We have just received an update on our support account, and we are excited to announce: we are at 54% of our monthly commitments and 52% of our initial start up costs!  It has been amazing to see God work and see many of you give so generously to make this possible. We absolutely cannot believe we will be flying out just two months from tomorrow!

Thanks for all your love, prayers, and giving!

Apparently I’ve known Stephen too long, and he’s starting to wear off. Pretty soon I’ll have all three Lord of the Rings movies memorized. Until then, I’ll just quote the wise words of Gandalf that resonate in our lives this week.

That way lies our hope, where sits our greatest fear.
Doom hangs still on a thread.
Yet hope is there still, if we can but stand unconquered for a little while.

Just a list of thoughts in my head at the end of the day.

• This car might be the end of us. Just two short months before we sell it for good, the battery decided to die this morning, demanding another $100 investment. At this rate, we’ll have the car rebuilt by the time we come around to selling it.
• My phone died, too. Have you had the privilege of meeting my phone? It fought a long, good fight, but finally bit the dust today. Luckily, I have yet another cheap phone from my sister that I can now use. The real downfall was that it died right as I was trying to get to the auto shop with a newly charged battery, trying to find out from Stephen what I’m supposed to say when I get to the auto shop, and then again when I was lost and my GPS couldn’t seem to locate my destination.  Poor timing.
• We spent a whole lot of money again today. Not only on the car battery, but we’ve now purchased a new laptop and iPad for us to use at Partners.  We needed to make the purchase before Stephen left Apple so we could get the discount, but our budget is taking a hit from every direction.
• The mall was decorated for Christmas, though, which made computer-purchasing and money-spending much better.
• We are officially at 52% of our monthly support! This is incredible. We are amazed at the generosity of those around us and God’s faithfulness to provide. Just 48% more to go and around $10,000 for start-up costs by January 19!
• And the highlight of the day: celebrating a dear friend’s 15th birthday tonight! We enjoyed ice cream sundaes (with only two major spills) and shared a lot of laughter.  We taught them how to suck helium out of balloons, which is obviously an American classic!  The beautiful sound of their laughter filled the room and then a few moments of silence as someone said, “Hi, my name is…” in a high voice…which of course, led to more laughter.  I’ve never heard them all laugh so hard. Absolutely wonderful.

And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night?
Will he delay long over them? I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily.
Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?

Luke 18:7-8

This passage has been on my heart for the past year or so, and it was the topic of last Sunday’s sermon at church. We’ve been going through Luke since, well, about two years before we starting coming. I’ve been waiting, each week glancing to see how much further we had to get to this passage. It has captured me.

It’s spoken following a parable about a persistent widow who consistently asks the judge to bring justice to her. And though he “neither feared God nor respected man”, he eventually listens to her because she is persistent (or annoying). But God commends this.  He encourages his children to pray consistently (see also Luke 11:5-13).

This is my heart for Burma exactly. To pray, when there seems no hope and no justice, but to beg consistently on their behalf.  To cry out and never grow faint.  To cry out and believe that God is bringing justice; not that he will bring justice, but he is currently, whether I can see it or not.

In the sermon, a story was shared about a family member that–how do you say it without being cliche?–“went down the wrong path”. Either way, the parents and family would pray for them daily, and did for over twenty years before he turned back to Christ. Twenty years. That’s persistence.

But that’s what I want to be! I want to pray for Burma consistently, whether I’m living among the people, working at a desk, or raising my own kids. I want to pray faithfully, so that when the Son of Man comes, he will find faith on earth, and he will find me here crying out for this people he’s broken my heart for.

And then I get shivers as I think about Burma truly finding freedom.  And the deepest joy in my heart rises up; it’s indescribable.  I imagine the celebration: of Stephen & I; of the beautiful students we met at Noh Bo last summer, now many of them resettled around the world; all those who have prayed for Burma faithfully from Conway, Arkansas; our Karen brothers and sisters; Brad and Kim in Oklahoma City; Partners staff; the brave teams of Free Burma Rangers. I imagine this beautiful day of us rejoicing from every corner of the earth for this little country that we cried out for and God heard. And he answered. And it’s coming.

Honestly, I don’t even know what that looks like. Is it a political freedom, is it a democratic victory? Or is it in the churches of Burma, now squeezed into the walls of refugee camps?  I don’t know, but I’m crying for it.

