Praise and Request

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This Video will only be available for the month of November 2005.

Praise: 3 solid couples to work with Impact
Prayer Request: Cell Group Retreat Nov 25-27.

Ange and Gack have been in our ministry for the last 5 and a half years as well. We have a unique situation this year in that some of the students we have had the priviledge of being their youth pastors since Jr. High school. Yesterday after school Ange and Gack and some other students rode with me to watch the final cross country race of the year out at Torri Station.

It is almost always fun to be with students, especially in small groups, but yesterday as we were driving I was thinking what a special priviledge I have this year with some of the students like Gack and Ange and Justin to have spent countless hours with them, see them grow up from little kids to nearly adults.

One of the verses that has been on my heart this year is "we proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ." Would you pray that Ange, Gack and Justin would be perfect in Christ and that are final year with all the seniors would be especially fruitful?

How did you know?

Nathan, Justin and I had just finished praying in my office when Justin saw my schedule for the day. Justin, a student who went on our very first missions trip in 6th grade and who I have spent thousands of hours with, saw that I had written Pray with Justin and Nathan at 3PM.
"How did you know I would stop by?" Justin asked curiously.
Before I could respond he answered his own question.
"Oh, because I stop by every day"
Yep, you got it Justin.

Would you lift Justin up in prayer? He has a desire to be in special forces and is a great kid but has had a rough year. His mom has been in the states much of the last two years helping out with older siblings and I think Justin is starting to feel the effects.

Little Things

Ya know, it always seems to be the small things that get you. I guess life really is made up of beautiful moments that compose a symphony. Things like seeing the tags on my children's clothes and knowing that my Mom had lovingly gotten that for them. I know just where she shopped and just how much love came with each piece that was shipped across the Pacific Ocean to a little 750 sq ft house that she had visited twice. No wonder she is missed so much.

Jack keeps telling me that he knows that Oma is in heaven, but "do you think she can send me some more cars from there?"

A life well-lived. Those are the kind that keep living...I am so proud.

More Daddy Please

There just doesn't seem enough of us to go around these days. Yesterday Jack decided that nothing in the world could please his little 3 year old heart and that made for a trying day.

My wise husband took about 3 hours and spent time with him last night doing things like: going to the beach, chasing, running, playing at the park, singing, encouraging and then topped it off with a trip to the bookstore. (This is of course, the frosting on the cake)

I love how his life is changed and his love tank is filled. I love how his Dad is so kind and astute and willing to fill it for Him until He knows how to run to Jesus for it.

However, our other astute little 5 year old informed me that she thought she "might have a rough day tomorrow" so that she could partake of the Daddy goods. I think she's on to something.

We are on Skype

Well, tonight I was forced by the Malachi Asia team to get on Skype so we could continue working on our spring break event and I really enjoyed it. If you would like to talk to us on Skype our name is buddyandjen Just a heads up our computer is always on but we are not. :-)

Goodbye Toys and Junk

It's probably a really good thing my sister and I live (literally) a half a world away. I think our philosophy on toys could drive a serious wedge in between us.

With as much fervor as she has for collecting toys (thus bringing great delight to her children's souls), I have the same fervor for THROWING THEM AWAY.

With Mom graduating and leaving way too much earthly stuff, I have more impetus to purge and consequently, my children will probably head into adulthood with some serious flaws and materialistic desires.

They will need to see Aunt Sue for counseling.

We are doing pretty good...this is our first full week here and we have had cool enough weather to open windows and our house smells so clean and fresh. Megan was walking in the living room saying, "It's windy!"...she's getting so cute and verbose.

musings...

So this morning (starting at 2:30 a.m...thank you jet lag) I have been pondering this thought...would it be easier to deal with Mom dying if she had been a dirty rotten scoundrel?

I mean...it does seem to sting a bit more that she was an incredible, life-giving kind of person. I guess maybe I'm just mad that I don't get to feel any bitter thoughts because a lot of times those just feel better to feel than thoughts of kindness and just missing her.

We really aren't citizens of this world are we?

On the more stoic side of things, we are home safely after the long journey here (those of you who have experienced it know that it's something akin to being hit by a very fast moving truck). The kids did really well...having Buddy was a God-send (truly).

We're off to get to all the stuff that's been left collecting dust for about three weeks.

Mom's Passing

The following Message was sent out by Jen's father.
She's the one in the blue at the end of the table. This was from 1999.

Dear Friends and relatives,

Today we took Carole to the hospital for her next chemotherapy. It was to have been a difficult chemo. and we looked forward to it with great trepidation, as she had had a very difficult week, foollowing her release from the Rehab Center. All week she could hardly walk, talk, or even eat. I wondered if she would be coming home again. When we got there she was so feeble that they decided not to do the chemo, as she could hardly sit up, and instead decided to admit her into the hospital. Jon, Sue, and Jen were there, as they knew Carole was in bad shape, Jon from Chicago, Sue from Africa, and Jen from Okinawa. We spent the entire day there, and we were soon told that Carole would not survive the day. She spent the day gasping for breath, and showing little response to questions or comments. We all held her hand, and spoke to her often.

The night before she had asked me to read to her from the Bible, and I did, so I tried to get her to remember what we had read. Her good friend, Bobbi, and her husband come over and were a big comfort to her, and she recognized them and made faint responses to them. After suppper I sat close to her and asked her if she had a kiss for the people around the bed. As I mentioned each name she formed a kiss to that person. The people that she kissed were those present, including Jon, Erin, Me, Sue, Jennifer, Megan, Jack, Adrienne, and some not present, including Buzzy and Bobbi. There would have been others, but she got too tired. I walked up to the lounge for a minute, but Erin came running and told me Carole could go at any minute. I hurried back and suddenly at 8:25 I looked at Carole and noticed that she was not breathing, I mentioned it to the nurse, and he said, after checking, " She's gone." Although we were all sad and heartbroken, everybody knew that she was suddenly in Heaven, and no longer in pain, and for that we were very thankful. The kids were all convinced that it was a miracle that by way of many strange circumstances, they were all back to see Carole one more time before she died. For that they were all thankful. September was a day of mixed emotions, and one that none of us will ever forget. I would be glad to hear from any of you . Monroe

The Brink of Heaven

I know some of you regularly check this so I wanted to give you an update.

I arrived here on Thursday morning...leaving a week early because of some good counsel and God-given gut feelings. Today on Friday, it seems that Mom may not make it through the night. She has been getting weaker every day...last night we were out of our league in keeping up with her. My sister did an amazing job at calming Dad and allowing him some precious sleep while she cared for Mom. She is not well mentally, but has moments of lucidity.

As soon as the kids wake up and I go buy a car seat, we'll head in.

Through all this, God has been so gracious. We are all here (my brother will fly in) and almost to the "T", has God answered Sue and I's requests...little things that, as my friend prayed for me before I left "confirm that God is intimately acquainted with every small detail of our life". I don't know what else she prayed, but that phrase has comforted me and God has thunderously applauded the truth of that.

Now, the applause of Heaven only waits for their good and faithful one to arrive Home. Thanks for praying (Oh...pray for this...Buddy is not sure about coming, and the biggest concern is that he wants to be here to help with taking the kids home to Okinawa. We don't know what to do...it seems frivilous to buy a ticket for him to come for just 3 days or so, but I am nervous about the return trip (even though the way here was decent) Maybe I'm just needing time to see clearly, but please pray for wisdom for that for us.

We love you all, Jen for us