The Sixth Month

And in the the sixth month God created…. sickness!

Oh my goodness you guys the past month was terrible.  It is only by God’s grace, and kindness and flexibility of our school, that I was able to finish this past unit of language school.  The units are four weeks long and for three of those weeks either I was sick or someone else in the family was.

The first week of this past unit I got some sort of stomach bug that put me out of commission and I couldn’t eat for almost a whole week.  The third week Jackson contracted dengue fever (which is SO MUCH MORE than a fever) and then the fourth week I got dengue fever.

All of this sickness came on the tale end of the holidays which were already hard and sad. I literally feel like I’m crawling out of a hole of darkness.  I praise God I feel refreshed and renewed to start a new unit of language school.

Today I enter Unit 6 and Jack enters Unit 5.  It is so hard to believe we have lived here for six months now.  My mind is still blown every time I can sit and have a conversation for longer than 5 minutes with an Indonesian friend.  What an absolute blessing and privilege to have these months to focus on language.  I can’t imagine life without this opportunity to make Indonesia our home.

Our crates have shipped from America and will make their 3-4 month journey across the seas to meet us at us at our new home in Sentani.  I’m dreaming of my Pioneer Woman pots and pans and Corelle dishes.  I’m so excited to have some of our own things again and to make our new house a home.  I decorated and did as much as I could in this temporary home in Salatiga but I am beginning to feel the excitement of having our own space again.

The plan at this point is to be finished with language school on May 18.  We will then visit with friends and neighbors here during Idul Fitri (Muslim holiday) and head off to Sentani the end of May or beginning of June.

I’m asking for prayer for renewed fire and excitement for language learning.  We really want to make the most of these next few months.  We will never get this opportunity again to be so focused on language learning.  We would also love prayers for the kids as they feel yet another impending transition.  Another island, another school, another time they have to say goodbye to friends and try to make new ones.  I spend so much of my time turning them back over to the Lord on a daily (sometimes hourly) basis.

The Lord keeps reminding me that they have to make a choice.  Just like each and every one of us has to make.  Do we trust God with our lives or not?  Will we surrender to His call or not?  Do we truly believe that He has plans that are good and beautiful for us or not.  Do we understand that “the world” will never truly understand those plans and the enemy wants to lie, kill, steal and destroy our joy?

I believe and trust the Lord with my children.  And I look forward to watching how He is going to move big in their lives.  I trust Him….. I trust Him….

We appreciate your prayers and continued commitment to be on this journey with us.  We couldn’t do it without you!