Tending Sheep

Hi,
Well, this little star (me) hung in a vast universe just about lost her twinkle. We arrived in Egypt a day ahead of meetings and shared accommodations with our new member care couple now living in Jordan. They, by the way, are great. We then joined about thirty others on a bus ride to nowhere or so it seems when you head into the desert. A modest retreat soon appeared like a mirage and we were oh, so happy to experience cooler temperatures as air conditioning is not possible in the middle of nowhere. You get the condition of the air, absent any knobs for adjustments or slats for direction. Flies and mosquitoes did provide some circulation with spirited hand movements from us. The meeting were good, the food was bad (and I'm no finicky food critic), the fellowship was wonderful, the environment was loud. Construction was going on two doors down from our room and our building was directly over a patio where other retreat goers visited, sang and generally had a great time until the early hours.

The last morning of our stay, I stretched out on our bed, ready and dressed for the day, hoping to catch just a few more winks before meetings started. The next thing I knew, I found myself waking up at one in the afternoon. And this jolt was entirely due to a lunch bell being rung like a new pope had been elected. Arab culture is a noisy one. The whole time, I experienced such an intense longing for silence. Doesn't seem consistent with a 'retreat' center does it? I wanted to find a lonely cave, stuff my ears, cup my hands to my eyes and slowly take in one slice of empty landscape at a time for how ever long it took. Yes, my twinkle was dimming. My fire was going out. I was one dead star on its way across the galaxy.

We left 'nowhere' and took a van/taxi to Alexandria. That city has undergone vast improvements since our early days there. We stayed with a family overnight and met with several others the next day. It was dejavu to an overwhelmingly weird degree as we walked back into the same building in which we had lived so many years before to meet a new couple who had recently moved there. Although it was not the same apartment, the floor plan was identical and this had my mind running between rewind and fast forward all evening trying to stay up with conversations. The next night, we were on a train back to Cairo. After spending several days in Cairo, visiting with others, we took a flight back to the Gulf, opened the door to our apartment at three in morning and found one of our two air conditioning units was out...again. Five days and four requests later, we were operational. Well, the air conditioning unit was functioning. We took a bit longer.

Ramadan ended yesterday and the days of celebration that follow have commenced. Families fill the park below our apartment building enjoying a mini amusement park that has temporarily been set up for the occasion. Fireworks go off each evening providing spectacular entertainment from our balcony. We live in a noisy but interesting part of the world. Did I say that before? We take our brief interludes from travel in a large building in a large city where the honking and swish of traffic, our neighbor's crying babies and energetic toddles penetrate our simple walls. Construction is underway in small increments on the floor above us and as I wandered through our darkened living room one evening in route to the kitchen, two window washers were busily squeegeeing the constantly accumulating dust from our windows, hanging thirty two stories above the bustling pavement below. The city never sleeps.

As I finish this entry, I wonder what in the world of value I have communicated of any eternal significance. Perhaps, my most recent experiences are a microcosm of the daily culture fatigue all our transplanted friends experience. It is ongoing, comes in waves, is revisited, defeated and fought again, battle. And if I were to encapsulate all the conversations we had on this, our most recent trip to Egypt, this would be their conclusions as well. All of the mundane, repetitious duties of life are now played out with strange new demands, smells, money, language, food, traffic and rules that have no explanation. They look at their young wives or husbands, they hold their new babies, they seek for words to encourage their young children, they hunger for familiar friends and family and they find strangers and new acquaintances. They experience more mistakes than successes, they create worship where there is often no physical place of worship and they slowly, slowly make a life in order to bring life to a newly adopted land.

It's one tough, repeated, 'Yes, Lord'. So, pray for them and for us that we 'sent out ones' would sink our roots deep into these new, strange cultures and sink even deeper roots into Him. I realized on this trip how very, very good God has been to me. This came by way of my by own very, very bad attitudes when my comforts were downsized just a bit, for the sake of others. Enough said on that topic...Dave and I fly to Jordan for about ten days on the 18Th of this month. Full days ahead but good ones, pray that we will live them in the power of His Spirit. Every one of you (which my imagination tells me may be fewer since inaugurating this blog spot) are integral to His work in NAME. Thanks so much for your faithfulness in a humanly impossible cause, Sara -- for Dave too

