out a church's promised commitment has to be revoked due to grumblings of a few. It hurts being told "we can't help" from people we have known for years and considered close friends. While maybe I shouldn't take it to this extreme, it feels like we are being told that we are not worth a sacrifice on their part- like the work God is calling us to do on Saipan isn't worth their $0.34 a day.
Yes, I do understand that there truly are circumstances out there in which some of our loved ones will not be able to support us financially. The economy is rough and people have other obligations. I am not saying any of this as a judgement against anyone. The point I am trying to make is that even when a person (or group) says they cannot support us monetarily, it has rarely been followed up with an offering of prayer and encouragement. We are in desperate need of the prayers and encouragement of those around us. Prayer will be the fuel for everything we do Here and on Saipan. I understand if one cannot afford to sponsor us, but please keep us close in your prayers and share words of encouragement.
As I said, Satan has really been pushing these sad thoughts on my mind recently and it has worn me down. I started feeling defeated. I started talking to God about each specific situation and how it felt. Once I poured out my heart, I felt a sense of calm. That is when I heard Him- not audibly, but definitely from Him- saying {TRUST ME}. It was time to stop relying on my own efforts or the efforts of my husband, our missions director or other people. It is time to rely FULLY on God and to know that His timing is excellent and perfect. Yes, I am scared at the loss of shares we encountered last week and find myself wishing to reach our goal {soon}. But, these are not things within my control. God has the plan. I just need to keep working towards the goal and HE will make sure we get there.
I want to add- This journey has had way more joys than sorrows, for sure. God has used a number of people to bless us beyond our expectations. More than once, a Share Card has come in or a conversation has been had and we are blown away by the generousity of our friends and family. God's blessings are not coming from the places we had deemed most likely or the places/people we were "counting on". His blessings are being poured out by His servants- those willing to sacrifice for the mission on Saipan.
These people do not even know how much they have touched our lives, and they may never fully know. But it was the reminder I needed to refocus my energy and emotions. I only need to rely {fully} on God and His timing. July is coming and through God's provisions, we WILL be ready.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Manic Monday
I have a friend (who blogs here) but who also had an old blog on which she usually posted a "Manic Monday" post. This post always seemed so fitting because no matter what the state of one's weekend was, by Monday it all seems to have been a blur. This past weekend was no exception for me.
After working 6-4 Tuesday thru Friday last week to make up for Monday's sick day, I was totally pooped. But, Jason asked to take Emilia and I out on a little family date and even agreed to stop at a fabric store for a few supplies I needed (wow!). We went to the mall food court for dinner because we love Chick-fil-A. It was a wonderful evening spent together laughing at E's newest quirks and funny statements, holding hands, chicken and fabric.
I had high hopes of sleeping in LATE on Saturday, but Emilia had other plans for me. She was in our bed by 7...but after waking at 4a.m. each day last week, that was still technically sleeping in. ;-) We bounced downstairs, arms full of all the supplies we needed to start working on her "Rosetta dress"- which is actually a tutu style skirt. I really had no idea how I was going to put this thing together, but I knew I wanted it to look similar to the skirt Rosetta wears in the Tinkerbell movies. So far, I *love* how it is turning out! Unfortunately, my borrowed sewing maching started acting up with only 2 layers of petals remaining to sew...bummer. But, I at least had it somewhat constructed and one layer of petals attached so Emilia could test it out after naptime. Success- she loves it! She says it is a beautiful Rosetta dress, so I think that is a win. I want to wait until it is finished (as well as a coordinating shirt) before I post photos, but be excited. Her fairy party is going to be SO fun!! (O:
Saturday afternoon we headed for Cape Girardeau for two church visits on Sunday. We were very fortunate to have a Warren relative (don't ask my what relation..) open her home to us so we didn't have to pay for a stay in a hotel. She was actually out of town for the weekend, but still let us stay. It was weird but great. Weird to be in a home we had never been to and felt odd searching for the right rooms to sleep in as well as tracking down the linen closet (luckily, it was IN the bathroom). ;-) But nice to have a quiet place to ourselves for the night as well as an all-family naptime between the morning and evening services on Sunday. Not to mention the amazing Barbie dream house she had in the play area of her basement (for her grandkids). This wasn't a cheap-o plastic house, someone constructed it out of wood, complete with working Elevator! Emilia (and I) were in awe!
Sunday was a whirlwind of a day, but we definitely feel blessed to have had the opporunity for these visits. The morning church, Connection Point Church in Jackson, MO, was so welcoming and friendly. We added 17 new committed shares, 7 additional prayer partners, as well as a substantial amount in donations to the general fund (which covers our plane tickets, shipping, etc.) We were taken to lunch at a local BBQ place (yum!) and had just enough time for a quick nap before heading to the evening church in Scott City. 1st General Baptist Church was holding their Association's local meeting that night and had a youth-oriented service after dinner. It was so refreshing to see all the young people of these churches coming together and putting on skits and other dramas for God's glory. I love seeing passion in our youth! Jason was given 20 minutes to speak and he did a great job. We had a number of people come back and take Share Cards to look and pray over at home. We left Scott City around 8:20p.m. and after one dinner stop (me) and one potty stop (Emilia), we made it home close to 11.
I am dragging this morning, but feeling incredibly blessed. I am often asked if I am scared about moving so far away. But honestly, I just feel honored and very very blessed to have been called to Saipan. God is teaching me to trust His will and follow where He leads. I cannot imagine being scared of these wonderful things God has planned for us.