I don’t even understand it, honestly.  I love this country and these people so very deeply, but I have no explanation. People often ask, “Why Burma?” And let’s be honest, there is hurting, or groaning if you will (Romans 8), everywhere. And yet for some reason that I can only explain as Christ, this country has broken me. These people are heavy on my hearts. And I connect with this group so deeply.  It doesn’t even make sense to me as I live it, but it is my deepest cry.

And so I write, again, about this country and about my ache.  But I would ask that you pray, especially right now. There were elections in Burma on Sunday, and fighting has broken out on the border.  It’s very near where we’ll be living, and over 10,000 new refugees have fled Burma into Mae Sot.  Please pray for the current safety and provisions of these refugees, but also, please pray for the future of this country: for the future currently living on the run, for the future currently living under oppression of the government, for the future currently living right here among us in America.

 

I cannot WAIT for Christmas this year. I really am just bubbling with excitement already.

I think it’s because I started shopping early. I typically wait until early December, but this year, since we won’t have jobs in early December, we thought it might be wiser to diffuse the expense. But now I can’t hardly wait to give the gifts we have, especially since I’ve had months for creativity to overflow.

I am also excited about

– warm things: mittens, scarves, winter coats, sweaters, tea, fires, blankets. All good things for us to enjoy during our last cold season for two years!

– pumpkin things, including bread, soup, curries, pie, etc.

– soups of all kinds. We’re already having soup for at least a couple meals a week, and since I usually do vegetarian…I’m sure Stephen is loving this.

– Christmas music of all kinds, including but not limited to: caroling, dancing; Amy Grant, Dolly Parton, Sarah McLachlan; O Little Town of Bethlehem, Joy to the World (two of my favorites)

– stockings. This is a wonderful idea.

– baking: decorating Christmas cookies, homemade cinnamon rolls, the aforementioned pumpkin bread, pumpkin pie, and other deliciousness.

– running in the cold, to offset the previously mentioned baked goods. I love running in leggings, a fleece, hat, and mittens!  It’s such a conflict of interest as you sweat and it freezes, and it makes for quite a fun run. You certainly can’t stop.

– the North. We are going to Tennessee, Iowa, and Illinois in December, and these are all wonderful places to be around Christmas. All of them feel like a piece of home; that’s probably weird, but I love it.

– ornaments on the tree. And the tree itself! And picking one out at the store. And setting up the tree while we eat Christmas peanut M&Ms!

I’m nearly bursting by now. And it’s becoming evident, even in my blog, that I like lists. Lame.

(I just went to check “Kelli” on the side to clarify who this is. I’m sure you’re wondering, since Stephen is posting constantly and this sounds just like him. Gosh, he loves Dolly Parton and running!)

Well, Jump 1: done, done, and done. We have tickets! We leave on January 19.

Exciting, yes.

Scary, yes.

We took a big dip in our savings, and we purchased them. With the wonderful help of a travel agent, we’ll also be stopping through England to visit my sister & brother-in-law for ten days! My excitement is bubbling.

There’s so many mixed emotions around us right now. I’m excited for so many things:

• seeing my sister and having such wonderful conversations, for over a week!
• Christmas with our families–complete with fresh trees, peanut M&Ms, the musical stylings of Amy Grant & Dolly Parton, games, movies, conversation
• travelling to Tennessee, seeing our wonderful Karen friends and the wonderful community we knew while we there
• travelling to Illinois & Iowa to see my grandparents and friends from when I was so young
• living near dear friends in Little Rock and enjoying dinners and raw conversation
• being back in our Celebration Gathering for church each Sunday, loving that community and laughing at the collection of people we are!
• finishing packing. Yes, that sounds nice.

And yet, there are also so many things I’m dreading:

• leaving Spero, and really Kim, the best boss/my soul mate. Seriously, we’re scarily similar.
• leaving the entire Karen family we have come to love so deeply. My heart truly aches on this one. I have cried the past three times I’ve left their apartment, because they really have become some of my best friends here.  It’s an odd relationship, but the conversation is wonderful.
• saying goodbye to family, knowing that our little nieces and nephews will change so much in the next two years. Some we haven’t even met yet!  And all the holidays and family weekends that we won’t be a part of.
• knowing that the time I have with friends is short, even I’m looking forward to it now…

[Not where I was initially headed.]

Anywho, Jump 1: done, done, and done. Jump 2: begins Friday. We officially jump on the 19th, when we’ll leave our jobs behind to pack up for Little Rock, but Stephen puts in his two weeks notice on Friday. Oh my.