There and Back

Hi,

I can't believe I've had such trouble getting to my own Blog account! Seriously, who would bother trying to read our updates if it takes this much effort. My own mother doesn't even read these things. I feel like I'm yelling down a well. So, in trying to make a determination regarding Blogging vs Email Updates...we're open to your input on our output. That said, let me engage in a quick rehearsal of our most recent travels. We flew to Florida for a gynormous summit that was all about connecting Stateside churches with our region. We squeezed two weeks of meetings and networking into one. God blessed with a powerful movement of His spirit in more ways than we will ever know this side of heaven. He connected us with one another and more importantly with Himself and that will change us and our region forever. He is such a mighty God. There are times when I begin to think that if I'm not making it happen it's not happening. What a goofball! I've got such a tiny window on such an awesome God.

Dave and I have spent the last couple of days in recovery mode. Flipping nine hours back and then nine hours forward in the last 10 days has not made a positive contribution to our bodies or minds. In fact, my right ankle and knee are presently wrapped up tight after I sprained them at the airport in Jacksonville. As our hostess pulled her SUV up to the exterior baggage claim area, I was in the process of cheerfully waving to her through her passenger side window when I effectively disappeared. Now you see me...now you don't. I fell off the curb. It was a memorable introduction as she dismounted her vehicle and hurried around the front to find me already seated but not in her car. Staying off of my feet has been the best medicine but our schedule has never been conducive to limited movement. We fly out tomorrow for Egypt. We're meeting up with our new member care couple for NAME and attending a consortium of MC providers and supporters from the ME outside Cairo. We'll attach a few extra days in the city to help our new MC team members get to know some of the folks there.

Prayer requests include safety and stamina and a good beginning for our new MC couple. Ask that the consortium would stimulate new ideas for ministering to those working in this part of the world. I also have a personal sense that God wants to speak to me there. I'm not sure what this means but ask for ears to hear. One thing I really want to do but simply haven't found the time to accomplish is to catalogue our worker's many, many stories. I listened to one recently from a doctor who treated a woman who had mistakenly used super glue instead of eye drops in both eyes. How do you fix that? Our doc was asking himself the same question only under lots more pressure. With a little cutting and plenty of hydrating, she is seeing through both eyes today. In many ways, I feel all our workers face the same crisis as this doctor. We are God's assistants in opening the eyes of this people. Eyes which have been sealed shut for so very long. Sadly, they don't even realize they need a doctor. Please pray that we would follow His lead in patience, wisdom, love and surrender.

Well, I've got to run (make that hobble) but I always find myself ending these updates with a sense of gratitude for the gathering of witnesses both heavenly and earthly, that help us run (limp) our race. Sara for Dave too

PS - As I write this email, I'm listening to two rambunctious toddlers living in the apartment to our right. They join a fussy baby who lives in the apartment to our left. We're not home much but this newly inaugurated day care atmosphere can be tiresome. I'm not sure which rough spots the Lord is presently sanding in my life but pray for a grateful, peaceful spirit to quickly emerge.

Onward and Upward

Hey friends,

We've been mixing it up on the trail for the past couple of weeks in Israel and Jordan. If we're able to download some pictures, you should be seeing us to your left or right or possibly above or below this entry. (Reminds me of the Brady Bunch intro) If it's a white out, I'll do my best to paint some pictures for you with words and photos will arrive later. Dave and I typically cross the Jordanian/Israeli border by car. This has always been a pleasant drive through small towns accompanied by lofty mountain views. Our drive to Israel was uneventful but the taxi ride from the border back to Amman had a whole different flavor. It was a hot, windows down, hair blown across my face, sticking to my seat ride. You might say it was hair raising even before it got hair raising because Dave's quick and observant interjection got our driver's attention an instant before he rear ended a car engaged in an unexpected turn. Not uncommon over here but this near collision really burnt some rubber. We readjusted ourselves and our backseat belongings and continued on our familiar way until we were the ones making an unexpected turn. We found ourselves traveling up a narrow mountain road that all but disappeared at times. We crept across tight bridges and over deep ravines as we witnessed most of what I call civilization, disappear further and further below us. Dave glanced at me at one point and whispered, "This is interesting." I was feeling the same way only more so.

