Great Kids

Look at these kids!  Aren't they wonderful?  Jesse will be 10 (10!) in July, Georgia will be 7 in August, Lucy will be 4 in just a few weeks, and Julia is 18 months.  We love 'em.

Jesse and Georgia, of course, are more aware of the sacrifice of going to Uganda than the younger two.

  Georgia is writing some very sweet and sad things in a diary she's keeping these days, and keeps us aware of her sensitive heart.  She's the one who expresses most the grief of leaving Pennsylvania.  Here in Sunnyvale, however, she has found a wonderful friend in Ritu, a schoolmate whose parents are from Nepal.  She also finds daily joy in zooming down the zip line in the backyard, not to mention hunting for eggs and loving on the animals.  There are days, however, when she misses PA deeply, and when she expresses fear and sadness about leaving here and going to Uganda.

Jesse did most of his grieving back in PA.  One evening, after we read the story of the "Rich Young Ruler" out of the Gospel of Mark, Jesse remarked:
"You know, Dad, we're giving up the most important thing to follow Jesus.  Friends."  Jesse is the one who works hard not to complain and put a good face on everything, but he has been honest about not wanting to leave.  We are so grateful for his growing friendship with Micah -- this will make all the difference for him in Uganda.  (Our friendship with the Morrows will make all the difference for all of us.) 


(This photo, by the way, is from Jesse's first soccer game ever; he and I decided we needed to learn some soccer skills before relocating to Uganda.)

 Lucy swings from being the most obedient child on the planet ("Yes sir, Daddy!  It's a deal!") through reluctant, not-quite-sarcastic obedience ("Yes Master.  What else?"  said in a robotic voice), to all out, throw down fits ("Noooooooo!").  She plays, sings, dances, dresses up, discovers, paints, colors, and loves life and us with an unmatchable lightness of being.  As Julia grows, they are becoming playmates and friends.

Julia.  Oh, Julia.  Cute and crazy.  None of the others were like her with regard to her volume, loquacity, and penchant for getting into everything.  We have to check toilets and trash cans regularly for what she may have thrown in there.  We have to peek in bathtubs to make sure she's not sitting in there eating another bar of soap.  We have to lock gates, doors, cabinets, and drawers to ensure she doesn't go wandering off somewhere on the 10 Acres of land with jewelry, q-tips, and kleenex in her hand.  She brings us such laughter and exhaustion!

We want all four of these treasures to be fully a part of the life God has for us in Uganda.  They're not just tag-alongs, kids forced to follow their parents on some frightening and undesired transplant.  They're part of the Hines family, and part of Team Kabale, part of this small community called to live, love, and learn with our Ugandan family.  That's the big reason we're doing the MTI training mentioned in my earlier post.  Even as we prepare them on our own, we're looking forward to a more structured, formal preparation that will help them -- and us -- more fully embrace this mission in a way consistent with the size and shape of their hearts.

Big Decisions and the Might of the Mite

As it comes increasingly possible that we will indeed leave for Uganda in June, we are confronted with the myriad of details that need to be added to our "To Do" list -- visas, wills, vaccinations, burial instructions, emergency evacuation plans, shipping items to Uganda, buying necessities unavailable there, final meetings with our team, connecting with potential partners....

In the midst of all this, there has been a detail that has moved from the periphery of our vision into the center.  Cross-cultural training.  We did some training with our missions agency when we first came on board, but that was 5 years ago.  Both our family and the Morrows have participated in cross-cultural work through the years, but only as short-term missionaries.  And, most importantly to us, our kids have received hardly any preparation at all!  We've done well in preparing them to leave home behind, but we have not done well in preparing them for what lies ahead.

So, after consultation with Global Teams and several trusted, experienced missionary friends, both the Morrows and we are going to three week training called SPLICE with Mission Training International.  It's a "three-week, pre-departure program...designed to help you–and your family–develop the practical skills and attitudes that will successfully take you through the challenging and rewarding process of being interwoven with another culture."  It's the "and your family" part that especially excites us.  We really want to help Jesse, Georgia, Lucy, and Julia grow in understanding and excitement with regard to their part in this mission that God has given us.

