Did the last blog post really read "Feb 18?" Today is March 13.
Where did the time go???
I'm asking myself that alot lately.
We've just returned from a shortened week of school and before that, a nice break in Penang, Malaysia, where we enjoyed some time off. Suddenly, time seems short, and the return to Canada and the wrap up of the school year seems so immenently close that we cannot help but start thinking about the logistics: Getting rid of our things and packing up house, when will we actually leave, who will we get to see and when, on our travels home, where will we live, and what will the process look like finding a home?
Faith tells me not to worry, that God's hand certainly is involved in all these decision just as He so miraculously led us here. My human mind, however, can't quite get itself around the complexity of it all. So much
thinking. I'm rallying between both mental states to varying degrees. Sometimes it's smooth sailing: "Everything is going to be just fine, God already knows where we're going to live and He's already taken care of all the details." Other times, it's very stressful, argumentative and not very pretty. "WHAT are we going to DO???"
Things will work themselves out, I am content in that, just not sure exactly how yet :). But the thinking about everything still takes up alot of energy.
However, here's what I do know:
Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows." Matthew 10:29-31.
Whew, I have to remind myself of this constantly, and remember to not think too hard!
Ok, a quick question and feeler out there to all of you Abbotsford readers. We're hoping to arrive in Abbotsford for the last two weeks of July. We have places to stay, but are also wondering if there is anyone for whom we could house-sit while you are away on vacation, any time through July and into August. This is just a feeler, but please ask around, and keep it in the back of your mind. We have friends or family to stay with, (lots of them, praise the Lord!) but we don't know how long it's going to be until we can find somewhere to settle for the year (rent or buy) so we are wondering if there are any house-sitting options out there. Or if you know of anything else, ie; short term rentals, houses for rent or sale, please let us know. You can send us an e-mail or comment here.
dweiss@hotmail.comFinally, in school news. Dan Hein, the principal of the school and his wife have arrived back in Phnom Penh, with their new baby, and they're really doing great. So, Dean officially has his coworker back and is no longer on his own. This is all good, for everyone. Dean's been busy the last couple weeks heading up some renovations in the school, preparing for rainy season, so as much as we've all had to live through construction noise the past couple of weeks, there are some definite improvements. One thing though, Dean caught a cold on our break, and now his one ear has virtually no hearing in it. He's injured it previously, so it's had some damage to begin with. I'm trying to get him to a doctor if this persists. Right now, he's just oblivious to half of everything that is going on cuz he just can't hear.
The girls are all well, and doing great in school and working very hard with homework. Almost no time for piano, it's a constant struggle out here :). While Maya has fun things at school, like Dr. Seuss day where she ate green eggs and ham, Steph is practicing for basketball, writing french, khmer and english tests (3 languages--it's awesome!) and generally hanging out with her friends whenever she can. Julia and her middle school soccer team (football, that is!) have dominated in their first season opener game, winning by a score of 7 or 8 to 1 (I lost count.) Good times. Our family continues to play volleyball with some other staff and students almost every sunday afternoon, and it's great to watch the girls dig up some pretty serious spikes put down by men on the other teams! They're really developing as volleyball players--2 years of playing on a weekly basis with some pretty good adults, will do that for teenage girls! Maya? Well, she runs around in her bathing suit, playing on the playground, waiting for us to be finished so that she can swim. :)
It's getting hotter and hotter here as we head into the hot season. I am consumed with finishing work started in the library (to get it ready for next year, new staff), making music classes creative and fun, and of course, thinking all the time about the Joseph production, rehearsals, costumes, make-up, promotion, staging details...it's taking up so much of my mental energy. It's fun though, I really enjoy it. (Too much, perhaps.-?)
Thanks for all your prayers. If you are of the praying type, here are some of our requests:
- Our niece Mia has had her first birthday, pray for her and her family.
- My Grandma is just aging. Things are wearing out. Pray that I can see her this summer and enjoy some time with her.
- Sokhom, our old househelper is doing ok, but has rented her own house for some income, and is living with her sister's family. I want to see her soon, as we have had little contact. Her eyes are still bad, she cannot work, and she is very weak.
- We have to clear out and pack up our house, so please pray that that is a positive experience over the next 3 months.
- Our landlords are looking for more renters, so we pray that they can find some good ones. They are such kind, honest people, and work very hard. An honesty that is hard to find out here.
- A student here named Pari. She is hoping to get to Trinity and needs funding, so please pray that God will say yes to so many of her needs and she can come to Canada to study!!!
- Finally, our journey home, with all of it's emotions.
Thanks for reading and being a part of our lives.
L
:)
Do you even wonder about God's timing? Ok, I know that's a rather generalized question, but it's one, if you believe in His providence, that you might ponder frequently. It's kind of like us, recently. I mean, if we love it here at Logos so much, the kids are happy, getting a great education and have excellent friends; if Dean works so well in his position and with Dan, and we have no "house" or financial worries back in Canada..., if our family in general has been flexible enough to transition from first world life to life in a developing country, we must question, "what are we going back for?" I've brought this up alot, the kids have asked the question. What is the real reason, if there is just one?
Well, there isn't just one reason, and quite frankly, and we'll discuss many of those reasons with you sometime if your'e interested. But now, we have some super news that could very well be one of the major reasons, it's just that we haven't really known it as a realistic opportunity, until now! Just as was done for Sureyah 2 years ago, the administration at Logos worked together closely with Trinity Western University and other intersted parties, to get a Cambodian/Logos scholarship for Sureyah to study in Canada. From the very outset, we have all been working to make this scholarship extend to more and more future candidates. Well, there is another students at Logos who is a prime candidate to follow in Sureyah's footsteps and head to Canada, and her name is Pari. She is graduating this year from Logos, and has applied for scholarship to Trinity, and there is much going on in her favor, for actually getting there! This is beyond exciting for a young lady that has lived meagerly, with relatives for years, with her mom having to live in Thailand to make a living. Anyways, Pari is still in need of financial support, so if you have any interest in fostering this scholarship opportunity for another worthy and deserving Cambodian student from Logos, please get in touch with either us or Trinity Western, and find out the details! However, Dean and I have been approached by the Trinity "powers that be" and have been asked if we would be the homestay for Pari, if/when she comes to Canada. Now, this may be a surprise to you, but we have had this idea in the back of our minds ever since Sureyah got the scholarship, so we've considered it often. Our hesitation was virtually non-existant: we would do anything we could to support Pari in this educational endeavor, weekend homestay, full time "home" when she goes to school... whatever we can do for her we will, and we have committed this to Trinity. The only way we wouldn't take in Pari into our home, is if God already has someone else in place, someone with a better fitted situation for Pari. We would definitely concede to a better situation for her sake. Because, as you may know, there's a bit of a catch: we dont' have a house- we don't know what we can afford- perhaps a 2 story garbage can! haha.
We don't know where we'll be living yet, and I don't know what I'll be doing for work, so unless Pari wants to sleep in a tent with the rest of us, there's not a whole lot we can promise her right now, except a lot of care! haha So, this is where Faith comes in. We've been wondering why the return home to Canada? Among other things, maybe it's simply that Pari will need us there! What are we going to do about a house? If God can get Sureyah and Pari to Trinity, and He wants Pari to live with us, then I'm certain there will be a house out there that will fit both our needs and our budget (miracles happen! :) If we're going to need more income to support another child, then there must be work out there that I"ll be able to get, that will allow Dean and I to parent and support 4 girls. So, we just don't know the answers to all these questions...yet. But, in due time.... God has NEVER let us down before. Congratulations Pari, on making it this far! Looking very much forward to the journey with you, in whatever shape that may take. L :)
