Coming Home

Arrived back in Laos 8 days ago.  It's been a whirlwind 8 days, but full of good times too.  I was met at the airport by Christa, Sone, Sone's parents, 2 sisters, her niece, her great aunt and uncle and 2 of her sister's friends. It was quite the homecoming and so so nice to be on solid ground after about 41 hours of travel! We had a big meal all together at our house when I got back and then Christa and I had to leave for the first part of training.  That night was my only night at home for pretty much the whole week because we had 4 days of training where we stayed at a hotel on the other side of town.

Sone, Nouy (that's Sone's younger sis who is also going to be living with us) and I unpacked my bags and sorted through all of the holiday items I had brought back and managed to have a lot of laughs in the meantime...they tested out the wigs, glasses and of course the whoopie cushions I brought back. We also played Jenga and Nouy was really excited to play because she'd seen it in Thai and Korean movies before but had never played it. I don't think I've ever played so much Jenga as I have these last 8 days!!

Training was pretty much awesome! I was a little sad at first that we weren't going to be commuting because I had so been looking forward to hanging out with my Lao friends when I got home, but it was so good for my heart to be away, and to really let the Father saturate my heart with Him. The theme was "Show me your glory" and we just spent significant time every day asking the Father to do just that...we have nothing if we do not have him, and I think it is often easy to think we have to work work work, instead of just spending time in His presence.  

On the weekend, we went to Sone's house and our 2 new teammates came with us. It was so much fun! 

Here are some pics from the week. A shoutout to Jayde for teaching me how to shrink my pics so they don't take hours and hours to load! What a difference! :)

One of the things I was super worried about - my luggage weight. 50lbs is the limit, and I felt stupid pr-ing about it, but we did, and let me just say He is so gracious even in the little things. Bag #1 was 50.0 and Bag #2 was...

 Carissa, Dad, Mom and Tsu came to see me off and help me with all my luggage!

 Year #2 and all the stuff I hauled halfway across the world... Brought Dumbo with me this year!

 Sone and I on the way home

 Part of the group that came to pick me up at the airport. We had an amazing Lao feast!

 Unpacking Halloween paraphanalia:)

 Nouy discovering the whoopie cushion

 Scary!

 Playing some Jenga

 One of the reasons I loved training so much...Piper Joy, the daughter of our team leaders in Paxse. She's so precious!

 The sun setting over a "busy" street in Laos

 The 3 shortest teammates (well, not including Piper!)

 Elise and Jeri

 Piper helped me to stay awake during the afternoon sessions by hanging out with me!

 Sunset over the Mekong

 Matt, John and Maurice

Saturday we were off to Sone's house...here are Sone, Nicole and Matt on the bus

 Sone's mom invited a bunch of her teachers from highschool over for dinner the first night that we were there. Sone had no idea they were coming over and we were all really surprised, but it was such a fun evening. Since Sone was busy cooking in the kitchen, I played the role of tranlator for about an hour.  Matt and Nicole are really diligent Lao students so they had fun with the teachers, learning new words and practicing pronunciation.

 This is Sone's older sister's mother-in-law. She is so hilarious and often does funny things. Here she is comparing Matt and Nicole's arm hair.

 This was our group for dinner. We had a delicious feast, and I even tasted the blood this time!

 Sone's dad was glad that there was finally another boy!!

 Sone's parents were taking a picture and we told them they looked like they didn't like each other. So her mom put her arm around her dad and everyone thought that was hilarious because Lao couples typically don't show any kind of public affection.

 Group pic

 Finished off the evening with some riveting rounds of Jenga

As I was thinking about the evening, I realized Sone's mom had invited her former teachers over because she is so proud of Sone and how she has become successful in her education.  For an English major in Laos to be able to speak English as well as Sone does is a pretty big accomplishment.  And to have foreign friends that you can practice with is not only helpful (duh), but in many ways, prestigious. I don't mean that in a proud way at all. But the fact of the matter is, most see foreigners as successful and wealthy and we have a lot of opportunities that many Lao people may never have. It is humbling to know that just because of where I was born, I am seen in such a way, and I always want to be a good steward of that and offer my heart and my services to help people in the best way that I can.  