A significant challenge, however, is that we have to raise an additional (one time) $7000 for this training.  I've already struggled with worrying about where this money will come from, even though I know God will provide, as he has done again and again.  I was walking to the mailbox on Saturday with this struggle in my heart.  When I pulled out the mail, I saw an envelope hand addressed to our family.  I knew immediately that it was a check.

My first thought was, "Look!  God has already provided for us.  I bet it's a check for $10,000!"  Yep, that's what I thought.  So quick to focus on the big bucks.  I opened the envelope, and pulled out a check for $10.  (Note the absence of three 0's.)  Before disappointment could set in, however, I noticed whose signature was on the check.  Then I noticed the handwriting and the name on the the accompanying pledge card.

You know the story of the "Widow's Mite" out of Mark 12 and Luke 20?  The widow who gave  gave two pennies to the poor, all she had?  And how she was the one recognized by Jesus as having given an immense amount?  That's pretty much what that $10 check is.  The giver is a girl I babysat back in high school.  She's now a young woman who has endured much and works hard and makes very little -- but she loves Jesus a lot, and she loves my family.  And now she's supporting us monthly with a wealth that outmatches some of our biggest givers, and I know there will be a commitment, prayer, and a love that will accompany that gift through our years overseas.

As I carried that envelope inside, I also carried inside me a confidence that God will indeed continue to provide for his people through the love of his people.

March Movement

Here are tidbits of news about Hines Goings-Ons in Texas:

Partner Development
Not too long ago, the good folks in the office of Global Teams and I had a long phone conversation in which we reviewed our budget one more time and looked at the financial numbers with regard to our pledging and giving partners.  Deep breath -- are now under $700 per month away from our goal!  A few more pledging individuals, families, and churches, and we are released to buy our tickets for Uganda.

We sent out a letter in February, visited a few churches, and had a wonderful gathering at my parents' friends' home.  We're still waiting for official responses from some of these.  Others, including some churches, have come right alongside us.  We are so grateful!  Please pray for the final completion of this part of our preparation.

Team Building 
One of the most enjoyable gifts of this season in Texas has been the time spent with our teammates, Aaron and Wendy Morrow and their kids.  The past couple of Thursdays Wendy walked us through a teaching on gifts, resulting in greater understanding of who we are as individuals and as a team.  We were using material new to me -- Given for Life, by Andy Raine -- which looks at the 7 gifts mentioned in Romans 7, presenting them not as "spiritual" gifts, but as "motivational" gifts.  In short, this approach explores how each of us are shaped at the core of our identities -- why we do what we do.  Some very interesting discoveries came out of this time.


We've also continued learning how to live together with our different personalities, values, approaches to parenting, ways of making decisions....  It's so good to begin working through these things here rather than on the field.

Continue to pray for their daughter, Emma Shae, who still has a blood condition that must be resolved before they are released to go to the field.  One of our next discussions is a timetable given these issues of health and finances.

Family and Farm

 

We continue to enjoy life on the farm with our family, with the recent added bonus of having my older brother's family with us.  The rain has let up enough that we've been riding horses, throwing hay into the hayloft, exploring the back pasture, and riding bikes.  The kids continue to do well in school, and Georgia has recently been enjoying a growing friendship with another girl at school  She has been the loneliest and saddest one among us, so this friendship is a gift.


Just last night we had the added bonus of a visit from a long time friend of ours.  Paul is one of the most amazing guitarists I've heard (and I mean amazing), and one who has a quiet, steady, compelling faith.  He is a joy to be around.  After a wonderful dinner of smoked salmon and salad (prepared by my dad and my wife), we sat on the back porch as the sun set and listened to Paul play everything from "Grandpa Hal Had a Farm, Ee I Ee I O..." to a beautiful guitar piece called "Mayim" to a haunting and contemplative melody on an Indian flute.

It's Spring Break in Texas, and our schedule is in flux, but it's a fun time.  Additionally, I preached at a friend's church this past Sunday on the Lord's Supper and the renewal of covenant (Restoration Anglican Church is a wonderful church, by the way, and folks in the Dallas area should visit it), and we'll be going to another church in Austin where I'll preach on John 9.  We're looking forward to be back in the capital of Texas and seeing whether Austin has remained weird.  If you're in the area, come see us at Christ Church Anglican on Sunday, March 21!

