Monday, December 14, 2009
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Enjoying the Season
I'm taking a break from watching football to update our blog. The Chargers are winning and the Broncos lost, so all appears right with the world at the moment...
Enjoy some pics from recent happenings here in Vienna!
This last Friday was "Fall Festival" at VCS. It's essentially an excuse for us to hang out with kids and their families, and it's always a blast. This picture is of a group of elementary students being wowed by a member of our staff doing some magic tricks. To be fair, I too was wowed.
This is a picture of the entryway to the school during the middle of the festivities at "Fall Festival." Upstairs and downstairs were both packed with folks this year!
Enjoy some pics from recent happenings here in Vienna!
This last Friday was "Fall Festival" at VCS. It's essentially an excuse for us to hang out with kids and their families, and it's always a blast. This picture is of a group of elementary students being wowed by a member of our staff doing some magic tricks. To be fair, I too was wowed.
This is a picture of the entryway to the school during the middle of the festivities at "Fall Festival." Upstairs and downstairs were both packed with folks this year!
This is Johannes, taking a break from our club basketball practice to pose. He's something like 4 feet 8 inches tall. Or maybe it just seems like that. Our team is off to a good start--we're 4-0 thus far and have our toughtest matchup of the season coming up next week (Nov. 7th).
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Spiritual Emphasis Week
Last week we had our Spiritual Emphasis Week (SEW) for the secondary school (grades 6-12), which is always an amazing time around the VCS campus. This year we had Tim Milburn from NNU leading the week's festivities, and it was a joy to have him join us for the week. He focused his message around the simple truth of Jesus' love for the students, and I thought it was really well-received by the kids.
Now comes the fun part for the VCS staff--following up to make sure the seeds that were planted get cultivated and nurtured as the Spirit leads! There have already been a number of kids asking some pretty heavy questions about the ideas Tim presented, so please continue to keep this in your prayers in the days/weeks to come.
Here's a few pics from Tim's visit. I think we may have to start a Flickr account or something soon to make it easier to share pics and videos, as this blog is somewhat limited in that regard.
Now comes the fun part for the VCS staff--following up to make sure the seeds that were planted get cultivated and nurtured as the Spirit leads! There have already been a number of kids asking some pretty heavy questions about the ideas Tim presented, so please continue to keep this in your prayers in the days/weeks to come.
Here's a few pics from Tim's visit. I think we may have to start a Flickr account or something soon to make it easier to share pics and videos, as this blog is somewhat limited in that regard.
Tim meeting some of the VCS staff at a welcome lunch.
Tim teaching during High School Chapel.
This is the view of the surrounding valley from the town of Dürnstein, which is about an hour or so outside of Vienna. The castle that once stood on this site served as a prison for Richard I (the Lionheart), the King of England. Richard was captured near Vienna after battling Saladin during the third Crusade. We took Tim here (and a few other places) on Saturday in celebration of a great week!
Thursday, October 8, 2009
This is SPARTA!
Our friend Tricia took this pic and edited it a bit, but it's inspired me to consider being King Leonidas for Halloween this year.
...Sadly, I lack the smoldering abs.
Monday, October 5, 2009
sickness, it'(snot) so nice...
As I sit here I can't help but wonder what the record is for volume of snot produced by a single human nose during a 24-hour period. The Stocketts are generally blessed with large proboscises (I really wish it was probosci instead), so I think this may be providing me with a distinct advantage as I approach what must be the two gallon mark. I'll spare you any actual pictures.
Human illness is an interesting thing to me. In fact, any sort of ailment or injury is interesting. I never appreciate how much a normal functioning nose (or hand, or toe, or eyelid, or fingernail) means until it stops functioning normally. It's kind of amazing to think about everything internally working together. People in the business world love to overuse the word "synergy" to describe this team concept. Personally, I'd rather just think about how cool God is to have orchestrated all this stuff. There's a great quote by Ralph (Where's) Waldo Emerson that sums up my feelings on this: "All I have seen teaches me to trust the creator for all I have not seen."
I feel like we, as a species, know enough about how things work in the physical world that we really CAN'T discredit God's hand in creation, but must marvel all the more at it. Invent a primary color? Check. Create matter? Check. Develop natural properties like time, space, and light? Check. Provide a sustainable ecosystem for all created life? Check. Develop an infinite expanse to demonstrate my power and glory (aka weight or significance)? Check. Remind humanity of its frailty by throwing in an occasional runny schnoz? Check.
God is pretty cool.
Anyway, right now my synergy seems to be lost. I'm hoping it finds its way back to me soon.
Human illness is an interesting thing to me. In fact, any sort of ailment or injury is interesting. I never appreciate how much a normal functioning nose (or hand, or toe, or eyelid, or fingernail) means until it stops functioning normally. It's kind of amazing to think about everything internally working together. People in the business world love to overuse the word "synergy" to describe this team concept. Personally, I'd rather just think about how cool God is to have orchestrated all this stuff. There's a great quote by Ralph (Where's) Waldo Emerson that sums up my feelings on this: "All I have seen teaches me to trust the creator for all I have not seen."
I feel like we, as a species, know enough about how things work in the physical world that we really CAN'T discredit God's hand in creation, but must marvel all the more at it. Invent a primary color? Check. Create matter? Check. Develop natural properties like time, space, and light? Check. Provide a sustainable ecosystem for all created life? Check. Develop an infinite expanse to demonstrate my power and glory (aka weight or significance)? Check. Remind humanity of its frailty by throwing in an occasional runny schnoz? Check.
God is pretty cool.