When we were laying in bed that night I asked if my hypothesis was correct, and she said yes, that her mom is really proud of her and she wanted to share her success with her former teachers. She said how good it made her feel that her parents were so proud of her. Then the tears came, as she said in the midst of the sweet evening she felt the weight of her pain and the disappointments her parents have felt because of her story. In a culture where family is so important, and face saving so key, to make your parents proud is the most important thing a child can do.  It has been so sweet to see the transformation in her as I've been back. Of course, there are hard moments when the pain comes rushing back, but He has truly begun a good work in her life and it is so.. so, I can't even think of a word - amazing, astonishing, humbling, mind-blowing - to sit back and watch His transformation in her life. He has given her wisdom beyond her years and insights that teach my heart new things about Him.  It's beautiful, and I'm so humbled that He has let me have a front-seat view of His power at work.

We went to see Nam Ngum Dam the next day. It's a really beautiful place...

 Sone's family and me...

Best moment of being back so far...hearing my new sister talk to the Father in Lao for the first time. Couldn't hold back the tears of joy!

Sacrifice

So many people think that living overseas is a sacrifice. That doing this kind of "work" is a sacrifice. But really, it's not. In so many ways, my life in Laos does not feel like a sacrifice at all.

But there are some who truly sacrifice.

Those left behind.  My family. My mom, my dad, my sister.

I glimpsed that tonight in my parents' tears.

Something my mom often says is the chair is always empty. At Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter. I'm absent from every birthday. We open presents through a computer screen.  Granted, we can see each other, and technology is pretty amazing, but sometimes that taste can feel worse than no taste at all.

I missed my sister's Junior Recital. I'll miss her Senior Recital, her engagement and all those other milestones sisters are usually present for.

I wasn't there when my nephew was born (though I did make it for his dedication:)

I'll miss one of my best friend's weddings.

The ones I love sacrifice much more than I do. 

Before you go thinking this is a list of complaints, or a "woe is me" or "woe are them" (can you even say that?!) diatribe, pause. I know so often I am tempted to judge every thought or feeling instead of just letting it be.

As my counselor always says, "It is what it is." And in this case, what it is is hard. Really hard.

Not bad, but hard. 

I think sometimes we miss out because we're afraid to name what is hard. To name what hurts.  And when we do that, we miss out on seeing something about our own hearts. And about the One who is Comforter, Emmanuel, always with us.

Even when it hurts.  Especially when it hurts. He is there.

These thoughts are dedicated to my some of my heroes. My mom. My dad. My little sister. They love me enough to let me go. Even when it hurts. Like hell.

Why? Because they're the ones that taught me about the Famous One. The One who did sacrifice everything and left everything to come to a "foreign land" to make a way to the Father.

He is the One who is worthy of the hearts of those from every tongue, tribe and nation. The reason we leave the empty chairs behind. And miss recitals and so many other treasured moments.

Because He is worth it.

It doesn't lessen the ache. But it makes looking ahead to the New World that much sweeter.

"Now the L--- said to Abram, 'Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you...so that you will be a blessing...'"

Blessed... to be a blessing.


In His power.

And by His grace.

Because we've tasted of His sweetness, and we want the rest of the world to taste of it too.

Craziness at the "Funny Farm"

Growing up, we always jokingly called our house the "Funny Farm," especially after the grandparents moved in and Grams would run around the house shaking her finger and saying, "You, you, you!"  Our house has always been a pretty crazy place for one reason or another, and last night was probably one of those extra crazy times, but a fun time in the midst of a summer that's often been marked by bittersweet experiences.

Ok, so my words are failing at explaining. But these pictures should make up for it!

On the way back from our trip to New Bern, we stopped at a Walgreens and I found some pretty sweet wigs for a good price (I've been trying to collect fun things to bring back to Laos for Halloween and other times we might want to dress up:)

Here we are modeling them in the car...

