We're Back!

So, it's been almost a month and I think we all FINALLY are back to normal. Everyone experienced jet lag, the high of the trip, and and the low of being back to reality. Being able to recuperate was easy. It's the daily grind of our lives here in the states that took awhile adjusting.

Many blessings were experienced on this trip; the joy of seeing the kids learn, the hospitality of the families, team bonding, and seeing God work through us. Not until we were there, did we realize what a need it was for us to be the tools of God. Personally, seeing a whole generation not learning character values and everyday building blocks for personal character building was heartbreaking. Something as simple as teaching English through stories and song could be so powerful.

I know I speak for everyone on the team when I say we could not have done this without you. We've said this over and over again, but we want you to hear it over and over again. Your prayers, support, and friendship has allowed us to impact the lives of children. Thank you for being a part of our journey with us.

We're off!!

The day has finally arrived...tonight's the night we leave!! Donna, Dorothy, and I were all finishing up last minute errands, running around town, and tying up any loose ends. The hustle and bustle of it all has finally hit home that we ARE leaving! We're all packed and ready to go to LAX. The pressure and anxiety has overcome us and now all we can do is get to the airport, check in, and pray that everything goes smoothly. Hopefully, there will be no issues regarding baggage, seating, or security. The last few days we all have met with friends, talked to you, and truly felt your support. Thank you for everyone who has e-mailed us or chatted with us; know that we feel blessed in many ways by your support. We know God has a purpose and we are only humble servants being his eyes, ears, and hands on the ground. We are letting go of our our fears and going in faith knowing that all we can do is leave it up to God. Now...we Breathe.

Rolling Waves

We finalized all details of our trip as we met one last time as a complete team; sorting out itineraries, purchasing classroom materials, and finishing up the curriculum. As a final outing, we went hiking in Crystal Cove, a quiet state beach in Newport Beach. As we hiked, we observed all the beauty that God has created and began to focus on why we were going to SEA- to share God's character through the English language. We stood overlooking the ocean and its waves and took in His beauty with peace about going on our mission.
Becca and her family are already in Asia visiting people they have worked with in previous years and Dorothy is visiting her home in Maryland, as Donna and I are busy with work and family at home. As our departure date approaches, a new sense of anxiety and frustration has overcome us, no matter where we are at. Leaving responsibilities and families here at home, panic and doubt sets in. After much prayer from friends and self prayer and Donna's encouragement to all of us, God's gentle reminder of his Love is ever present. I am reminded of an old verse that I constantly took comfort in years ago:

If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. James 1:5&6

Though we have moments like the chaotic waves, may we have times of calm in still water knowing God is always there.

More

As we become closer to our departure,there seems to be more to do. Deadlines and busyness surround us. As our trip approaches, we are fine tuning our curriculum, schedules, and preparation which brings forth a whirlwind of papers, research, and work. We are all efficient and organized but are all feeling the pressure. Our fears are creeping up. How do we facilitate our classrooms? How do we ensure behavior management? Will we be able to communicate efficiently? Will the kids have a good experience? These are just the surface questions that swirl around our heads.
We have more questions,more anxieties, and more things to cross out on our lists. Some of us have been having trouble sleeping, some of us experiencing more worries, and all of us overcoming the big and little stresses. Preparing such a thoughtful trip on such short notice has started sinking in. Up until now, we were on go mode. Getting things accomplished was necessary and became building blocks for the next week's goals. The reality of the trip coming up was now becoming less surreal. We pray in each meeting for God's guidance. We prayed this week to have faith. Faith in God and faith that He will protect us. We cannot be busy enough and worry enough to forget to pray and to give all control to God. So, my prayer for our team and for you our friends, is to spend more time with God and to experience more blessings than you can hope for.

The ISTJs!