Anyway, right now my synergy seems to be lost. I'm hoping it finds its way back to me soon.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Aladdin Strikes Again
We went to lunch today with a couple from our church and another couple from the school. I had a delicious chicken schnitzel, and all was right with the world.
Upon arriving home, however, Beth realized her wallet was missing from her purse. After checking a few obvious places, we started to get a little nervous. This led to a few phone calls, the checking of a few more obscure places, and even a visit to the school to check there. Alas, the wallet was not to be found.
After our searches had proved fruitless, I feared the inevitable--that the wallet had been stolen. This was easily confirmed when I checked our online banking and saw that our U.S. credit card had been used to buy a one month city of Vienna public transportation pass earlier that afternoon. What a delightful discovery!
So, several phone calls and a few hours later, we've canceled Beth's U.S. debit/credit card, her Bank Austria card, and done a few other preventative things. The bad news is that her passport, U.S. driver's license, yearly Vienna public transportation pass, and other personal things (pictures, etc.) are likely gone forever. So, we're going to have to spend some time (and money) this week to get all this stuff sorted out, and hopefully replace what we can. We DO need to get the passport replaced as soon as possible, as Beth is now without any sort of photo ID. She also is going to need the passport to get her visa!
Upon arriving home, however, Beth realized her wallet was missing from her purse. After checking a few obvious places, we started to get a little nervous. This led to a few phone calls, the checking of a few more obscure places, and even a visit to the school to check there. Alas, the wallet was not to be found.
After our searches had proved fruitless, I feared the inevitable--that the wallet had been stolen. This was easily confirmed when I checked our online banking and saw that our U.S. credit card had been used to buy a one month city of Vienna public transportation pass earlier that afternoon. What a delightful discovery!
So, several phone calls and a few hours later, we've canceled Beth's U.S. debit/credit card, her Bank Austria card, and done a few other preventative things. The bad news is that her passport, U.S. driver's license, yearly Vienna public transportation pass, and other personal things (pictures, etc.) are likely gone forever. So, we're going to have to spend some time (and money) this week to get all this stuff sorted out, and hopefully replace what we can. We DO need to get the passport replaced as soon as possible, as Beth is now without any sort of photo ID. She also is going to need the passport to get her visa!
Obstacles
Our work here in Vienna has not been without its difficulties and problems. One of the difficulties we've had has been finding the best way to keep up with our friends and family. We've tried Skype, e-mailing, newsletters, blogging, mailings, and phone calls, but whatever we try just doesn't seem to fill the gap left by being far away from the folks we love. I guess I'm perplexed by this. In many ways the world we live in today is tiny, particularly when compared with the world as it was 100 or even 50 years ago. I can have instantaneous conversations with folks from just about anywhere in the world--complete with video--with the push of just a few buttons. But as cool as this is, no amount of technology seems able to replace a handshake or a hug. I guess the world is still a pretty huge place after all.
While talking about this strange paradox with a friend of mine the other day, we started thinking about what it must have been like to be in ministry during Jesus' day. Specifically, I've been thinking about Peter. The Bible tells us he was married, but I wonder if his wife was on board with his decision to follow Jesus? Did she come along with him during his travels? And what about Paul? He built his life around the edicts of Judaism, but must have had to leave friends and family behind after his experience on the road to Damascus. How did these and other folks back then do it? It's really a miracle that the fledgling early church gained any footholds at all in the Roman empire, especially considering that the message of Jesus' gospel was LITERALLY delivered from place to place on the backs and by the feet of just a small group of folks...
I guess the point is that nothing makes me feel like more of a wuss than to read about the new testament heroes who endured so much for the sake of the gospel. And if Paul could do it through letters, I suppose I can manage through blogging, emailing, and the like.
While talking about this strange paradox with a friend of mine the other day, we started thinking about what it must have been like to be in ministry during Jesus' day. Specifically, I've been thinking about Peter. The Bible tells us he was married, but I wonder if his wife was on board with his decision to follow Jesus? Did she come along with him during his travels? And what about Paul? He built his life around the edicts of Judaism, but must have had to leave friends and family behind after his experience on the road to Damascus. How did these and other folks back then do it? It's really a miracle that the fledgling early church gained any footholds at all in the Roman empire, especially considering that the message of Jesus' gospel was LITERALLY delivered from place to place on the backs and by the feet of just a small group of folks...
I guess the point is that nothing makes me feel like more of a wuss than to read about the new testament heroes who endured so much for the sake of the gospel. And if Paul could do it through letters, I suppose I can manage through blogging, emailing, and the like.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Good Morning!
Over the years I've learned there is a veritable smorgasbord of variables that help determine the quality of each and every morning. Here's a sample list, in no particular order: amount of coffee available, quality of said coffee, breakfast options available, quality of breakfast selection, number of hours slept, quality of sleep, hot shower availability, mood of pet, mood of wife (crucial), temperature of living quarters upon awakening, day of the week (hooray for weekends), amount of time available between waking up and first scheduled obligation, type and amount of toothpaste available, facial hair status (having to shave reduces any morning's enjoyment), schedule of the day's succeeding activities, and many more.
However, each of these factors pales in the face of what I've come to believe is the ultimate determinant for early morning happiness: the absence or presence of Jet Lag. I've traveled a bit over the last handful of years, but have never experienced a real Category 5 case of jet lag. At least, not until a few days ago. Now, however, I'm on my fourth consecutive day of waking up between the hours of 3 and 4 a.m. Here, in the midst of this maelstrom, I find myself longing for something as simple as being out of milk or having to deal with a hot water shortage. Perhaps I should view this as preparation for fatherhood? Or, perhaps more cynically, as a small glimpse into hell?
