Stand Beside Her

“If my daughter were to be caught in adultery, I would be at her side. I would plead her case. I would beg for her accusers to kill me rather than her. This woman had no one. She was lonely and alone. Jesus stopped, he took her side, he advocated for her. In love, grace, forgiveness and wisdom, He stopped and stood by her. He stood by her to listen, to respect, to serve, and provide for her what was needed. He talked to her when no one else would. Where are you standing? Who are you standing beside? Abraham, Paul, and Samuel were not called because they were great. They were great because God was standing beside them. Are you interested in God because you want something? If you never get that something, will you still believe? Love is not sparkly, exciting, easy, or just about feeling good. Love is a decision. The love of Jesus is deeper than deep, it changes people."

I was greatly encouraged by this morning’s sermon. The preacher was a Mongolian missionary sent out by our Mongolian congregation to a community in the countryside. He knows what it’s like to stand beside people, to love beyond his own strength. He has seen people changed by Jesus’ love.

Sometimes, just standing next to someone does not feel very productive.  Jesus said to the woman, “Go and sin no more.” She had sensed His love, His forgiveness, His respect, His advocacy. Often, I want people to change before I’m willing to stand beside them. I suspect if stones had been thrown at the woman caught in adultery, Jesus would have been the one struck. He was willing to take that risk. He stood beside her when no one else would. Who are you standing beside?

My Rod & Shingles

Confined to mom’s room for a week in the dark, I battled boredom and the itchy rash of chicken pox back when I was in the fifth grade. This last month, the pox came back to haunt me making me feel old, crabby, achy, sore, and tired. With three staff gone, I felt I had to go in to work each day.

While being sick, my normal response would be to stay home, take meds, drink broth, and groan a lot. I couldn’t do that this month. Having just returned from Oly after six weeks away, the rest of the staff was counting on me to take my turn at the helm. And so I slept as much as possible on both ends of the day and prayed.

On a Tuesday at the beginning of the illness, I suddenly felt 100% better. I felt instantly healed that day. That Monday and Wednesday, the headaches, jaw ache, and feeling like I’d been generally hit by a truck were back. But the day in between, I felt great. It was ‘our day’ on the Covenant’s Prayer Calendar. The same thing happened the day after I posted on Facebook that I’d been bonked by the crud.  People prayed.

I’ve known that the Lord answers prayer, and particularly prayers uplifting my physical weakness.

Ulaan Baatar’s uneven terrain has caused me to fall several times. While trekking over thick ice for more than half the year, I often pray along the way, “Lord be my rod.” Since I started pleading this desire, I’ve tripped a million times, but never fallen again.

So, the moral of the story is that God answers prayer. And I’m grateful.

Surreal Support

Central Church, Richland

Most people know that Timbuktu, Boro-Boro, and Outer Mongolia are legitimate places.  But animated- versions of such are more likely to come to mind than reality.  Timbuktu and Boro-Boro are still pretend to Jim and I, but we’ve got tee shirts from the land of the Khan. We’ve buried our hands in the furry humps of Bactrians, filled our shoes with Gobi sand, have friends with names like Monkhjargal and Bolormaa, know the meaning of ‘ashquiday’, and even pay taxes in this exotic nation.  And yet, when we are home, where rainforests and slugs are the norm, Mongolia seems as mysteriously surreal to us as it does to you.

Cross Roads, Yelm

Stepping through the security scanners at SeaTac begins the unnatural transport to the other side of the planet. After 5 movies, 3 meals and endless drinks, received in allotted spaces smaller than coffins, we emerge into a strange new realm. Everything is different: language, food, sights, sounds, even smells.

But you, our beloved supporter, have most likely not experienced this magical transformation. You can only imagine the frigid air, wafts of boiling mutton, or the hills covered in chocolate chip shaped homes. Still, you pray for us, give us money, show interest in our challenges and triumphs, and support our ministry efforts. This gracious generosity astounds us. We are grateful for you. Thank you Super Sender!

Dee Anna & Alisha Milani Packaging & Sell Jewelry

March in WA.

Returning to Washington 

Feb. 16 to Apr. 3

We're being flown back by Central Church in Richland. 