First, the bad news: Taty is no longer with our team. :( Taty and her husband,Leo, are missionaries from Brazil who count on their general supporters. In the last few weeks, their itineraries have changed and they must continue to attend to other projects which their supporters are aware of. However, we are all happy and blessed to have Taty still part of our prayer team! She is a creative spirit and prayer warrior who is our number one cheerleader! Love to you, Taty!
Ok, now for some good news. So, we are not the Furious Five anymore, but the ISTJs! Our team took a Myers Briggs Personality test out and of 16 possible combinations, we all discovered we were the same one! Introverted, Sensing, Thinking, Judger; so we're Introverted Sensing with Extraverted Thinking. We are loyal, reserved, organized, law following, artistic appreciating, family minded, responsible individuals who are not naturally in tune with other people's feelings. That's why we all work so well together. We are beyond efficient in meetings and never cared about the others emotions. So the first part is fabulous, and the second part, well, we got over real quick. Ha ha.
Being all the same personality type of course works for us. Since we are perfectionists and goal oriented, preparing for our trip has been smooth. No personality conflicts, no drama, and EVERYTHING gets done! I honestly have never been in an all female group where I didn't have to worry about communicating appropriately so another doesn't take my direct nature and get sensitive about it. It's quite freeing, I must admit. One thing we all did observe in our profile is "the tendency to take other people's efforts for granted as we take our own for granted. We need to remember to pat people on the back once in awhile." This is not to say we do not care. Once we see a need, we care compassionately and give our everything in full support. Sometimes, we need to observe deeds that we may not notice because we are on a track to keep our goal and tend to think some emotions just become draining. Like my husband says, "Honey, sometimes you need to SHOW me you love me and act like you do." After I roll my eyes, I realize that his personality is the complete antithesis of mine. I often miss opportunities with him to show I'm meeting his emotional need, because it just doesn't occur to me. This is something we as a team, do need to recognize in you too. Being our supporters and friends, please pray that we will be diligent in noticing emotional needs in you, our families, and people in SEA and following up on them. So, thank you all, sincerely, for your calls, conversations, meals, and words of encouragements. We appreciate your investment in us. Now get over yourselves, we have work to do.

Beginning Obstacles

Donna, Dorothy, and I first met at Panera not really sure if going to SEA was going to happen yet. After discussing what an urgent need it was, we all decided that night, that we were all determined to go, even on such short notice.Time had become our first obstacle. The English camp had already conducted entry exams for the primary graders and their elite status parents planning and expecting a team of teachers. They have been preparing for months expecting that back in the USA, we were doing the same. Through an honest oversight here in the US, no team was preparing to go. When our liaison in SEA, Clarissa, contacted Pastor Dave and his wife, Becca from Newsong, the realization for the need of teachers was urgent.

We are going to a closed country that is culturally rich and politically sensitive. Being affiliated with a church is not something we can yell out.Thus comes our second major obstacle. This trip is both a mission and a service trip. We cannot proclaim God through name; in fact, we need to be careful of our language not to use any spiritual verbiage at all. However, can teach values of love and forgiveness while teaching the English language. For either mission based or service based trips, finances are raised through individual and organizational support alike. At the time, we had neither. We have not been together to properly raise for finances nor were we backed by a church since all funds and missions were already involved in ongoing training and preparation. Also, the school in SEA that had allocated funds toward us going were not as readily available as we thought.We were up against time and money. Yeah, no pressure.

Through Becca and Dave's talks with groups within our church,a ministry called Xealot, has supported us administratively! Through their backing, it enables our team to be able to go as an organization and for them to track our finances as they come in. The school's finances are not set, but we are confident that they will come in.

Our ongoing 3rd obstacle, is all the minor details, preparations, and complications that are constant. Meeting deadlines, having flight issues,gathering paper work regarding visas and such,and of course curriculum. Our team has been efficient and all get along great! Please pray for continuous harmony in both our work and fellowship. Not to mention our own lives. We all have work, school, families, and separate lives we all need to attend to. Please pray that we all are committed to our own responsibilities as well.

Thank you again for supporting us! Be it through prayer, finances, or friendship,we cannot be on this journey without you. This blog both serves as an account of our journey and to allow you a window to our process and update you on what's current.