After working 6-4 Tuesday thru Friday last week to make up for Monday's sick day, I was totally pooped. But, Jason asked to take Emilia and I out on a little family date and even agreed to stop at a fabric store for a few supplies I needed (wow!). We went to the mall food court for dinner because we love Chick-fil-A. It was a wonderful evening spent together laughing at E's newest quirks and funny statements, holding hands, chicken and fabric.
I had high hopes of sleeping in LATE on Saturday, but Emilia had other plans for me. She was in our bed by 7...but after waking at 4a.m. each day last week, that was still technically sleeping in. ;-) We bounced downstairs, arms full of all the supplies we needed to start working on her "Rosetta dress"- which is actually a tutu style skirt. I really had no idea how I was going to put this thing together, but I knew I wanted it to look similar to the skirt Rosetta wears in the Tinkerbell movies. So far, I *love* how it is turning out! Unfortunately, my borrowed sewing maching started acting up with only 2 layers of petals remaining to sew...bummer. But, I at least had it somewhat constructed and one layer of petals attached so Emilia could test it out after naptime. Success- she loves it! She says it is a beautiful Rosetta dress, so I think that is a win. I want to wait until it is finished (as well as a coordinating shirt) before I post photos, but be excited. Her fairy party is going to be SO fun!! (O:
Saturday afternoon we headed for Cape Girardeau for two church visits on Sunday. We were very fortunate to have a Warren relative (don't ask my what relation..) open her home to us so we didn't have to pay for a stay in a hotel. She was actually out of town for the weekend, but still let us stay. It was weird but great. Weird to be in a home we had never been to and felt odd searching for the right rooms to sleep in as well as tracking down the linen closet (luckily, it was IN the bathroom). ;-) But nice to have a quiet place to ourselves for the night as well as an all-family naptime between the morning and evening services on Sunday. Not to mention the amazing Barbie dream house she had in the play area of her basement (for her grandkids). This wasn't a cheap-o plastic house, someone constructed it out of wood, complete with working Elevator! Emilia (and I) were in awe!
Sunday was a whirlwind of a day, but we definitely feel blessed to have had the opporunity for these visits. The morning church, Connection Point Church in Jackson, MO, was so welcoming and friendly. We added 17 new committed shares, 7 additional prayer partners, as well as a substantial amount in donations to the general fund (which covers our plane tickets, shipping, etc.) We were taken to lunch at a local BBQ place (yum!) and had just enough time for a quick nap before heading to the evening church in Scott City. 1st General Baptist Church was holding their Association's local meeting that night and had a youth-oriented service after dinner. It was so refreshing to see all the young people of these churches coming together and putting on skits and other dramas for God's glory. I love seeing passion in our youth! Jason was given 20 minutes to speak and he did a great job. We had a number of people come back and take Share Cards to look and pray over at home. We left Scott City around 8:20p.m. and after one dinner stop (me) and one potty stop (Emilia), we made it home close to 11.
I am dragging this morning, but feeling incredibly blessed. I am often asked if I am scared about moving so far away. But honestly, I just feel honored and very very blessed to have been called to Saipan. God is teaching me to trust His will and follow where He leads. I cannot imagine being scared of these wonderful things God has planned for us.
Friday, March 2, 2012
On the road again
After attending our home church for the past three weeks, we are headed back out on the road this weekend. Our director at General Baptist International Missions (GBIM), Sam has the next 5 Sundays scheduled all over IL and MO, and is working on the following weeks already. Most weeks we are presenting at one church in the AM and another in the PM. It is excited to see things line up and come together.
This weekend we are headed down around the Cape Girardeau area, about 2-2.5 hours from home. Luckily, we have a relative that lives in Cape and she is hosting us overnight on Saturday and between visits on Sunday. It will great to have a familiar face while away, and I'm super excited that we will have a decent place for Emilia to (hopefully) nap after morning church on Sunday.
The church we are visiting on Sunday morning has two services, which is a new first for us. Jason has been given only 5-6 minutes to speak at each service. This will be somewhat of a challenge- to show the passion we have, the need of the people on Saipan and move people to support- but luckily Jason is ready for it. The leadership training he was at recently spent a lot of time teaching how to compact stories and presentations for the most impact. J already knows exactly what he is going to say and knows he won't go over his alloted time. That afternoon, at 3:00, I think, we are attending the Southern Missouri Local Association Meeting. I think 3-6 is the business part of the meeting, which we will sit in on. Then at 6:30 a worship service begins and Jason has been given 15-20 minutes to speak. The awesome part about this meeting is that it will have members of all the local GB churches. So we can reach that many more people all at one place and time. Each visit will also include a Love Offering, from which we are raising the money we need in order to travel to Saipan, ship items over, etc. So far, everyone has been very generous in their support and I look forward to adding more members to our Support Team.
One other thing I am excited about regarding this trip is eating at LAMBERTS!! (O: I had never been to this restaurant before meeting Jason's family and now I'm hooked. Anytime I think we are close enough to stop, I beg. Haha. Yummy home-style cooking (we don't count calories on Lamberts visits...), rolls being thrown and a drink in one of those Huge 32oz travel mugs. Even though mine will not hold Sweet Tea as it has in the past, I love the big jugs. Ice water 32oz at a time will be lovely...right? ;-)
The part that makes me a little tired is thinking about the drive home after our Sunday evening church visit...and waking up for work on Monday morning. I am very blessed to have a job that allows me to work any hours I want as long as I hit 40 by the end of the week. I usually work 7-4, which means leaving my house by 6:20 and waking up by 5:30. Hopefully I can sleep on the drive home.
