This has been the last week of school for our kids, since we're pulling them out early for our cross-cultural training in Colorado. For the final three days, Granddad saddled up the horses, and Jesse and Georgia got to ride to and from school (40 minutes each way) astride Mary Sue. Here's a quick glimpse into this wonderful memory-maker:
While we're putting up videos, here's a brief one from Lucy's birthday party from last week. Lucy wanted to have an "umbrella parade." It was the highlight of the party!
Friday, May 21, 2010
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
We are Family
Last week a friend sent us the following YouTube clip. We laughed and reveled in its humorous critique of this particular aspect of North American church culture.
This past Sunday, however, we walked into a church that...um...well, suffice it to say that they might not find this video so funny, or might even see it as a model for how to do church. The lights were low ("I feel like we're in a movie theater," said our 4-year-old.), there were edgy green pillars that matched the power points ("Why do they have slimy green things up there?" asked our 6-year-old.), and the worship began with loud music and big drums. As my kids continued asking questions, I could feel myself slipping toward the critical abyss into which I occasionally dive when visiting churches. This was yet another moment, however, in which the presence and questions of my kids opened the door for the grace of God to redirect my thoughts, and reshape all our hearts.
I whispered to my kids, "Huddle up!" They all leaned in to me, and I said, "I know this church is very different from what we're used to, but it's important to remember that these people worship the same God we worship. They teach what we know to be true -- that Jesus is the Son of God, and that he's the only way to the Father. And they love God, and their songs sing of that love. They're part of our family. It's like when we visit the different homes of your cousins -- their houses are different from ours, and they do things differently, but we're still all family."
After that moment, I was (mostly) able to let go of my criticism and join with my family -- my family seated with me, and my family seated around me -- in worshiping the Triune God and learning more about him.
We had a wonderful time, by the way,visiting with family in Houston this past weekend. On Friday, we left waaaaaaay early (like 5:20am early). We dropped Jesse off at school, where he climbed aboard a bus for a field trip to NASA. (What an amazing field trip, no? Go Sunnyvale!) We then zoomed ahead, and I dropped of the girls at Leslie's parents' home in Tomball, and then I kept on truckin' and met up with Jesse's school group at NASA. He and I had a great time with two other guys from his class touring the Space Center. Among the highlights was getting to watch the final launch of the space shuttle Atlantis!
While Jesse and I were at NASA, Leslie and the girls romped with the Tomball grandparents, enjoying games, hugs, gifts, and water slides!
We returned to the grandparents' house for a late dinner, and the unexpected fun of re-connecting with a blast from Leslie's past. The next day began with early hang-time with Leslie's parents, then a fun rainy day walk to the local shopping area. Not long after that Uncle James and Aunt Cheri (Leslie's youngest brother and his bride) arrived, and the kids could barely contain the hilarity of being around them again. A few hours later we had a swim party with Leslie's second youngest brother's family -- Jon, Melissa, Dawson, Colin, and Landon. It was absolutely wonderful to get to connect with so many (but by no means all) of the Montgomery clan! Jesse and Dawson in particular hit it off, linking their DS's, then linking their hearts.
We returned to Sunnyvale Sunday afternoon to begin our week of preparation for our Colorado adventure at Mission Training International. As we left, Georgia was feeling very sad. "Why?" asked Leslie. "I don't want to leave Tomball and go back to Sunnyvale!" "See, Georgia, " responded Leslie, "that's the kind of girl you are! You love the place, the people, and the animals you are with. That will happen in Colorado, and in Uganda, too."
May it be so!
I whispered to my kids, "Huddle up!" They all leaned in to me, and I said, "I know this church is very different from what we're used to, but it's important to remember that these people worship the same God we worship. They teach what we know to be true -- that Jesus is the Son of God, and that he's the only way to the Father. And they love God, and their songs sing of that love. They're part of our family. It's like when we visit the different homes of your cousins -- their houses are different from ours, and they do things differently, but we're still all family."
After that moment, I was (mostly) able to let go of my criticism and join with my family -- my family seated with me, and my family seated around me -- in worshiping the Triune God and learning more about him.
(How we worship is indeed vitally important -- how we pray and worship does reveal and shape what we believe and who we are. And we should keep our mind engaged in healthy critical, biblical, theological reflection. (Once during the sermon I did lean over to Jesse and say, "I disagree with what the pastor just said. What he said is not true!") But it can be a quick trip from critical thinking to having a critical attitude, and the latter fails to recognize and embrace family.)