In any event, I'm starting to look more and more like one of the extras in Michael Jackson's "Thriller," except my dancing isn't quite as smooth (I blame lack of sleep). Hopefully I can get on some sort of regular schedule soon!
However, each of these factors pales in the face of what I've come to believe is the ultimate determinant for early morning happiness: the absence or presence of Jet Lag. I've traveled a bit over the last handful of years, but have never experienced a real Category 5 case of jet lag. At least, not until a few days ago. Now, however, I'm on my fourth consecutive day of waking up between the hours of 3 and 4 a.m. Here, in the midst of this maelstrom, I find myself longing for something as simple as being out of milk or having to deal with a hot water shortage. Perhaps I should view this as preparation for fatherhood? Or, perhaps more cynically, as a small glimpse into hell?
In any event, I'm starting to look more and more like one of the extras in Michael Jackson's "Thriller," except my dancing isn't quite as smooth (I blame lack of sleep). Hopefully I can get on some sort of regular schedule soon!
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Wir kommen!
Hey all! In just a couple short days we'll be hopping on board with British Airways and heading back to the USA! Woohoo! We would absolutely LOVE to spend time with you while we're back, so please get in touch with us if you have any time available for coffee, lunch, or anything else! We don't yet know what our phone/transportation situation will be when we're back, but for now e-mail is the best way to get in touch with us (stockett@gmail.com). We are planning to get pre-paid phones once we get to Boise (thanks, Bishop!), and for our time in Seattle I'll probably try to do what any loving son does--steal from Mom (thanks in advance, Mom!).
Anyway, here's a quick glimpse at our schedule thus far--let us know if there is a specific day or time that works for us to get together with you! Summer will be here before you know it, so we want to make sure we have the chance to see you!
JUNE
22nd: Arrive in Seattle! (transportation while in Seattle is taken care of!)
23rd: Open House in Renton, 4:00 to 9:00pm (let us know if you are interested in coming!)
24th: Hopefully spending time with Langlais' and Matthias
25th-28th: Camping with Family
29th: Lunch date with Debbie/Sherrie, plus afternoon/evening with the Morrisseys
30th: Open
JULY
1st: Find a way to get from Seattle to Boise! We would like to find a way to borrow or rent a car and drive it to Boise, that way we can swing through Portland and The Dalles on the way OR we can go through central/eastern Washington to see folks (any suggestions on this plan, anyone?)
2nd: Open
3rd: Open
4th: Spending time with Family
5th: Open
6th: Open
7th: Open
8th: Possible dinner with small group at LaBass' house?
9th: Open
10th: Open
11th: Meet & Greet at Ann Morrison Park -- 2:00 to 6:00pm (all are welcome!)
12th: Open
13th: Open
14th: Open
15th: Possible dinner with small group at LaBass' house?
16th: Dinner with Dayton and the Skinners (neato rhyme)
17th: Open
18th: Open
19th: Speaking at Crossroads in the morning!
20th: Open
21st: Open
22nd: Open
23rd: Open
24th: Open
25th: Bday celebration, or possible wedding in Walla Walla!?
26th: Start transitioning back to Seattle (again, any suggestions on how we should get there? If we have a car we can see folks along the way.)
28th: Fly from Seattle back to Vienna (b-o-o-h-o-o)
Okay, so there's our schedule in a nutshell! Obviously we don't HAVE to have something planned for every day or hour, but we don't want to miss out on opportunities to see YOU, our friends and family, while we're back. After all, it's YOU who we're coming to see! Take a look at your summer calendars and let us know how we can connect with you!
We are VERY much looking forward to seeing you!
Anyway, here's a quick glimpse at our schedule thus far--let us know if there is a specific day or time that works for us to get together with you! Summer will be here before you know it, so we want to make sure we have the chance to see you!
JUNE
22nd: Arrive in Seattle! (transportation while in Seattle is taken care of!)
23rd: Open House in Renton, 4:00 to 9:00pm (let us know if you are interested in coming!)
24th: Hopefully spending time with Langlais' and Matthias
25th-28th: Camping with Family
29th: Lunch date with Debbie/Sherrie, plus afternoon/evening with the Morrisseys
30th: Open
JULY
1st: Find a way to get from Seattle to Boise! We would like to find a way to borrow or rent a car and drive it to Boise, that way we can swing through Portland and The Dalles on the way OR we can go through central/eastern Washington to see folks (any suggestions on this plan, anyone?)
2nd: Open
3rd: Open
4th: Spending time with Family
5th: Open
6th: Open
7th: Open
8th: Possible dinner with small group at LaBass' house?
9th: Open
10th: Open
11th: Meet & Greet at Ann Morrison Park -- 2:00 to 6:00pm (all are welcome!)
12th: Open
13th: Open
14th: Open
15th: Possible dinner with small group at LaBass' house?
16th: Dinner with Dayton and the Skinners (neato rhyme)
17th: Open
18th: Open
19th: Speaking at Crossroads in the morning!
20th: Open
21st: Open
22nd: Open
23rd: Open
24th: Open
25th: Bday celebration, or possible wedding in Walla Walla!?
26th: Start transitioning back to Seattle (again, any suggestions on how we should get there? If we have a car we can see folks along the way.)
28th: Fly from Seattle back to Vienna (b-o-o-h-o-o)
Okay, so there's our schedule in a nutshell! Obviously we don't HAVE to have something planned for every day or hour, but we don't want to miss out on opportunities to see YOU, our friends and family, while we're back. After all, it's YOU who we're coming to see! Take a look at your summer calendars and let us know how we can connect with you!