This is when my lively imagination and the taxi both kicked into overdrive. For the next six hours (actually 45 minutes) I rehearsed everything I'd ever read or been taught regarding hostage situations. All of a sudden the back of our driver's head looked 'wanted'. Somewhere between thinking about the ridiculous shoes I was wearing (totally unacceptable for trekking blindfolded), what snacks were in my purse (two packs of gum, a bottle of water and wishful thinking) and what negotiations styles work best with limited Arabic, we pulled back onto a more familiar route and the crisis situation in my mind was resolved. When we arrived at the hotel in Amman, the driver hardily shook Dave's hand and said, "Good driver, yes?" I thought yes, bravo, we averted a deadly collision and you proved not to be a terrorist. I give you high marks for being a navigational enigma. I felt so silly but I guess even well worn travelers can give themselves goose bumps.

The remainder of our time in Jordan and the preceding time in Israel was filled with only the best kind of goose bumps....the God kind. The kibbutz where we stayed didn't have any cows to milk or eggs to gather...at least by us. It was a wonderful setting for renewal and refreshment. Out of our time there, I would ask you to remember a young family with small children who routinely hear mortar fire and explosions where they are located. It is a frequent and daily occurrence. Dave and I spent some blessed time with this mom and dad. They're living in one interesting neighborhood. Many of their national neighbors are surprised that they have stayed. Ask that they and their children would experience grace, peace and protection. Ask for wisdom as they make decisions regarding their family and work. Ask that their sleep would be restful.

Our stay was brief at this lovely site outside Jerusalem but so welcomed by all. We did manage to have a baby shower in a bunker/bomb shelter/panic room of sorts. It was the only location on site that would hold all the ladies. It was decorated and filled with fellowship, sweet things and laughter. Now, how many babies have a bunker theme at their shower? When we returned to Jordan we were able to spend time with several friends before heading back to the Gulf, (Our pilot informed us the early evening temperature was 111 degrees.) We were also able to welcome a new couple to Jordan who have come to join us in providing member care. Wow, are we glad to have them on board. Remember them as they transition into this new role. As I write, we're readying to fly out tomorrow for a conference in Florida. We're hoping to partner with a large host of others who also look beyond borders to join the father in what he is doing. Dave and I will be leading a workshop, so ask that it would convey the needs we see and how others can help. Only the father can stir and call hearts and we're trusting him to do that. Well, we're throwing some fresh cloths in our suitcases and we're off again. We'll fly back to the Gulf in about ten days for a quick three day turn around and then guess what? We're off again. I'm almost convinced that we don't need a home, we need a parking space. Love and thanks for your directed thoughts towards us and others, Sara for Dave too

The Alpha

Hello Out There,

I hear it's a worthy goal to try one new thing a day. So, this is mine. I'm blogging! I anticipate this being a 'no frills' blog. The obvious reason for this is, "Gee, I've never done this before." The less obvioius reason and perhaps the primary one is, I'm confronted with just too many choices in designing this site. At present, the world appears to be overflowing with options. You may select this, that, the other or son of the other. Variety is a good thing but sometimes it exhausts me. I was raised on white bread, black phones and coffee that was a combination of the two. So, clean and simple is my wish for this site albeit boring to some. We've named our site 'Trailmix' because we're such travelers and because we really do want you to have a taste of where we go and what we see. I anticipate photographs finding their way here. How, I don't know yet. We also like the name, 'Trailmix', because frankly, we often feel like nuts. We're constantly thrown in with a variety of fruits (spiritual and otherwise) and thoroughly enjoy being tossed about with God's tangy pineapples, rich raisens and sweet coconut curls. We're also hoping this site will give you a quick handful of thoughts to nibble on and prayers to carry into your day. At present, we are doing the needful aspects of our job: writing emails (one of which you are reading) making calls, reserving flights, packing suitcases, looking after visiting friends and generally doing the hum drum of daily life. Monday we fly to Jordan and then on to Israel. It seems as though we just made trips to these locations and that is because, we did. I believe those travels were the gist of our last newsletter. This time, we'll be joining others for a retreat outside Jerusalem. I understand we'll be staying on a kibbutz. My concept of a kibbutz involves my predawn milking of a cow. I hope I am wrong. I do believe it is a collective of sorts. As a former quasi-hippie of the 60's, I think I can enter into anything resembling a commune. I'm hoping that during our upcoming travels, we can keep you current through this blog. Perhaps, I'll try posting a photo of us boarding a plane, 'Dave and Sara in their natural habitat'. Well, I'm signing off for now which means Dave has the unenviable job of showing me on how to do just that. You will not be seeing my awkward exit but it is now in progress. Much love, from Sara and Dave too