I know God's plan is perfect and that He will continue to bless these visits as He has so far. I am slowly letting go of my worry and sinful doubt. I like to see the big picture, and I am learning to be content with the parts God shows me as we go. We will get to Saipan, this I know. I trust Him and I do not need to see all the dots line up right now. God is in control and I am just happy to be doing His will!
Have a wonderful day! (O:
This weekend we are headed down around the Cape Girardeau area, about 2-2.5 hours from home. Luckily, we have a relative that lives in Cape and she is hosting us overnight on Saturday and between visits on Sunday. It will great to have a familiar face while away, and I'm super excited that we will have a decent place for Emilia to (hopefully) nap after morning church on Sunday.
The church we are visiting on Sunday morning has two services, which is a new first for us. Jason has been given only 5-6 minutes to speak at each service. This will be somewhat of a challenge- to show the passion we have, the need of the people on Saipan and move people to support- but luckily Jason is ready for it. The leadership training he was at recently spent a lot of time teaching how to compact stories and presentations for the most impact. J already knows exactly what he is going to say and knows he won't go over his alloted time. That afternoon, at 3:00, I think, we are attending the Southern Missouri Local Association Meeting. I think 3-6 is the business part of the meeting, which we will sit in on. Then at 6:30 a worship service begins and Jason has been given 15-20 minutes to speak. The awesome part about this meeting is that it will have members of all the local GB churches. So we can reach that many more people all at one place and time. Each visit will also include a Love Offering, from which we are raising the money we need in order to travel to Saipan, ship items over, etc. So far, everyone has been very generous in their support and I look forward to adding more members to our Support Team.
One other thing I am excited about regarding this trip is eating at LAMBERTS!! (O: I had never been to this restaurant before meeting Jason's family and now I'm hooked. Anytime I think we are close enough to stop, I beg. Haha. Yummy home-style cooking (we don't count calories on Lamberts visits...), rolls being thrown and a drink in one of those Huge 32oz travel mugs. Even though mine will not hold Sweet Tea as it has in the past, I love the big jugs. Ice water 32oz at a time will be lovely...right? ;-)
The part that makes me a little tired is thinking about the drive home after our Sunday evening church visit...and waking up for work on Monday morning. I am very blessed to have a job that allows me to work any hours I want as long as I hit 40 by the end of the week. I usually work 7-4, which means leaving my house by 6:20 and waking up by 5:30. Hopefully I can sleep on the drive home.
I know God's plan is perfect and that He will continue to bless these visits as He has so far. I am slowly letting go of my worry and sinful doubt. I like to see the big picture, and I am learning to be content with the parts God shows me as we go. We will get to Saipan, this I know. I trust Him and I do not need to see all the dots line up right now. God is in control and I am just happy to be doing His will!
Have a wonderful day! (O:
Friday, February 24, 2012
Refocusing
I have been pretty quiet this week on blogger...and fb...and life. I tried to keep my complaints to a minimum while Jason has been away. I know there are many circumstances that blow this 2 week stint out of the water.
I reminded myself this morning that there are military families all over the world who are going through so much more than me right now. Yes, I miss my husband and Emilia misses her daddy. Yes, Emilia's behavior and attitude have been on the decline since he left and it makes me sad. But what are these 16 days compared to 6 months-1 year-Years apart? We have a lot of changes going on in our little family right now and there are many hard days. But this can not even compare to the sacrifices our military families- including the several friends I have who are in the military. Families moving every two years, going for months at a time without seeing or talking to their families, moving across the world away from everything they have ever known. Shame on me for throwing a pity party this morning. My husband is safe and will be home tomorrow. Some families live in constant fear that their loved ones are in danger and may never come home.
Thank you to all my military friends, their spouses and families for the huge sacrifices you make for our country. May we never forget- even for a moment- how your lives make our lives and our country better. (I will work on a couple posts soon to get back on track...no more pity parties for me.)
I reminded myself this morning that there are military families all over the world who are going through so much more than me right now. Yes, I miss my husband and Emilia misses her daddy. Yes, Emilia's behavior and attitude have been on the decline since he left and it makes me sad. But what are these 16 days compared to 6 months-1 year-Years apart? We have a lot of changes going on in our little family right now and there are many hard days. But this can not even compare to the sacrifices our military families- including the several friends I have who are in the military. Families moving every two years, going for months at a time without seeing or talking to their families, moving across the world away from everything they have ever known. Shame on me for throwing a pity party this morning. My husband is safe and will be home tomorrow. Some families live in constant fear that their loved ones are in danger and may never come home.
Thank you to all my military friends, their spouses and families for the huge sacrifices you make for our country. May we never forget- even for a moment- how your lives make our lives and our country better. (I will work on a couple posts soon to get back on track...no more pity parties for me.)
Thursday, February 16, 2012
FB Friends and Saipan Purchases
As I have mentioned before, I am completely addicted to a couple of people on Saipan who keeps blogs. If I had to pick, I would say Grant and Kara's (Saipan : Teaching, Living & Recreation) is my favorite. They are very thorough in their reviews and descriptions of life on the island. Jason "friended" Grant on Facebook at some point (I think a long time ago) and has been telling me I need to look through his photos to see more of the island and also get some more glimpses of the apartments.
I spent some time this morning doing just that. The apartments are a decent size- when you walk in the front door, you are in the kitchen then the dining room then the living room- all open to each other, sort of loft-style. One one side of the apartment (I think it differs from unit to unit), there are 2 bedrooms with the bathroom inbetween. We have been told our room will have a double bed and Emilia's room will have a twin bed. The bathrooms have a shower, but no tub. (I am not exactly looking forward to this with Emilia..the girl who HATES water in her face. Any suggestions in this area would be greatly appreciated!! Otherwise I am going to track down a big rubbermaid tub and use it as a makeshift tub for her. Haha!)