We are VERY much looking forward to seeing you!
Thursday, May 14, 2009
E-mailings
Okay, so we just sent out another e-mail update...if you didn't receive it but would like to, please drop us a note and we'll add you to the list!
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Digital Age vs. Digitless Age
Here's a quick note about our attempts to stay in touch with you. We typically try to stay in touch a few different ways: e-mails, newsletters, and this blog. Most of you receive e-mails from us, which many times have the newsletter attached. However, more and more e-mail addresses have started bouncing back to us as "non-deliverable" when we send these! I think the last time we sent an e-mail update (April 11th) we had something like 15 e-mail addresses bounce back as unavailable!
So, all that to say that if you have NOT received an e-mail update from us in awhile, it could be because the address we have for you is outdated. If this is the case, could you please let us know a better way for us to reach you? It would be great if you could e-mail us at stockett@gmail.com to let us know about this! Really, without your e-mail address, our ability to keep you updated and stay in touch is severely inhibited!
The last e-mail update we sent was on April 11th, and the one before that was on March 22nd. If you didn't receive these updates and/or are interested in receiving e-mail updates from us in the future, please get back to us to let us know! These updates are how we pass along the majority of info to you, so we want to make sure we have your correct e-mail address!
So, all that to say that if you have NOT received an e-mail update from us in awhile, it could be because the address we have for you is outdated. If this is the case, could you please let us know a better way for us to reach you? It would be great if you could e-mail us at stockett@gmail.com to let us know about this! Really, without your e-mail address, our ability to keep you updated and stay in touch is severely inhibited!
The last e-mail update we sent was on April 11th, and the one before that was on March 22nd. If you didn't receive these updates and/or are interested in receiving e-mail updates from us in the future, please get back to us to let us know! These updates are how we pass along the majority of info to you, so we want to make sure we have your correct e-mail address!
Monday, May 11, 2009
Just Pics
Here's a few pics from recent happenings here in Vienna. Hopefully this is a nice break from my long-windedness...
Us
The Sophomores and us at the recent VCS Formal
Beth and some Senior gals at the VCS Formal
Project for Beth's HS English class
Summer Travel (Reprise)
Okay, so we recently booked our plane tickets to the U.S., and here's the basic scoop:
We leave Vienna on June 22nd and arrive the evening of the same day in Seattle (gotta love the 9 hour time change). We're planning to spend about a week in the Seattle area, and really want to connect with all you Washington (and Oregon) folks if at all possible! So, please get in touch with us and let us know if there is a particular day/time that would work best for you to get together during the last week of June. I'm not sure what our transportation or phone situation will be, but we're hoping to get those details worked out soon.
Sometime during the first week of July we're going to make our way to Boise. I'm not sure if we'll try to drive down or if we'll take a Southwest flight over, but those are details for later as well. If we can find a way to drive we'd love to swing through Portland and The Dalles to see the folks out that way as well!
We'll be in the Boise area into the fourth week of July. Our flight back to Vienna is on the 28th of July, but it departs out of Seattle so at some point within the last couple days of our trip we'll need to head back up to Seattle. Again, we're not sure if this will be via car or plane, but if we DO drive there will be another opportunity to meet up with friends along the way (in central or eastern Washington, for example). Of course, we'd LOVE to find a way to see each and every one of you, and really hope we can make that happen!
To that end, we're going to try to organize some "Open Houses" while we're back as well. Last year we had one in Nampa and another in Boise, and really enjoyed those times. We'll probably do a similar thing this year, and would like to have a time like this in Seattle as well. We'll get back to you with dates and locations for these as they approach, so stay tuned for details!
We're REALLY looking forward to coming back for a bit, and do hope to see you and spend time with you. Again, please let us know if there is a certain date/time that you're available to hang out with us. Our schedules are flexible at this point, but we want to maximize our time spent with the folks we love and care about while we're back in the U.S., and we need your help in order to do this! So, don't be shy--let us know when we can see you!
We leave Vienna on June 22nd and arrive the evening of the same day in Seattle (gotta love the 9 hour time change). We're planning to spend about a week in the Seattle area, and really want to connect with all you Washington (and Oregon) folks if at all possible! So, please get in touch with us and let us know if there is a particular day/time that would work best for you to get together during the last week of June. I'm not sure what our transportation or phone situation will be, but we're hoping to get those details worked out soon.
Sometime during the first week of July we're going to make our way to Boise. I'm not sure if we'll try to drive down or if we'll take a Southwest flight over, but those are details for later as well. If we can find a way to drive we'd love to swing through Portland and The Dalles to see the folks out that way as well!
We'll be in the Boise area into the fourth week of July. Our flight back to Vienna is on the 28th of July, but it departs out of Seattle so at some point within the last couple days of our trip we'll need to head back up to Seattle. Again, we're not sure if this will be via car or plane, but if we DO drive there will be another opportunity to meet up with friends along the way (in central or eastern Washington, for example). Of course, we'd LOVE to find a way to see each and every one of you, and really hope we can make that happen!
To that end, we're going to try to organize some "Open Houses" while we're back as well. Last year we had one in Nampa and another in Boise, and really enjoyed those times. We'll probably do a similar thing this year, and would like to have a time like this in Seattle as well. We'll get back to you with dates and locations for these as they approach, so stay tuned for details!
We're REALLY looking forward to coming back for a bit, and do hope to see you and spend time with you. Again, please let us know if there is a certain date/time that you're available to hang out with us. Our schedules are flexible at this point, but we want to maximize our time spent with the folks we love and care about while we're back in the U.S., and we need your help in order to do this! So, don't be shy--let us know when we can see you!