We had a wonderful time, by the way,visiting with family in Houston this past weekend. On Friday, we left waaaaaaay early (like 5:20am early). We dropped Jesse off at school, where he climbed aboard a bus for a field trip to NASA. (What an amazing field trip, no? Go Sunnyvale!) We then zoomed ahead, and I dropped of the girls at Leslie's parents' home in Tomball, and then I kept on truckin' and met up with Jesse's school group at NASA. He and I had a great time with two other guys from his class touring the Space Center. Among the highlights was getting to watch the final launch of the space shuttle Atlantis!
While Jesse and I were at NASA, Leslie and the girls romped with the Tomball grandparents, enjoying games, hugs, gifts, and water slides!
We returned to the grandparents' house for a late dinner, and the unexpected fun of re-connecting with a blast from Leslie's past. The next day began with early hang-time with Leslie's parents, then a fun rainy day walk to the local shopping area. Not long after that Uncle James and Aunt Cheri (Leslie's youngest brother and his bride) arrived, and the kids could barely contain the hilarity of being around them again. A few hours later we had a swim party with Leslie's second youngest brother's family -- Jon, Melissa, Dawson, Colin, and Landon. It was absolutely wonderful to get to connect with so many (but by no means all) of the Montgomery clan! Jesse and Dawson in particular hit it off, linking their DS's, then linking their hearts.
May it be so!
Monday, May 10, 2010
Being Present
As I look over past entries of our blog, I've noticed that I give a lot of space to writing about our family and our kids. Once we're in Uganda, I'm sure, I'll start posting more about cultural observations, ministry in action, occasional insights, interesting life situations and the like, but I'm confident that the majority of the posts will still be connected to family. Why? That's who we are!
We see the most significant part of our work in Uganda -- and anywhere -- is being the people who God has called us to be. Travis, Leslie, Jesse, Georgia, Lucy and Julia, as individuals and as a family, living, loving and learning together, shaped by God, living in His presence, His presence living in us, and living out of that. When Leslie and I attended New Wineskins in April, one of the themes we kept hearing from missionaries on the field was the ministry of presence, or what some call "incarnational ministry." There is so much to do in ministry, but what impacts people the most is who we are when we're with them.
One of the men with whom we spoke, Dr. Scott Kellermann, has been used by God to do an amazing work among the Batwa Pygmies in Uganda. Hospitals, education, houses, evangelism have all been established among this downtrodden people group. When Dr. Kellermann asked the Batwa which of these gifts they valued most, however, they responded with a word in their native tongue which means simply, "Sitting with us." More than all these other important works, simply being with them, listening to them, living among them was of most significance to the Batwa.
So it is here. So it will be for us there.
We see the most significant part of our work in Uganda -- and anywhere -- is being the people who God has called us to be. Travis, Leslie, Jesse, Georgia, Lucy and Julia, as individuals and as a family, living, loving and learning together, shaped by God, living in His presence, His presence living in us, and living out of that. When Leslie and I attended New Wineskins in April, one of the themes we kept hearing from missionaries on the field was the ministry of presence, or what some call "incarnational ministry." There is so much to do in ministry, but what impacts people the most is who we are when we're with them.
One of the men with whom we spoke, Dr. Scott Kellermann, has been used by God to do an amazing work among the Batwa Pygmies in Uganda. Hospitals, education, houses, evangelism have all been established among this downtrodden people group. When Dr. Kellermann asked the Batwa which of these gifts they valued most, however, they responded with a word in their native tongue which means simply, "Sitting with us." More than all these other important works, simply being with them, listening to them, living among them was of most significance to the Batwa.So it is here. So it will be for us there.
A post script: My last posting had a reference to my kids and the pedagogical practice of "teaching to the test." That comment came both as an attempt at humor, and out of my own frustration as a teacher in the past being forced to teach to the test. I would like to state clearly, however, that Jesse and Georgia have had a wonderful experience at Sunnyvale Elementary here in Texas. I realized after a brief email exchange with their teachers this weekend that others reading this blog could get the wrong impression of the quality of education our kids have received here.
Our kids have grown significantly in both their academic and personal development, and we're very grateful to the important role their teachers have played in lives. Our experience has been that these are teachers who give individual attention to our kids, affirming and challenging them, and taking an interest in them beyond the classroom. Leaving Sunnyvale Elementary is one of the sacrifices our kids are making, and there is great sadness in doing so.
Monday, May 03, 2010
Brief Update
Whoa. I can't believe it has been almost a month since I last posted something to our blog. (I'm sure many a would-be blogger has written these words.) Well, in the immortal words of Inigo Montoya: "Let esplain. No, there is too much. Let me sum up...."