He had also started asking Grant a few questions here and there about what we can expect, what is different than the mainland, what to bring/not bring, etc. Grant has been Super graciously to always answer his questions and gives great detail. Even his wife, Kara recently messaged Jason to tell him that I was welcome to message her with any additional questions. I just sent her a friend request this morning and once she confirms, I have a list of questions ready for her! (O:
In addition to all their kindness and willingness to help us prepare for this move, they are selling us many items that they did not want to ship back to the States! Grant put together a very detailed list of the items (as well as the tips and tricks for working the blender, toaster, etc. Love it!) with very reasonable prices. I cannot tell you how thankful I am to have these worries lifted. Things like 2 oscillating fans (now Jason will just have to find one, because I will probably hog BOTH of these, haha!), microwave, toaster, coffee maker (J will be glad!), beach chairs, cups, plates, bowls, silverware, baking dishes, blender, laundry basket and a cupcake pan (Emilia and I LOVE cupcakes and muffins--seriously, I'm super stoked about this one!!). The list has a bunch more on it, but I didn't want to go line by line. Do you really care that much?? ;-) Our budget for shipping items isn't huge and this will cut down on a LOT of those expenses for us. Yay yay yay!! I love God's provisions in this area! I think it works out well for Grant and Kara as well because they don't have to sell items off one at a time- we just told them we will take it ALL!
I have also been thinking through the few things I would like to ask Kara...I'm going to list them so I don't forget.
1. What types of meals do you eat regularly? Do you eat most meals at home, or do you go out? What items are better to purchase at the market vs the store? How do the prices on staple food items (milk, sugar, rice, noodles, bread, peanut butter, etc.) on Saipan compare to the mainland? (Would it be possible for Grant to do another great review based on this area of topics?? Haha!)
2. Are there any items (personal, home related, etc.) that you brought that you think you could have gone without. Any you wish you would have brought?
3. (This is a pretty superficial question, but I'm going to ask it all the same!) I noticed in Grant's photos that you started out with shorter hair and it looks like you've grown it out while you were there. I currently have pretty long hair and have been going back and forth about cutting it short before we move. Do you have any thoughts about that? It looks to me like most girls just wear a ponytail, with the exception of Rachel- how can she keep all that pretty hair down so much? She has to be hot! I am guessing the humidity is so high that even if I had short hair, it would never keep any styling...I am just curious what your experience with this was.
4. Are there any other Saipan bloggers out there?
Those are the ones I have come up with so far. If you were moving to Saipan, what would YOU want to ask?
I spent some time this morning doing just that. The apartments are a decent size- when you walk in the front door, you are in the kitchen then the dining room then the living room- all open to each other, sort of loft-style. One one side of the apartment (I think it differs from unit to unit), there are 2 bedrooms with the bathroom inbetween. We have been told our room will have a double bed and Emilia's room will have a twin bed. The bathrooms have a shower, but no tub. (I am not exactly looking forward to this with Emilia..the girl who HATES water in her face. Any suggestions in this area would be greatly appreciated!! Otherwise I am going to track down a big rubbermaid tub and use it as a makeshift tub for her. Haha!)
He had also started asking Grant a few questions here and there about what we can expect, what is different than the mainland, what to bring/not bring, etc. Grant has been Super graciously to always answer his questions and gives great detail. Even his wife, Kara recently messaged Jason to tell him that I was welcome to message her with any additional questions. I just sent her a friend request this morning and once she confirms, I have a list of questions ready for her! (O:
In addition to all their kindness and willingness to help us prepare for this move, they are selling us many items that they did not want to ship back to the States! Grant put together a very detailed list of the items (as well as the tips and tricks for working the blender, toaster, etc. Love it!) with very reasonable prices. I cannot tell you how thankful I am to have these worries lifted. Things like 2 oscillating fans (now Jason will just have to find one, because I will probably hog BOTH of these, haha!), microwave, toaster, coffee maker (J will be glad!), beach chairs, cups, plates, bowls, silverware, baking dishes, blender, laundry basket and a cupcake pan (Emilia and I LOVE cupcakes and muffins--seriously, I'm super stoked about this one!!). The list has a bunch more on it, but I didn't want to go line by line. Do you really care that much?? ;-) Our budget for shipping items isn't huge and this will cut down on a LOT of those expenses for us. Yay yay yay!! I love God's provisions in this area! I think it works out well for Grant and Kara as well because they don't have to sell items off one at a time- we just told them we will take it ALL!
I have also been thinking through the few things I would like to ask Kara...I'm going to list them so I don't forget.
1. What types of meals do you eat regularly? Do you eat most meals at home, or do you go out? What items are better to purchase at the market vs the store? How do the prices on staple food items (milk, sugar, rice, noodles, bread, peanut butter, etc.) on Saipan compare to the mainland? (Would it be possible for Grant to do another great review based on this area of topics?? Haha!)
2. Are there any items (personal, home related, etc.) that you brought that you think you could have gone without. Any you wish you would have brought?
3. (This is a pretty superficial question, but I'm going to ask it all the same!) I noticed in Grant's photos that you started out with shorter hair and it looks like you've grown it out while you were there. I currently have pretty long hair and have been going back and forth about cutting it short before we move. Do you have any thoughts about that? It looks to me like most girls just wear a ponytail, with the exception of Rachel- how can she keep all that pretty hair down so much? She has to be hot! I am guessing the humidity is so high that even if I had short hair, it would never keep any styling...I am just curious what your experience with this was.