Friday, April 10, 2009
Evict = the Edict
Last week we got confirmation that the tenant in our house back in Idaho has abandoned the place. This is both good and bad. Good in the fact that said individual moved out on his own without us having to go through a lengthy eviction process. Bad because it left us in a bit of a lurch, and holding the bag on a couple month's worth of rent.
Fortunately, the house was left in pretty good shape, so now we're in the process of getting it cleaned up and "ready" for a new tenant. Finding that new tenant will be the tricky (and potentially expensive) part. That being said, anyone out there interested in renting a house? Just had to ask.
Dealing with this housing situation has been a bit frustrating. I feel like it's important, though, to remember that nowhere in the Bible is it said that being a follower of Jesus leads to a life of smooth sailing (or abundant tenants). In fact, the Bible tells us the opposite, that trouble WILL come--it's just a natural output of life running its course. I say this only to emphasize that faith in Jesus doesn't mean the immediate gratification of our desires, which I think sometimes gets misinterpreted by folks. In this specific case, being Christians doesn't mean we'll necessarily find a tenant for our house within a short (or even long) period of time.
What being a follower of Jesus DOES mean, however, is the opportunity to have a life of abundant joy regardless of circumstances or hardships. Is this housing situation a bummer? Of course, and it's okay to lament about it (check the Psalms for some examples of serious lamenting). In fact, a couple days ago I was whining to my brother about how I don't really feel up to the task of finding a new tenant again, and that's true.
But inside, despite the poor economic/housing market and its immediate impact on us, we still have this unnatural joy! This is shocking to me. I'm a fairly cynical person by nature, so to be able to face adversity and remain filled with joy just doesn't fit with the way I tend to think about things. Again, enter Jesus. This joy only comes from Him.
In a way I guess I'm glad for this whole housing debacle, as it's another opportunity for us to reflect on what really matters, and another chance to celebrate the joy, peace, and hope that Jesus has brought to our lives. It seems the "evidence" of this joy becomes more tangible when it sticks around despite an onslaught of crummy circumstances. Of course, simply having this joy doesn't mean the housing situation will just "go away," but it's extremely comforting to know the joy we have won't ever just "go away" either. I'd rather have the joy than have the tenant any day.
Fortunately, the house was left in pretty good shape, so now we're in the process of getting it cleaned up and "ready" for a new tenant. Finding that new tenant will be the tricky (and potentially expensive) part. That being said, anyone out there interested in renting a house? Just had to ask.
Dealing with this housing situation has been a bit frustrating. I feel like it's important, though, to remember that nowhere in the Bible is it said that being a follower of Jesus leads to a life of smooth sailing (or abundant tenants). In fact, the Bible tells us the opposite, that trouble WILL come--it's just a natural output of life running its course. I say this only to emphasize that faith in Jesus doesn't mean the immediate gratification of our desires, which I think sometimes gets misinterpreted by folks. In this specific case, being Christians doesn't mean we'll necessarily find a tenant for our house within a short (or even long) period of time.
What being a follower of Jesus DOES mean, however, is the opportunity to have a life of abundant joy regardless of circumstances or hardships. Is this housing situation a bummer? Of course, and it's okay to lament about it (check the Psalms for some examples of serious lamenting). In fact, a couple days ago I was whining to my brother about how I don't really feel up to the task of finding a new tenant again, and that's true.
But inside, despite the poor economic/housing market and its immediate impact on us, we still have this unnatural joy! This is shocking to me. I'm a fairly cynical person by nature, so to be able to face adversity and remain filled with joy just doesn't fit with the way I tend to think about things. Again, enter Jesus. This joy only comes from Him.
In a way I guess I'm glad for this whole housing debacle, as it's another opportunity for us to reflect on what really matters, and another chance to celebrate the joy, peace, and hope that Jesus has brought to our lives. It seems the "evidence" of this joy becomes more tangible when it sticks around despite an onslaught of crummy circumstances. Of course, simply having this joy doesn't mean the housing situation will just "go away," but it's extremely comforting to know the joy we have won't ever just "go away" either. I'd rather have the joy than have the tenant any day.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Summer Travel
Quick note about our summer travel plans. It is looking like we'll get to come back stateside for a bit longer this year, which we're super excited about! We are tentatively planning on coming back on June 23rd, and should be able to stick around until about July 28th! We're thinking we'll spend the first week in the Seattle area, and about 4 weeks in Boise!
We'll keep you apprised of our plans. Of course, we'd love to spend some time with all of you! Let us know if there is a specific day or time that you'd like us to set aside to catch up with you!
We'll keep you apprised of our plans. Of course, we'd love to spend some time with all of you! Let us know if there is a specific day or time that you'd like us to set aside to catch up with you!
VCS Hoosiers
Our high school girls' basketball season came to an end last weekend with a tournament in Salzburg. During the last game of the tournament, which was the 5th/6th place game, we were locked in an intense battle with the host team, American International School of Salzburg (AISS). We had played this team in pool play earlier in the tournament and beaten them with relative ease. This time, however, they came out with some defensive changes and an extremely high level of energy. Our best player was isolated by a box-and-1 defense, which basically means the team didn't think we could beat them without production from one player.
Anyway, the game was close throughout, with stingy defense highlighting both ends of the floor. Entering the fourth quarter we were down by a couple points, but that lead would change hands a few times leading up to the game's waning moments. With about 30 seconds we were tied, with AISS in possession of the basketball. Our defense held, and in a scramble for a loose ball one of our players was fouled. So, with 7 seconds left on the clock, one of our freshmen was headed to the free throw line for 2 shots...