And we counted Monday, and Jump 3 is just eleven weekends away.

We decided shortly after that count we wouldn’t count again. Completely overwhelming.

It was a big step to decide we were going to Thailand.

It was a big step to tell our family & friends that we’d be moving around the world.

It was a big step to tell my boss/dear friend at The Spero Project that I’d be leaving soon.

It was a big step to start asking everyone we know if they’d give us money to make this possible.

But, these were all merely steps, and though they felt challenging, we had no idea what was coming. [And I’m afraid we still don’t. Oh no.]

We are now faced with what I would call the three jumps. Jumps are much different than steps, you see: they are harder to turn back on, and require a greater risk.

Jump 1: purchasing tickets.

Jump 2: quitting our jobs.

Jump 3: actually getting on the one-way plane.

Jump 1 faces us tomorrow. With the wonderful help of a travel agent, we’ve been looking at tickets for around $1100 each. This includes a stop through England, where we’ll spend a week with my dear sister and brother-in-law, for which I can hardly wait.  We have been praying through this, seeking wisdom, and we think this is it. So we’re jumping.

And as we jump to purchase these expensive, non-refundable tickets out of our savings in the morning, please pray.  I’m personally praying for a miraculous drop in price, and would love for you to join me.  How wonderful would it be to find them hundreds of dollars cheaper tomorrow? I would cry with tears of joy that God is good and loves us!  [That said, if they devilishly jump up in price tomorrow, God is still good, He still loves us…and there will still be tears.]

So here we go.

Here goes, better throw my hand in/Wish me happy landin’/All I gotta do is juuuummmp! (from Aladdin, as he jumps with Jasmine. Pretty much us. But minus the government chasing us.)

As we prepare to pack everything up to move back to Little Rock, then to Thailand, we’ve been thinking through our clothes, making plans for what to take, what needs to be bought, etc.  I took a look at the climate of Mae Sot to help us out.

It was worse than I thought.

The lowest low of the whole year: 62 degrees Fahrenheit.  The lowest high of the whole year: 90 degrees Fahrenheit.

Just take a minute to take that in. And, feel free to add the worst humidity you’ve ever imagined.

Oh, no. I think I was at least hoping 60 could be the high for a few weeks. We’re saying goodbye to fall & winter, the two best seasons, for a long while.  And we’re signing on for huge hair and sweat as a permanent feature.

I really think the climate in Mae Sot is the worst I could dream up for me. I love being cold.  I love cloudy, cool, windy days.  It’s clearly orchestrated that God began breaking my heart for the people of Burma long ago. It really requires me loving them so deeply for me to take the risks and make the changes we are in the midst of.

[And what am I to do with all my cardigans? I love, love, love cardis!]

It hailed this morning in Oklahoma City.  I was just sitting at the dentist thinking, Again?

Weather is a very, very common subject in the south. I think it’s an expression of friendliness, really, used by all ages. Not so much in the north; pretty much just the older folks.

How many times have we all heard the line: “Y’know how _________ is. If you don’t like the weather now, just wait a minute and it will change.” Really? I don’t think this is true for most states I’ve heard it in. I do have experience in a few recently, including Arkansas, Tennessee, and Illinois, all of which are really quite predictable.  Arkansas is hot, sunny, and humid for the majority of the year, with a brief cool season, and some rain steadily mixed throughout. Maybe a few tornadoes. Little else.

I would argue, though, that Oklahoma weather is legitimately something to talk about.  We moved here last September, and have had so many surprises. There have been two ice and snow storms, including one over Christmas with over 14 inches of snow.  We’ve had three significant days of flooding, where I haven’t gone to work because we can’t make it through the streets. There have been four hail storms since about February, and I’m fairly confident the hail repair folks should just move here rather than traveling around.  Cars are dented everywhere.  We also had an earthquake last week–yes, 4.7…somethings. (What is the unit for measuring earthquakes? Science is most definitely not my specialty.)  Really?

And Stephen & I just realized that when he was at the dentist last week, the earthquake occurred, and then it hailed today while I was there.  A little scared for him to go back Monday.

I’m pretty excited to say that the local news visited our crafting co-operative this afternoon and did a short story on the wonderful refugees I’m so fond of.  You should watch this. I love them.

Especially enjoy the quick shots at the end of each of them laughing. I will treasure that always, always.

(Unfortunately, the video clip is no longer available on the local news site. Whomp, whomp.)