 I even got Julianne to try on one of the wigs! Who knew she had such a crazy side!:)

After I got home, I had Jessie and Tsukasa join the dress-up zaniness!

 My personal fave of the 3 of us...just for the record, Jess isn't wearing a wig, just some pretty bushy eyebrows

Toots couldn't be left out of the fun!

 It all started because I was showing off my purchases to mom and Tsu in my room...

 Then I even convinced Mom to try some of it on. She was even willing to smash down her hair to put on this wig. Unbelievable, I know. Just think how much money women could save if they used wigs instead of going to the salon every 6 weeks!

 Dad got some of his own dress up gear from his room - a moustache and, of course, a Gator hat

Now this is a rare occurance, right here!

The whole time mom kept saying, "Now don't you put this on facebook." So, like the obedient daughter that I am, I didn't. But she didn't say anything about the blog!!

 I contend that this should be their Growth Group leader pic. I mean, who wouldn't want to come hang out with a couple that has this much fun on a Monday night?!

My parents are hilarious! 

Last night was so random and spontaneous and unexpected. But so much fun. Maybe I should bring home random accessories more often! 

Oh and if you have any sitting around your house that you are itching to get rid of, feel free to send it across the ocean with me! We're already gearing up for our Halloween Party!

A Whirlwind Week!

The weeks seem to keep getting busier and busier! This week has passed in a whirlwind! Here are some of my favorite pics from this week...

Here Buzz is making a Lao Flag dessert pizza for a night of sharing we had on Saturday. My sis is awesome and she makes the best Lao flag dessert pizza I've ever seen:)

 Sunday night was the 7th annual OGC Variety Show - oh, such a highlight of my time back in O-town. So much talent, so many laughs and so many moving moments. Here I am at the show with some of my fave people ever...

 This past month I've been teaching English for Japanese students and Monday was our last day. It was such a joy getting to know these six students and they really helped my hibernating Japanese to come back to me! It was a blessing to be able to be involved in that ministry while I was home!

 Tues morning mom and I b-sat for the nephew. Here he is eating smashed bananas (yummy!)

 He really likes drinking that water! And I really like this pic because it captures his big smile.

 We went on a date to Chick-fil-A and he really enjoyed the french fries.

 Stopped by Dad's office to say hello to everyone and to introduce "the cutest thing ever" to them! He's not sure what to think of Grandpa's loud voice sometimes!

 Horsing around. He loves being upside down!

 Tues evening was GG at my parents' house. Oh I love this group and am so blessed to have each of them in my life! They took a group picture that night for me so I could put it up on my wall when I get home.

 Who says skyping has to be international?! We skyped with Dave that night and it was so fun to talk to him, even for a short time. And, he was modeling his Beer Lao shirt too:)

 Wed I had a date with Papa at Jason's (forgot to take a photo) and then Mom and I went to see The Help. That was such a thought-provoking and moving film. I'm hoping to find it in Laos translated into Thai and show it to my students and teach them a little bit about our culture in the 60's.

 Finished off the evening with a delicious dinner at the Rods and a fun evening of talking about art and our hearts for those still lost in the dark.  I'm looking forward to having some of Lisa's handiwork on our wall in Laos! :)

Today has been cleaning-out day. Ugh, not a big fan, but it must be done. It's amazing how much junk I've accumulated in a short time. This is the pile for Goodwill. I was rather proud of myself for getting rid of so much stuff!

 This is the "keep in garage indefinitely pile" - significantly smaller than when I started. Dad will be glad to finally park his car in the garage again!

 This is the "take to Bright Light Books" pile, along with my random pile of "must be sorted a second time" - Oh I wish I could have 300 pounds allowed for the return trip. Unfortunately it's only 100 pounds, and just peanut butter is like 5% of that already!

Tomorrow I'm heading to NC to see John and Abby! Can't wait to see them and so excited about a roadtrip with two of my bestest friends ever!