Before we continue, let me provide some important contextual information for you. This particular player is NOT among our most accurate free throw shooters. Almost every practice of the season we finished by having each player shoot a free throw. If the player missed, the team ran. If the player converted, no running was required. Incredibly, this particular player had made a total of ZERO free throws during the season leading up to this point. That's zero (0), zip, nil, nada--not even ONE free throw made during any of our season's practices and games. Needless to say my confidence in our situation wasn't exactly soaring. Back to the action.
...As our player stepped up the line, it was obvious she was nervous. The home team's crowd was being extremely raucous in the stands behind the basket, and it was taking its toll on her. In fact, the referee had to prompt her to shoot the ball on her first free throw. Timidly, she let the first one go. Everyone watched with baited breath as the ball moved slowly towards the basket. Would she make it? Was it even possible? I hoped against hope. The suspense was agonizing. Time stood still. Gravity became mythical. And then my worst fear was realized. The ball landed about 2 feet short of the rim. The opposing team erupted with cheers, as did the crowd. The referee prepared to pass the ball back for the second attempt...
At this point I prayed. I didn't pray for God to let us win, or for angels to come and guide the ball into the basket, as I don't believe God particularly cares about who wins and loses in a 5th place game at a high school basketball tournament. Instead, I simply prayed that God would help strengthen the gal who was standing so nervously at the free throw line--help her be calm, and help her do her best. Win or lose, our team's goal was to honor God, and I wanted all our girls to know they had done their best to do that.
She received the ball for the second free throw. The crowd was even more rowdy now. She stepped up to the line, set herself up, and released the second attempt. Again, the clock stopped. The ball was entrancing as it floated towards the hoop. A tumbleweed rolled by. My jaw was clinched. All was silent. And then the unthinkable happened--SWISH! The ball splashed through the net emphatically, confirmed by that unmistakable sound of absolute perfection. It was an impossibly perfect shot, against impossible odds and amidst seemingly impossible circumstances. She had absolutely nailed it--her only made free throw of the entire season! Marv Albert would have gone crazy. I had a hard time not going crazy myself! The whole moment was like a cross between Teen Wolf and Hoosiers, with this unlikely freshman gal playing the part of Michael J. Fox and Jimmy Chitwood. It was unbelievable, and it was glorious.
That free throw ended up being the game winner. The other team got the ball in bounds and took a shot to win at the buzzer, but it was off the mark. We had triumphed. After the game I shared the story of the prayer with the team, and was surprised to hear just about every one of the girls say they had been praying as well (what a proud moment that was as a coach). As a team, we left that basketball court certain that the Lord had indeed given that player strength. In reality, maybe He cares more about the details than I thought? Either way, to Him be the glory.
Anyway, the game was close throughout, with stingy defense highlighting both ends of the floor. Entering the fourth quarter we were down by a couple points, but that lead would change hands a few times leading up to the game's waning moments. With about 30 seconds we were tied, with AISS in possession of the basketball. Our defense held, and in a scramble for a loose ball one of our players was fouled. So, with 7 seconds left on the clock, one of our freshmen was headed to the free throw line for 2 shots...
Before we continue, let me provide some important contextual information for you. This particular player is NOT among our most accurate free throw shooters. Almost every practice of the season we finished by having each player shoot a free throw. If the player missed, the team ran. If the player converted, no running was required. Incredibly, this particular player had made a total of ZERO free throws during the season leading up to this point. That's zero (0), zip, nil, nada--not even ONE free throw made during any of our season's practices and games. Needless to say my confidence in our situation wasn't exactly soaring. Back to the action.
...As our player stepped up the line, it was obvious she was nervous. The home team's crowd was being extremely raucous in the stands behind the basket, and it was taking its toll on her. In fact, the referee had to prompt her to shoot the ball on her first free throw. Timidly, she let the first one go. Everyone watched with baited breath as the ball moved slowly towards the basket. Would she make it? Was it even possible? I hoped against hope. The suspense was agonizing. Time stood still. Gravity became mythical. And then my worst fear was realized. The ball landed about 2 feet short of the rim. The opposing team erupted with cheers, as did the crowd. The referee prepared to pass the ball back for the second attempt...
At this point I prayed. I didn't pray for God to let us win, or for angels to come and guide the ball into the basket, as I don't believe God particularly cares about who wins and loses in a 5th place game at a high school basketball tournament. Instead, I simply prayed that God would help strengthen the gal who was standing so nervously at the free throw line--help her be calm, and help her do her best. Win or lose, our team's goal was to honor God, and I wanted all our girls to know they had done their best to do that.
She received the ball for the second free throw. The crowd was even more rowdy now. She stepped up to the line, set herself up, and released the second attempt. Again, the clock stopped. The ball was entrancing as it floated towards the hoop. A tumbleweed rolled by. My jaw was clinched. All was silent. And then the unthinkable happened--SWISH! The ball splashed through the net emphatically, confirmed by that unmistakable sound of absolute perfection. It was an impossibly perfect shot, against impossible odds and amidst seemingly impossible circumstances. She had absolutely nailed it--her only made free throw of the entire season! Marv Albert would have gone crazy. I had a hard time not going crazy myself! The whole moment was like a cross between Teen Wolf and Hoosiers, with this unlikely freshman gal playing the part of Michael J. Fox and Jimmy Chitwood. It was unbelievable, and it was glorious.
