What is the first thing to go in a missionaries busy life? The same thing in yours! Your devotions! Why is that we love the Lord yet getting time to sit and rest in His presence is at a premium. We are doing better now that we are on a schedule, but it seems that for a few days, I couldn't even find my Bible...new house, new piles of things, no HOME spot for devotions.
We are still getting paperwork ironed out...faxing insurance forms for proof of coverage here and there. We are working on final payments of utilities, refunds, extra fees for new accounts here. Not to mention Dr.s fees here for us the last few days. I was told we would be reimbursed...only to find that we have to meet our deductible first! Oh, yes, the deductible! How could I forget that!
We are still trying to get transcripts faxed from one school to another which impacts the two girls class schedule....pray we can get that done today.
Pray for faxes...yes! We pray about all the admin. details that can go wrong since much hinges on them! Yesterday the secretary tried to fax, but for some reason, it couldn't go through. And another day of uncertainty passes.
Thank you already for the birthday wishes. It means so much to be remembered!
We remember our dear family and friends as they go through life as well.
My father, Don, has been diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer, adrenal cancer and also bone cancer in his right hip. He is in no discomfort at this point. Only his right knee hurts due to advanced arthritis. I am keeping in touch with phone calls for now. At some point, I will travel to Appleton area to make a visit. It is hard to know when and how to do this.
I am the main grocery shopper/meal preparer. Tom is incredibly busy with class preparations. There is alot of study involved in teaching 4 Bible classes with no written curriculum. He is doing it all fresh. He has never used anyone elses curriculum. So he is busy. I am trying to coax him to supplement with printed curriculum. At least he would not have to type and copy all of his materials--though they will be good when done!
Blessings on you all. Keep praying for the Masons....we experience God's blessing when you pray
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Okay, so this is my first official post while living in Vienna! I have been too tired to put anything coherent down in print. But after almost 2 weeks I am feeling a bit more acclimated. Nothing much has "happened" to write about. There are no students yet, no classroom time, etc. What has happened are the little things of life: finding a grocery store, getting a bank account, getting a train pass, finding Tom's office at school, kids getting their placement tests, getting to know our neighborhood.
While we are doing all this we have had opportunity to get to know our "buddy" (our personal assistant to help us get acquainted in Vienna) and his family, Brian, Betti, and Tobi. A lovely family. She is Czec and he is American and their little boy will speak English, Czec, and German! We have met many families with multi-linguistic talents!
I have made the acquaintance of Isadora Laury...a sweet Austrian mother of ten year old twin boys who are in Andrew's class. I met Isadora because she lived her for a month before us and they go to the church we visited on Sunday. We went to a large, clean lake for the boys to swim and we chatted with other women from church. It was very nice to talk to Germans, Poles, Northern Irish, Austrian, and Montanans! I was the lone Minnesotan, so I really put on the accent for fun!
Today is Sarah's Homecoming Day. 16 years ago today we held her in our arms for the first time. I still remember the longing I felt to meet her and to hold her and see her and just have her forever! Everyday she has been a blessing and is a lovely young woman who thinks of others ahead of herself and has a cheerful happy heart. I am truly blessed to be her mother and have her for my daughter! She knows how to read my face--almost too well. The other day I walked slowly through the kitchen thinking about making a cup of tea. She said "You want a cup of tea, don't you, Mom?" I was floored...how could a 16 year old know that her mom wants a cup of tea? She even offered to make it for me just the way I like it!
We are kindergarteners here in Austria in terms of language and culture and just knowing how to get around. It is hard to go from being "insiders" and leaders to being "outsiders" and followers. God loves it, I think. We have called out to him in so many new ways and He is faithful! This is one of the reasons we have made this move, to find God in new ways that we never needed before.
While we are doing all this we have had opportunity to get to know our "buddy" (our personal assistant to help us get acquainted in Vienna) and his family, Brian, Betti, and Tobi. A lovely family. She is Czec and he is American and their little boy will speak English, Czec, and German! We have met many families with multi-linguistic talents!
I have made the acquaintance of Isadora Laury...a sweet Austrian mother of ten year old twin boys who are in Andrew's class. I met Isadora because she lived her for a month before us and they go to the church we visited on Sunday. We went to a large, clean lake for the boys to swim and we chatted with other women from church. It was very nice to talk to Germans, Poles, Northern Irish, Austrian, and Montanans! I was the lone Minnesotan, so I really put on the accent for fun!
Today is Sarah's Homecoming Day. 16 years ago today we held her in our arms for the first time. I still remember the longing I felt to meet her and to hold her and see her and just have her forever! Everyday she has been a blessing and is a lovely young woman who thinks of others ahead of herself and has a cheerful happy heart. I am truly blessed to be her mother and have her for my daughter! She knows how to read my face--almost too well. The other day I walked slowly through the kitchen thinking about making a cup of tea. She said "You want a cup of tea, don't you, Mom?" I was floored...how could a 16 year old know that her mom wants a cup of tea? She even offered to make it for me just the way I like it!
We are kindergarteners here in Austria in terms of language and culture and just knowing how to get around. It is hard to go from being "insiders" and leaders to being "outsiders" and followers. God loves it, I think. We have called out to him in so many new ways and He is faithful! This is one of the reasons we have made this move, to find God in new ways that we never needed before.
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