4. Are there any other Saipan bloggers out there?
Those are the ones I have come up with so far. If you were moving to Saipan, what would YOU want to ask?
Thursday, February 9, 2012
A Little Surprise
Tomorrow morning, my husband will board a plane headed far, far away. He is going to Adu Dhabi for a 2-Week Leadership Seminar. (Yes, that's right- he's going all Sex and the City 2 on me! I told him to try and ride a camel if he can...) If you take a little look at your day planner, you can count the days and see he will be gone on a big RED day. Valentine's Day. We are not huge celebrators of this holiday as it is, but it also happens to be a special day for us- something Jason refers to as our "Valeversary". (He would totally kill me if he knew I just gave that secret away...please don't tell!) So, even though our wedding anniversary is in April, we still always make mention of this day because it is the day we officially started dating, back in 2006. *awww*
I have been working through some ideas of how to send a little love to him/with him for his trip- especially because I know he is not looking forward to being away from Emilia and I for that long. I have been pinning an idea here and there, but nothing I was overly excited about. Then it hit me! This morning I remembered that Picnik.com is shutting down in April (isn't that horribly sad!?) and that even their premium stuff was free until then. Soo, I searched through my hard drive(s) for a handful of my favorite photos- some of just Emilia, some of Jason and Emilia, I think I even snuck into one or two. So, I took these photos and added text to them in picnik. I went with an "I love you because.." theme. It seemed fitting for a Vday gift. Don't you agree? (O: I would love to share them all with you, but there are about 20 total...so here are a couple of my favorites:
Are you doing anything fun/surprise/corny for a loved one this season?
I have been working through some ideas of how to send a little love to him/with him for his trip- especially because I know he is not looking forward to being away from Emilia and I for that long. I have been pinning an idea here and there, but nothing I was overly excited about. Then it hit me! This morning I remembered that Picnik.com is shutting down in April (isn't that horribly sad!?) and that even their premium stuff was free until then. Soo, I searched through my hard drive(s) for a handful of my favorite photos- some of just Emilia, some of Jason and Emilia, I think I even snuck into one or two. So, I took these photos and added text to them in picnik. I went with an "I love you because.." theme. It seemed fitting for a Vday gift. Don't you agree? (O: I would love to share them all with you, but there are about 20 total...so here are a couple of my favorites:
They aren't anything uber fancy and some of you (*ahem, Jaime) might even call me corny. But I tried to think of something he would be glad to open so far away with a lot of time away left. I knew seeing our little girl's happy smile would be about the best I could give him. I am going to slide these into a little photo album and wrap it up with a note directing him to open on 2/14. Whether he makes it until then is a gamble! I'm also taking a risk posting this before he leaves, but I'm fairly certain he has never even seen my blog...so I *hope* he doesn't decide to check it out between now and then!! (O:
Are you doing anything fun/surprise/corny for a loved one this season?
Friday, February 3, 2012
This morning I spent a little time catching up on the most consistent Saipan blogger and found a link to an older blog of someone else who was on Saipan. This girl is now back in Texas, but I was excited to read every post, hoping for some other tidbits of information about this tiny island. What did she love? What should I prepare for? And so on...the more I read, the more discouraged I became. This girl and her husband were both in the public school systems on Saipan, so not directly affiliated with the school Jason will be working at, nor did she ever really mention attending the church we'll be part of. My struggle with this blog was the underlying negativity I felt radiating from each new post. Even after their first month of teaching, she was already counting down the days until they would be back stateside. (1/8 of the way done, and so on). She also had her fair share to say about the heat and humidity on the island. Don't get me wrong, I *know* it's going to be hot, really hot, and humid, yucky humid. But the tone of her posts was never really very uplifting. I felt my eyebrows creasing as the discouragement set in. I caught myself thinking, "Man, if this girl hated it that bad and she's from TEXAS, how on earth will I survive?" That is the moment I knew I needed to shake these bad feelings!
Now, I obviously know nothing about this girl other than what she has posted. She may be super cheerful and optimistic in real life. Heck, she may LOVE sweating for all I know. I'm not trying to point a finger of shame, nor am I trying to act like I would be any better in the situation. But, I do know that after reading her whole blog (that's right, I read it all...are you really shocked?), I need to mentally prepare my mind and heart for this. I don't ever want anyone to come across my blog and think, "Gee, she must really hate it there...why did she even go?"
Above all, I will always strive to follow God's will for our lives, but I never want to do it begrudgingly. Yes, it will be hot. And yes, I may on occasion lament about the humidity and my sweat levels (gross, I know). But, I want this blog and I want MYSELF to be more about the good things God is doing through us on this tiny island. I want to sing shouts of praise as lives are changed and know that because of Him, we got to be a part of it. I want to find ways to enjoy life on a tropical island, even when the heat index is 105. I want to be excited about making new friendships and stepping out of my comfort zone, trusting in God to see my through. I want to lead by example, and teach Emilia how to always look for the GOOD in life, even when it gets really hard.