That free throw ended up being the game winner. The other team got the ball in bounds and took a shot to win at the buzzer, but it was off the mark. We had triumphed. After the game I shared the story of the prayer with the team, and was surprised to hear just about every one of the girls say they had been praying as well (what a proud moment that was as a coach). As a team, we left that basketball court certain that the Lord had indeed given that player strength. In reality, maybe He cares more about the details than I thought? Either way, to Him be the glory.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
The Bathroom Calendar
Sometimes being here sucks. Mostly it's great, but there are times when I find myself just really yearning to be home. Usually this revolves around a certain date or event that's marked in big circled letters on our bathroom calendar. I almost hate looking at that calendar any more. Instead of being excited to see there's a birthday coming up, I'm filled with dread as each approaches. Not the "I can't believe I forgot about so-and-so's birthday" kind of dread, but the "well, there's another important event we can't be a part of" kind. Maybe that's selfish to think, but it's the reality.
We just missed our niece's second birthday, and one of our nephews just turned four this week. I was particularly shaken to see those events pass by on our calendar. I'm not sure why it works this way, but the passage of time takes on new meaning when there are kids involved, it seems. Something about the words "Bailey's 2nd birthday" and "Ian's 4th birthday" just hurt to read. Part of it was the sheer shock that they're already two and four years old. This is particularly hard to fathom because experience has shown us that they're still a newborn and a two year old, respectively. My mind just can't grasp the idea that from one day to the next they've leapt forward a whole year (or two).
The bigger part of this, though, is facing the very real and tangible consequences of being here. After all, the passage of time is somewhat easy to ignore in "adult world," isn't it? If our friends or parents age another year, so what? There really isn't that much change happening between 29 and 30, or between 55 and 56. But in "kid world," the passage of time is impossible to ignore. With each picture or video we see, we're confronted with that harsh reality. People back home are getting older. Our friends are having kids of their own. People's lives are changing, and we're not there to be a part of the shift. Sometimes, I wonder how long it will take before these changes in life's directions move us off the radar completely.
I love being in Vienna, but I guess sometimes I just miss home. And, as much as I hate it at times, I think I'll leave the bathroom calendar up. After all, I'd rather think of home and miss it than not think of it at all.
We just missed our niece's second birthday, and one of our nephews just turned four this week. I was particularly shaken to see those events pass by on our calendar. I'm not sure why it works this way, but the passage of time takes on new meaning when there are kids involved, it seems. Something about the words "Bailey's 2nd birthday" and "Ian's 4th birthday" just hurt to read. Part of it was the sheer shock that they're already two and four years old. This is particularly hard to fathom because experience has shown us that they're still a newborn and a two year old, respectively. My mind just can't grasp the idea that from one day to the next they've leapt forward a whole year (or two).
The bigger part of this, though, is facing the very real and tangible consequences of being here. After all, the passage of time is somewhat easy to ignore in "adult world," isn't it? If our friends or parents age another year, so what? There really isn't that much change happening between 29 and 30, or between 55 and 56. But in "kid world," the passage of time is impossible to ignore. With each picture or video we see, we're confronted with that harsh reality. People back home are getting older. Our friends are having kids of their own. People's lives are changing, and we're not there to be a part of the shift. Sometimes, I wonder how long it will take before these changes in life's directions move us off the radar completely.
I love being in Vienna, but I guess sometimes I just miss home. And, as much as I hate it at times, I think I'll leave the bathroom calendar up. After all, I'd rather think of home and miss it than not think of it at all.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
In the Frozen Land of Nador...
In each of our two winters here, and surely in many winters before, the Donau River has frozen. I've always been impressed by this--moving water freezing over. I remember it happening to the mighty Columbia a few times when I was a kid, and I just couldn’t reconcile the strange juxtaposition of seeing people walking on something I’d always known as distinctly liquid. Maybe the way I felt then was similar to how the apostles felt when they saw Christ walking on the water?Anyway, my childlike amazement with this phenomenon was fully renewed this year. Once the Donau was “officially” declared frozen, droves of people flocked to the river in celebration, each donning ice skates and doing his best to pirouette across the ice. I marvel at this, at the faith folks put in the stability of the ice, when just a few feet beneath the surface the water is still running fast and cold.
My amazement with this peaked a few weeks ago while I was riding the U-1 (subway) line, which takes you across the Donau canal. When the train approached the canal, I was shocked to see that there were literally HUNDREDS of people ice skating on the river’s glazed surface. Some of the younger folks were playing an impromptu game of ice hockey; an elderly couple was gliding along slowly, holding hands; families were out with their kids, showing them how to keep their balance on the ice; others were even out there in regular shoes, scrambling to keep their footing while running and sliding across the smooth surface. Folks of all ages and sizes were out there amidst the bitter wind and biting cold, each fully trusting that the river would support their weight and activities, along with the weight and activities of everyone else. It was pretty incredible to see.
As I watched all this from the safety of the train, a myriad of thoughts started to run through my mind: isn’t there some serious risk involved in this? What if the temperature has warmed enough over the last few days that the ice is no longer stable? Who “decides” that the ice is ready to withstand thousands of pounds of weight? Isn’t there certain spots on the river that aren’t as sturdy as others—has this been considered? Are there medical personnel standing by in case someone falls in? There’s probably no way all these people, especially the young ones, know how to swim if the ice were to give way…
Still, despite my reservations, there were all the people—each putting his or her full confidence and faith in the ice’s ability to support the weight.
