It’s the morning of December 26 here, the day after Christmas. And as I write, I know it’s the evening of Christmas day in most of the United States, for most of the people who will receive this email update.
- As I look back over everything that has happened in the past six weeks, I feel, as always, the regret that I don’t post updates as regularly and organically as I could – weekly or daily posts to Facebook. I send some to family, to a closed group. But why not the Facebook Group? It’s such an effortless and easy way to send immediate updates. Maybe I just need to check who it’s going to again, that would make me feel better about it.
- Also, though, I wake up this morning feeling great. And feeling like writing. Which I haven’t felt for several weeks. Because, well, I’ve felt in a bit of a funk for several weeks now. The heaviness of Janae’s passing, and its impact on our team. The sort of mellow, uneventful (and empty-feeling) closure for the school semester. I think it went great, but there were no celebrations, no parties, no big projects. The timing, the loss, the movement of families… yes, it was just a gradual, fun, but uneventful ending to the semester. Which blended into the next week, also, which there were a lot of fun social events but also some long periods of just down time and sort of boredom. For some reason, during the school semester when nothing’s going on I feel energized, busy, and I get stuff done. But now, over Christmas break, I just feel tired. Bored. The malaise hits full force. Ennui. Haha. That probably peaked on my birthday, on the 23rd, when I just felt gloomy and sad. It continued through most of the 24th. I think Janae’s death… it’s not personal, but it is close-to-home. She was here, and a part of so many people’s lives around us. And her death was sudden, unexpected, and… unfair. Why a kind, beaming, beautiful, loving teenager of 16 years old would just… die, so quickly. Be gone. As if life wasn’t already unpredictable enough. This isn’t a “she went to the States and you’ll never see her again.” It was… she was with us one week, and her family remains, but she is gone. Wow. What a hole. And maybe, of course, a little of missing family and friends at home, too.
- That gloom continued until we went to church in the evening, that was fun. And Christmas Day was enjoyable as well. I just wrote about our Christmas Day “Open House” visits. Those were fun. And exhausting.
- Today we have nothing planned, except to pack for our adventure tomorrow. We’re going on an adventure. A close-by, exciting adventure. I am so curious as to what we will see. But very, very excited. This morning I remembered Dad’s quote from G.K. Chesterton: ‘An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered. An inconvenience is only an adventure wrongly considered.’ And all the talk about how… it will be an adventure! I think this was also code for so many other things. We don’t know what to expect. There are a lot of unknowns. It will probably be uncomfortable. Certainly unfamiliar. We will see odd things and meet odd characters. We will have stories to tell when it’s over, but in the moment, things might be pretty ragged…. I think this is the mentality I grew up with. And the one I continue to live by. That might need some unpacking sometime, because there is a difference between the adventure you choose and the suffering that is thrust upon you. But for the ones you choose, and need justification for, and embrace fully, and end up loving, and glad you did them, like this Christmas for us… are wonderful.
- So that’s my state of mind coming into writing this brief blurb. Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas, friends and family! It’s overwhelming for me to consider how two years ago we celebrated Christmas with friends and family in Nampa, Idaho. Then last year, we celebrated in Pignon, Haiti, our new new home. And this year, we are celebrating Christmas was totally new friends and customs on the other side of the globe, in Indonesia. It feels far… but the celebration and connections feel close, too. Wherever this email finds you, know that we are grateful for our connection with you, despite the distance. Wishing you a Merry Christmas with loved ones and joyous celebration. With places and people that are familiar and heartwarming… and/or, with hope and expectation for the ways God’s love will show up for you this year.
Our team celebrated Christmas together with all of our staff and families. Part of the joy of this month for us has been meeting the families and getting to know better the people we work with here for MAF. As you can see, it’s quite a big crew.
Also, Emely and the kids finished up their first semester of classes for this year. It’s a milestone to celebrate! Here is a photo from their Thanksgiving presentation. And below, I’ll attach our longer update from November, which features some of the excitement of getting back into classes this semester. (You may have already read it, but I had neglected to send out an email version of it last month for those who don’t get the printed version)