Life on Saipan will be different than anything I have ever known and that is scary. It is scary to leave everything you know and love, pack a few suitcases and head to a place you know nothing about. I worry about how my family will eat. Yes, I know that is a weird one. But, with a family as finicky about food as we are, I worry about it. Add to that the prices of anything not-local and my worries increase. When I feel my heart getting heavy with such worries, I remind myself that God will be with me, Every. Day. I may not get to eat the foods I love here in the States. But I will not go hungry. I may not have the same level of air conditioned comfort I am used to during STL summer months, but He will comfort me. I may miss my family and friends on the mainland, but God WILL bring new friends into my life. I recently heard a definition that I intend to cling to. SACRIFICE: To give up something you love, for something you love more. As hard as it will be to leave our lives in Illinois, we know this is the right step for our family. There are so many people on Saipan that need to hear about Christ and God has called us to this task. When I think about the lives He will change, including our own, I cannot help but get super excited. The triumphs through Christ will definitely outweight our trials.
Sadly, the girl, whose blog I stalked today, did not return to Saipan. From what I can gather, she and her husband did not return after their first year. I cannot help but wonder if part of the reason is because she never got past the "uncomforts" and always longed for her "home" in Texas. This has taught me that there must be a certain level of disconnect from "home". I do not want to sit around thinking about how I miss Target, Old Navy and AC. I cannot allow myself to be bowled over with misery of the things I no longer have access to. I must always keep my mind positive. There are so many wonderful things about Saipan and it would be a disservice to myself to overlook them. I have no idea how long God intends for us to stay on Saipan, but I never want the reason we leave to be because I just couldn't get over missing "home". Saipan will BE my home for as long as God wills. I want to embrace it whole-heartedly and if the day comes that we must leave Saipan, I hope to ache for leaving my new "home".
Now, I obviously know nothing about this girl other than what she has posted. She may be super cheerful and optimistic in real life. Heck, she may LOVE sweating for all I know. I'm not trying to point a finger of shame, nor am I trying to act like I would be any better in the situation. But, I do know that after reading her whole blog (that's right, I read it all...are you really shocked?), I need to mentally prepare my mind and heart for this. I don't ever want anyone to come across my blog and think, "Gee, she must really hate it there...why did she even go?"
Above all, I will always strive to follow God's will for our lives, but I never want to do it begrudgingly. Yes, it will be hot. And yes, I may on occasion lament about the humidity and my sweat levels (gross, I know). But, I want this blog and I want MYSELF to be more about the good things God is doing through us on this tiny island. I want to sing shouts of praise as lives are changed and know that because of Him, we got to be a part of it. I want to find ways to enjoy life on a tropical island, even when the heat index is 105. I want to be excited about making new friendships and stepping out of my comfort zone, trusting in God to see my through. I want to lead by example, and teach Emilia how to always look for the GOOD in life, even when it gets really hard.
Life on Saipan will be different than anything I have ever known and that is scary. It is scary to leave everything you know and love, pack a few suitcases and head to a place you know nothing about. I worry about how my family will eat. Yes, I know that is a weird one. But, with a family as finicky about food as we are, I worry about it. Add to that the prices of anything not-local and my worries increase. When I feel my heart getting heavy with such worries, I remind myself that God will be with me, Every. Day. I may not get to eat the foods I love here in the States. But I will not go hungry. I may not have the same level of air conditioned comfort I am used to during STL summer months, but He will comfort me. I may miss my family and friends on the mainland, but God WILL bring new friends into my life. I recently heard a definition that I intend to cling to. SACRIFICE: To give up something you love, for something you love more. As hard as it will be to leave our lives in Illinois, we know this is the right step for our family. There are so many people on Saipan that need to hear about Christ and God has called us to this task. When I think about the lives He will change, including our own, I cannot help but get super excited. The triumphs through Christ will definitely outweight our trials.
Sadly, the girl, whose blog I stalked today, did not return to Saipan. From what I can gather, she and her husband did not return after their first year. I cannot help but wonder if part of the reason is because she never got past the "uncomforts" and always longed for her "home" in Texas. This has taught me that there must be a certain level of disconnect from "home". I do not want to sit around thinking about how I miss Target, Old Navy and AC. I cannot allow myself to be bowled over with misery of the things I no longer have access to. I must always keep my mind positive. There are so many wonderful things about Saipan and it would be a disservice to myself to overlook them. I have no idea how long God intends for us to stay on Saipan, but I never want the reason we leave to be because I just couldn't get over missing "home". Saipan will BE my home for as long as God wills. I want to embrace it whole-heartedly and if the day comes that we must leave Saipan, I hope to ache for leaving my new "home".
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Saipan Support Team Letter
Hi friends!
(If you are coming to this link from the Facebook event: I posted this letter on my blog so you could each have a chance to look it over before Saturday. This is a support team letter we are in the process of sending out, inviting others to join us in this mission. Since we are meeting with you face-to-face, you will not be part of the mailing group receiving this letter. If you want a hard copy, please let me know before Saturday and I will print one out for you!) (O:
(If you stumbled across this from another venue: Hello! This is our support team letter inviting anyone interested to join us in our mission on Saipan. There is lots of good information, so please read! Feel free to ask any questions you may have or request further information. Thanks for stopping by!)
(If you are coming to this link from the Facebook event: I posted this letter on my blog so you could each have a chance to look it over before Saturday. This is a support team letter we are in the process of sending out, inviting others to join us in this mission. Since we are meeting with you face-to-face, you will not be part of the mailing group receiving this letter. If you want a hard copy, please let me know before Saturday and I will print one out for you!) (O:
(If you stumbled across this from another venue: Hello! This is our support team letter inviting anyone interested to join us in our mission on Saipan. There is lots of good information, so please read! Feel free to ask any questions you may have or request further information. Thanks for stopping by!)
Greetings! We pray this letter finds you well. The Lord has been faithful to our family during the past year. He is doing many wonderful things, and we know He will continue to be faithful in 2012.