As I watched all this, I couldn’t help but think how following Christ is a similar step of faith. To become a follower of Christ, we’re asked to cast aside everything else and put our faith in him. Sometimes this is easy to do; we can see the thick layer of ice on top of the water, can see hundreds of other people out skating, and have veritable certainty that the ice is safe for us to rely on. Other times, however, that tangible evidence isn’t there; sometimes we can see the water flowing just under the surface of the ice, there’s no one else out there, and we’re faced with the difficult decision on our own. Do we step out on the ice in faith, or hang out on the shore, waiting for some of that tangible evidence of safety?
Unfortunately, I can look back at my life and identify MANY times where I’ve elected to wait on the shore’s edge. I wonder how much more good could have come about if I had been bolder, or if I had simply trusted and been willing to take a risk. I wonder how things would have been had I made a decision to really follow Christ at a younger age. I wonder how many chances to share the story of Christ I have passed up because I was afraid, or because the context wasn’t right. I wonder how many people who are a part of my life now have a hard time understanding what it is we’re doing here because I did a poor job of showing Christ’s love to them back in the U.S.
The good news is, for all of us, that the opportunity to come to faith in Christ is available every day! Whether you already believe or not, every day presents another opportunity to put your faith in Christ and choose to trust him. Again, I realize this isn’t easy to do. Trusting Christ means relinquishing control of your life, and that’s a difficult thing to do sometimes. I’ve learned, however, that it’s the thing that matters most. As D.L. Moody put it, “Trust in yourself and you are doomed to disappointment…trust in money and you may have it taken from you…but trust in God, and you are never to be confounded in time or eternity.”
Let’s trust, and step out on the ice together in faith.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Prayer Request Update (part 2)
Okay, so our "other" major prayer request over the last few months has been that the Lord would help us find some resolution to our vacant house situation. For those who might not know, we weren't able to sell our house in Idaho before we came to Vienna in 2007, and recently we lost the tenant we had in place. This, of course, was not an ideal situation...
Well, as of yesterday, WE HAVE A TENANT! Woohoo! We signed a new one-year lease that will start in February, so that burden has been lifted! Again, we praise God for His provision and sustainment! We also thank all of you for continuing to lift this up in prayer. A special thanks goes out to Crossroads for helping us get the house ready for another renter, and a HUGE thanks is also in order to Beth's mom for all the work and effort she's put into helping us deal with managing a rental property from across the pond! THANK YOU!
God is good. God is great. Thus, we celebrate!
Well, as of yesterday, WE HAVE A TENANT! Woohoo! We signed a new one-year lease that will start in February, so that burden has been lifted! Again, we praise God for His provision and sustainment! We also thank all of you for continuing to lift this up in prayer. A special thanks goes out to Crossroads for helping us get the house ready for another renter, and a HUGE thanks is also in order to Beth's mom for all the work and effort she's put into helping us deal with managing a rental property from across the pond! THANK YOU!
God is good. God is great. Thus, we celebrate!
Prayer Request Update (part 1)
So, we've shared some pretty serious prayer requests over the last few months, and we want to keep you informed on how those things have progressed. By far, the biggest and most pressing came in the Fall when we heard from the Vienna Stadtschulrat that the school would not be able to open next year if we did not find a permanent solution to our staff's visa problem by the end of this school year (June). This was a tremendous burden, an obstacle with seemingly no (human) way to reach resolution within the defined time period. The school's administration and affiliates had, after all, been working consistently with the Austrian authorities for almost two years to find an answer to this riddle, but with no luck...
Well, as we recently shared with those of you on our e-mail/newsletter list, VCS WILL STAY OPEN NEXT YEAR! About a week ago we had a surprise visit from a Stadtschulrat inspector, who, after touring the school and meeting with our administration, said at this point there was no risk that the school would close next year! I'm not sure what led to this change, as everything we had heard before was crystal clear; find a solution that will get your staff visas and permits, or else the school cannot continue. What I DO know is that God is good, and His plan for this place extends at least through next school year! This really is miraculous--that at the drop of a hat, after a surprise inspection, the very serious and imminent threat on the school would just be removed! I almost couldn't believe it. I'm still astounded. We're all obviously pretty excited over here! :)
As we mentioned in the e-mail we sent, the long-term problem with the visas/residency permits still exists, so we still can very much use your prayers regarding that, but we are so thankful that the immediate threat on the school has been removed! Thank God, through whom all blessings flow! And, of course, thank YOU for your continued prayers about this. Know that your prayers and support are making a huge difference here, and that the Lord is faithful! (2 Thessalonians 3:3).
Join with us in celebrating this great news!
Well, as we recently shared with those of you on our e-mail/newsletter list, VCS WILL STAY OPEN NEXT YEAR! About a week ago we had a surprise visit from a Stadtschulrat inspector, who, after touring the school and meeting with our administration, said at this point there was no risk that the school would close next year! I'm not sure what led to this change, as everything we had heard before was crystal clear; find a solution that will get your staff visas and permits, or else the school cannot continue. What I DO know is that God is good, and His plan for this place extends at least through next school year! This really is miraculous--that at the drop of a hat, after a surprise inspection, the very serious and imminent threat on the school would just be removed! I almost couldn't believe it. I'm still astounded. We're all obviously pretty excited over here! :)
As we mentioned in the e-mail we sent, the long-term problem with the visas/residency permits still exists, so we still can very much use your prayers regarding that, but we are so thankful that the immediate threat on the school has been removed! Thank God, through whom all blessings flow! And, of course, thank YOU for your continued prayers about this. Know that your prayers and support are making a huge difference here, and that the Lord is faithful! (2 Thessalonians 3:3).
Join with us in celebrating this great news!
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