People Behind the Counter

I call them the "People Behind the Counter."  That guy at the register at CVS, the kids at the drive-thru windows of Macdonald's, the waitress as Snuffer's, the store clerk stacking shelves at Giant Eagle, the librarian behind the desk.  These are the people we whisk past throughout our day, hardly seeing them past the immediate service they provide us.  If they're exceptionally kind or exceptionally rude, they'll gain our notice and a few extra comments, but otherwise we give them little but our money and quick questions, and receive in turn our change, answers, and goods.

The truth is, of course, that each of these People Behind the Counter is a creation of God standing there with worlds of pain and joy, disappointment and hope, suffering and life whirling inside him, inside her.  That person fishing for your change is loved by God, and needs to receive that love, and now is the moment when you can be a conduit of that love.

I'm not talking about an extended moment of evangelism, or reaching across the counter to lay hands on and pray for the person, or an attempt to get a person to bare her soul while others wait impatiently behind you.  It might be as simple as making eye contact and giving the most authentic "How are you?" or "Have a good day" that the person will have all day.  (The Lord, of course, may break open the moment for even more grace to flow in.  A simple question like "Why are you so ready for your break?" may lead to a moment of unexpected listening, giving, and receiving.)

I've been trying to do this, to be more present to the people serving me from behind the literal and metaphorical counters.  It's hard.  It requires an internal and external slowness of pace that's not normal for me, and a level of caring that has little space in my hurried, harried days.  So I'm trying to take a moment before I enter a store or restaurant to ask God to remind me that at least one of his sons or daughters is waiting inside to meet with me, and for Him to give me the grace to be attentive and responsive, at least for a moment.

Rhythm of Life (Take 2)

A month or so ago I wrote about how we're settling into a rhythm of life.  Well, in all honesty, it's not so easy to create rhythm in any life.  Take the past 7 days, for example...

Unexpected Snow

Our part of Texas is not known for snow.  A week ago Thursday, however, we had the most snowfall the area has seen in about 32 years.  I know, I know, our family and friends back east don't even want to hear it.  But, as snow often is, it was both beautiful and disruptive.  A planned 3 day weekend for the kids (due to Presidents' Day on Monday) became a 4 day weekend -- a lot of fun for them, redefining my planned productivity for me.  Yes, yes, I should receive it as a gift, and in moments I did, but I also battled with a simmering frustration due to worry about untouched to-do lists

Nevertheless, we still had a lot of fun in it all -- our Team Building Time (now happening on Thursdays) had an added peace and beauty to it, the kids played and built and explored, snowball fights occurred, and we even had a fire in the fireplace and roasted marshmellows.

An added joy for the weekend was a visit from Leslie's youngest brother James and his new bride.  More snowball fights ensued (with added intensity, pain, and fun due to James' competitive nature and stinging accuracy), plus fun dinners, enjoying getting to know Cheri, and learning a new Ninja game with the kids.

Unsurprising Sickness

Sickness is just a part of winter.  One by one each member of the family fell prey to various forms of illness of the week.  Some vomiting, some sneezing, some in the middle of the night, some in the middle of the school day, all spaced throughout the week.  We're mostly over it now (kids still sound like Sleestacks), but the weariness and yuckiness dominated the week.

Life on the Farm

We're enjoying living on a farm, and it does involve helping out in new ways.  From time to time Granddad needs help feeding the animals, and I sling Julia onto my back and squelch through the mud to lend a hand unloading feed or tossing hay.  The kids have taken on three rabbits (Monty, Snowflake, and Sniffles), which involves not only regular feeding but also weekly dumping of rabbit dung and cleaning the cage.  It also means finding bunnies hopping throughout the house at odd hours, then hunting them down and returning them to their cage.  They have a remarkable ability for escaping.

Partner Development

That's what we call our support raising, and we really do see it as asking folks to partner with us in ways that are beyond just giving money.  But it requires a lot of time on the phone and writing email -- and very little of either were done last week because of the above occurrences.  Nevertheless, we received word from two more churches that they're partnering with us.  Additionally, the rector of my parents' church (Transformation Anglican) gave me time to speak in church this past Sunday, and several folks responded.  Also, a friend and past of a new church plant in Addison (Restoration Anglican) has invited me to preach twice at his church.  So even as we focus on caring for our family, God continues working behind the scenes.