We are so excited to share with you a challenging and incredible ministry opportunity God has presented to us. After prayer and consideration, we have answered God’s calling and are moving to the Island of Saipan Saipan while encouraging local Christians. Jason will be working with the other ministers of Saipan Community Church as well as teaching at Saipan Community School Japan , Korea , China , the Philippines , Russia , Indonesia , Malaysia , Palau , and the Island of Truk Island for work which means we get a two to four year window to show them who Christ is and by His Grace send them back as missionaries in their own countries. We are initially signing on to serve for two years and are scheduled to leave in July 2012.
We are also excited to invite you to share in this ministry opportunity and be a part of our Support Team. First and foremost, we ask you to cover us and this life-changing decision in your prayers. Prayer is the fuel that will allow us to be successful as we follow God’s leading in ministry. Please pray that God will prepare us for this venture and bless our efforts as we minister to the people of Saipan , and that their hearts will be open to our message.
We also need prayers that the financial needs for our missionary support will be met. We would like to ask you to help this important ministry through a monetary donation. We are striving to obtain 200 commitments of shares in only a few, short months. One share is $10 per month which will equal $120 per year ($240 for the 2 year commitment). In addition to the monthly donations, we also need to raise an additional $20,000 to cover travel, shipping and other expenses related to this move of faith. Our departure date for Saipan is July 24, 2012.
To make it as easy as possible, we have included a Share Card to be completed and mailed in to start your partnership with us; a prepaid return envelope has also been included for your convenience. Please mark the box to correspond with your committed number of shares, or use the empty space to write in another commitment amount. We ask you to please consider committing to a minimum of 2 shares, and whenever possible, more shares as you feel led. You can send a check for the first month, annual support amount, or one-time donation with the completed Share Card. There are also options for online payments and monthly automatic withdrawals direct, if you prefer. A copy of the authorization form to be completed for automatic withdrawals is included, for those who are interested. Visit www.gbimissions.org under the Giving tab for more information. We are putting our trust in God to move in people’s hearts, leading them to donate to this life-changing mission. For as little as $20-50+ a month, you can be a part of this exciting ministry and help us spread the message of Christ on Saipan as well as into many parts of Asia !
We thank you in advance for your prayers and donations. May God bless you richly!
In Him,
Jason, Annie and Emilia Warren
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Packing Nightmares
Call me crazy, but I really enjoy packing. Whether it be for a weekend trip or moving somewhere new, I actually look forward to organizing the packing boxes and making my lists of what we will need and when. Somewhere between our flash move from Herrick last month and now, however, I have lost my love for packing. It is turning into slightly more of a panic. Our next move won't be as fun or easy, I'm afraid to say.
Due to the high costs of shipping personal items overseas, Jason and I decided that we would only take what we could pack in suitcases and carry-on bags. Lucky for us, Saipan is an island on only one season- HOT. Some of the local blogs we've come across mention a "cooler season", but I'm fairly certain it doesn't go much lower than 80 during the day. Which, of course, means this hot-natured lady will be living in tank tops and bermuda shorts. (O: So, at least I don't have to worry about bulky hooded sweatshirts and fleece pants taking up my suitcase space! I spent some time today trying to find some articles/blogs/tips on packing to move overseas, but there really isn't much out there. At least, there aren't many people writing about only using suitcases and carry-ons. I intend to post our final lists of what we packed and how, just in case someone ever comes across this blog while searching for their own packing tips.
Like I said, we are only taking suitcases. The last time I checked with our airline (yes, I keep calling to make sure nothing has changed...I'm insane), I was told we get our first checked bag for free as well as one carry-on bag. Any additional checked bags will be $50 each. After talking this over with Jason, we decided it was a worthwhile investment to each check one additional bag- 6 checked bags total. My hope is that this will give us plenty of room for our clothes as well as a few personal items and some comfort toys for Emilia. I'm waiting for yard sale season in hopes of finding some large suitcases for good prices. We only have 2 of our own so far. Jason is also checking his golf clubs and bike since it will be cheaper to pay the checked item fee than it would be to purchase something on the island. I don't really think you can check a sewing machine, but he thinks I will be able to pick one up for relatively cheap once we get there.
I also found out (big victory here!!) that we can bring Emilia's carseat AND stroller for free!! We can gate check them for no charge! Talk about great news! From what Jason had found online, a new carseat on island would have cost at least $300! I don't even want to know what a replacement jogging stroller would have cost...I'm just so thankful that we will be able to bring ours along. Jason thinks they will be a annoying to lug through the airport, and he is probably correct. But, I will take being inconvinienced for 26 hours over trying to squeeze an extra $500ish out of our already tight budget!
Ok, I feel like I got a little off track just now...sorry about that. (O: Packing. Oh, packing. I have been stocking up on cute(r) tanks and trying to find bermuda shorts. I actually have a pretty decent collection already. Now I have to really look at what I have, what I wear, etc. and start making some decisions. I really don't want to look like a complete slob while we are there, and the only way I think I can keep this from happening is to have a good stock of ruffle/otherwise embellished tanks. That way I can keep cool and comfy, but look a little put together. Jason also gave me a few dri-wick tees for Christmas, so those will be super great! As far as shoes go, I plan to only bring my running shoes and lots of flip flops- Nike ones for everyday and cute ones for dressier days/church/etc. I don't see myself needing ballet flats over there (*tear*) nor any of my lovely heels (*two tears*). I will bring a pair or two of jeans because all the photos we see online have people in jeans. Jason swears he thinks eventually the evening temp of 77 will feel "cool" to me, and I guess we will have to wait and see on that one. It's not that I don't believe him, I just don't know if our "cool"-meters are the same. A few neckalces, bracelets, chargers, hair stuff, DEODERANT, and so on and I think I'm good to go. Like I said, I will post our final packing list once we actually get to that point.