So let me sum up:
The kids continue to do well. We've had beautiful weather in Texas, with ample time for zip lines, soccer games, dancing, visiting a friend whose litter of bassets had just been born (a highlight for us!), kite flying with cousins, playing outside with friends, collecting eggs, holding new born kids (goats), and visiting parks. Oh yeah -- and going to school. That last one reminds me of a recent comment from Jesse, our 3rd grader. After enduring a week of state mandated standardized testing, he remarked, "Great! Now I don't have to learn anything for the rest of the year!" Yep, right thar's the joy and power of teaching to the test, a highly regarded pedagogical practice I recommend to all!
Once a year for the past 5 years I have had the opportunity to meet with 13 other youngish clergy (less young all the time) under a mentor who is an elder statesman in the Anglican church. This has become for me one of the most significant times of the year. We gather together to hear each others' stories from the past year, to give feedback, to pray for each other, to rest, and to have fun. For me, it's my New Year. As I prepare to tell the story of the past year, I'm able to be reawakened to how God has been moving in my life, and I get a glimpse as to what he's moving my family and me toward in the year to come. Also, I learn so much from these other guys, and I simply enjoy them! I'll get to join long distance by Skype next year, but it won't be the same. I am going to miss this group immensely.
So let me sum up:
KIDS
The kids continue to do well. We've had beautiful weather in Texas, with ample time for zip lines, soccer games, dancing, visiting a friend whose litter of bassets had just been born (a highlight for us!), kite flying with cousins, playing outside with friends, collecting eggs, holding new born kids (goats), and visiting parks. Oh yeah -- and going to school. That last one reminds me of a recent comment from Jesse, our 3rd grader. After enduring a week of state mandated standardized testing, he remarked, "Great! Now I don't have to learn anything for the rest of the year!" Yep, right thar's the joy and power of teaching to the test, a highly regarded pedagogical practice I recommend to all!
The kids also enjoyed a significant amount of grandparent time with both sets of grandparents! This has been a true gift for our families, and part of what will make leaving all the more sad. Our hearts, and especially our kids' hearts, are more closely knit than ever with my parents and with Leslie's parents, and soon we'll be stretching those threads across the ocean. There is definite pain in parting.
NEW WINESKINS
Our wonderful friends at Truro in Northern Virginia made it possible for Leslie and me to travel to New Wineskins at the beginning of April. We went without kids (whee!), and we had a wonderful time. Not only were several of the sessions and workshops significant and inspiring for us, but we also reconnected with many dear friends (I had no idea how many people I would know after 8 1/2 years at Trinity School for Ministry!), and made several new ones. We received even more clarification on the vision and work that God has for us in Uganda. We also had fun just being together as a couple for the first time in...well, a very long time.
COVENANT GROUP
Once a year for the past 5 years I have had the opportunity to meet with 13 other youngish clergy (less young all the time) under a mentor who is an elder statesman in the Anglican church. This has become for me one of the most significant times of the year. We gather together to hear each others' stories from the past year, to give feedback, to pray for each other, to rest, and to have fun. For me, it's my New Year. As I prepare to tell the story of the past year, I'm able to be reawakened to how God has been moving in my life, and I get a glimpse as to what he's moving my family and me toward in the year to come. Also, I learn so much from these other guys, and I simply enjoy them! I'll get to join long distance by Skype next year, but it won't be the same. I am going to miss this group immensely.
AUSTIN
Leslie and I had the wonderful opportunity (thanks once again to grandparents extraordinaire) to go to Austin as a couple. We stayed with our dear friends and godparents of Jesse, and ate at some of our old favorites (Hyde Park Grill, the Omelettry). We spent an entire morning and afternoon at Mozart's cafe, the place where our romance began in earnest. In the early evening we were joined by the Morrows (our teammates), and after a dinner of fish tacos at Hula Hut, we went to a gathering hosted by Christ Church Anglican. Christ Church is one of our supporting churches, and they wanted an evening where we could get to know each other better and where we could share our vision in full, and begin exploring other ways in which we could partner together. What a wonderful group of people! And an added bonus was presenting together for the first time as Team Kabale! Oh, we love Austin.
MAY
And here we are in May. I had a wonderful time preaching at my parents' church (Transformation Anglican) just yesterday, where we are loved as family. Now we set our sites for...well, yes, Uganda, but before that our cross-cultural training in Colorado. There is A LOT to do between now and then, and we need your prayers. In addition to still needing to raise a remaining $1800 per month in support, we have packing, shipping, visas, passports, vaccinations, finishing school, wills, burial plans.... This list goes on. But we know that in the midst of our stormy overwhelm, Jesus is present.
"And he that spoke peace to the waters, cares more for our hearts than the waves...."
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