As far as Emilia goes- this is where it gets tricky. She will be 3 when we leave and I imagine most of her 2t shorts and skirts will still fit. Tops she will need the 3t for length. I've been purchasing ahead for her as well, but don't necessarily have to bring it all with us in July. Jason's parents are coming for a visit in December, I think, and my mom is coming sometime the following summer. So between them both, as well as shipping if needed, we can get the rest of E's bigger sizes before they are an emergency need. I'm more worried about figuring out a way to pack several of her favorite toys. This change is going to be huge for her and I want to be able to offer her as many comfort items as I can. Not to mention, we have lots of great learning toys/games that I want to be able to utilize once I'm (Finally) a Stay-At-Home-Momma!! (Can I get a WooHoo!!?) (O:
Anyway, these are some of the things that have been on my mind lately. I know it's too early to let packing stress me out too much...but, it feels good to get it off my chest. I better get back to working on our support letter. We want to send them out early next week and I'm still trying to finish my research on how to put them together for long-term missions.
Have a great day! (O:
Due to the high costs of shipping personal items overseas, Jason and I decided that we would only take what we could pack in suitcases and carry-on bags. Lucky for us, Saipan is an island on only one season- HOT. Some of the local blogs we've come across mention a "cooler season", but I'm fairly certain it doesn't go much lower than 80 during the day. Which, of course, means this hot-natured lady will be living in tank tops and bermuda shorts. (O: So, at least I don't have to worry about bulky hooded sweatshirts and fleece pants taking up my suitcase space! I spent some time today trying to find some articles/blogs/tips on packing to move overseas, but there really isn't much out there. At least, there aren't many people writing about only using suitcases and carry-ons. I intend to post our final lists of what we packed and how, just in case someone ever comes across this blog while searching for their own packing tips.
Like I said, we are only taking suitcases. The last time I checked with our airline (yes, I keep calling to make sure nothing has changed...I'm insane), I was told we get our first checked bag for free as well as one carry-on bag. Any additional checked bags will be $50 each. After talking this over with Jason, we decided it was a worthwhile investment to each check one additional bag- 6 checked bags total. My hope is that this will give us plenty of room for our clothes as well as a few personal items and some comfort toys for Emilia. I'm waiting for yard sale season in hopes of finding some large suitcases for good prices. We only have 2 of our own so far. Jason is also checking his golf clubs and bike since it will be cheaper to pay the checked item fee than it would be to purchase something on the island. I don't really think you can check a sewing machine, but he thinks I will be able to pick one up for relatively cheap once we get there.
I also found out (big victory here!!) that we can bring Emilia's carseat AND stroller for free!! We can gate check them for no charge! Talk about great news! From what Jason had found online, a new carseat on island would have cost at least $300! I don't even want to know what a replacement jogging stroller would have cost...I'm just so thankful that we will be able to bring ours along. Jason thinks they will be a annoying to lug through the airport, and he is probably correct. But, I will take being inconvinienced for 26 hours over trying to squeeze an extra $500ish out of our already tight budget!
Ok, I feel like I got a little off track just now...sorry about that. (O: Packing. Oh, packing. I have been stocking up on cute(r) tanks and trying to find bermuda shorts. I actually have a pretty decent collection already. Now I have to really look at what I have, what I wear, etc. and start making some decisions. I really don't want to look like a complete slob while we are there, and the only way I think I can keep this from happening is to have a good stock of ruffle/otherwise embellished tanks. That way I can keep cool and comfy, but look a little put together. Jason also gave me a few dri-wick tees for Christmas, so those will be super great! As far as shoes go, I plan to only bring my running shoes and lots of flip flops- Nike ones for everyday and cute ones for dressier days/church/etc. I don't see myself needing ballet flats over there (*tear*) nor any of my lovely heels (*two tears*). I will bring a pair or two of jeans because all the photos we see online have people in jeans. Jason swears he thinks eventually the evening temp of 77 will feel "cool" to me, and I guess we will have to wait and see on that one. It's not that I don't believe him, I just don't know if our "cool"-meters are the same. A few neckalces, bracelets, chargers, hair stuff, DEODERANT, and so on and I think I'm good to go. Like I said, I will post our final packing list once we actually get to that point.
As far as Emilia goes- this is where it gets tricky. She will be 3 when we leave and I imagine most of her 2t shorts and skirts will still fit. Tops she will need the 3t for length. I've been purchasing ahead for her as well, but don't necessarily have to bring it all with us in July. Jason's parents are coming for a visit in December, I think, and my mom is coming sometime the following summer. So between them both, as well as shipping if needed, we can get the rest of E's bigger sizes before they are an emergency need. I'm more worried about figuring out a way to pack several of her favorite toys. This change is going to be huge for her and I want to be able to offer her as many comfort items as I can. Not to mention, we have lots of great learning toys/games that I want to be able to utilize once I'm (Finally) a Stay-At-Home-Momma!! (Can I get a WooHoo!!?) (O:
Anyway, these are some of the things that have been on my mind lately. I know it's too early to let packing stress me out too much...but, it feels good to get it off my chest. I better get back to working on our support letter. We want to send them out early next week and I'm still trying to finish my research on how to put them together for long-term missions.
Have a great day! (O:
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