Our calendar looks pretty full already with:

Central's Mission Week

Speak at River Ridge Cov.

Visit Dan, Jim's bro.

Dr. Dentist. Colonoscopy Appts.

Easter & Palm Sundays

Beach time with Raina

Shopping for Streams 

But if you'd like us to speak, or 

would just like to get together, 

contact us by e-mail and we'll see what we can do.

LizardGym@gmail.com

SnowSeaSnow

Snow Sea Snow Snow Sea Snow Sea Snow Sea Sea Sea Snow Sea Snow Sea
                                   Can you read the previous sentence aloud?
A little dizzy-making even if you can get all the sssss and nnnnnns in their proper places. We're feeling a little dizzy too. 2 weeks ago we went from the UB snow to Taiwan (not Thailand) sea. Yesterday, we did the same in reverse order. Seems like an entire year has past as we went from winter to summer and back to winter again.
                                    While away, we got lots of what we call 'lung therapy', breathing non-polluted fresh air. We ate many yummy delicacies like passion fruit, waxed apple, peanut tofu, wasabi bamboo, zucchini, nest fern & nachos :)  Walked on beaches, toured an aquarium, rode scooters, snorkeled, and enjoyed just being together. 2 Chinese words are now part of our vocab, knee-hi (hello) & shi shi (thank you).
                                     Our purpose in going was to meet with other Covenant folk working in East Asia. It was refreshing, inspiring, and encouraging to share stories, study, and fellowship with each other.
                                 
   

Hope

Hi ho, hi ho, it’s off to work I go.  So and so is on the street again. So and so is cold, and has no coal. So and so is angry. Drama. Drama. Drama. Just a normal day at the office. I’m afraid I have become a little cynical lately. “Of course, she’s drunk again.” “Not in school?  Nothing to eat? Oh, well that’s normal.” Although such a thought occasionally goes through my head, this is not how I want to be. I want to be full of hope, optimistic, life giving. I want to maintain that all things are possible. I want to dream her dreams. I want to stand alongside her, be beside her. I want to be her cheerleader shouting, consistently, “You can do it.” I want to mirror the precious gem she is.

               For the last year, I have had three workers at our shop table working regularly. Over the last month, all three have disappeared. Many days no one has been sitting across from me.  The grandfather of our young high school student died, sending her into a drinking depression, and work back on the street. Another lady is on vacation but called in Friday, so drunk that she didn’t know where she was. The third woman has been suspended due to her serious, unacknowledged alcoholism. This morning, two of these three women called asking what time my church service began, and said they were coming.

               I confess that I had to rehearse how I would greet them. “Where have you been? Are you crazy? Holing up in a hotel room, drinking, what were you doing? You weren't thinking! Wake up! Get it together!” were things I wanted to say. No accident that my morning reflection happened to be about hope and grace.

“May the God of your hope so fill you with all joy and peace . . . that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound and be overflowing (bubbling over) with hope.” Romans 15:13 Amplified.

They slipped into the back, having shown up late and didn’t sit beside us. After the service, I met them with hugs and kisses; warmly welcoming them with no lectures about past behavior. Love in action was not hard. They inhaled the dumpling, eggs, coffee and cake we shared.

We must offer hope. She has to choose how she wants to live her life. She needs to take responsibility for pursuing her hopes and dreams. But how can she know there are possibilities, when she has been beaten down all her life? How can she have any hope, if those standing around her have none?

A November Saturday

New Stream Honey

         On my 4th cup of tea this morning trying to clear out my pipes in the last stage of a head cold. Feeling super spoiled with Nystrom's home grown honey that was hand carried to our door step by daughter Raina. Even have a dash of lemon juice to add.
        Winter is upon is. Here, of course, that means minus temperatures, inches of ice, and smoke smoke smoke!
         Work is challenging but rewarding. We've lost 2 of our main ladies at Streams to their old life styles. We're heart broken but trusting God is still at work and may even bring them back to us. Staff are putting in extra effort into outreach. Our annual Christmas party tends to touch new ladies and its coming up soon.
      Our favorite 'American Store' has gone out of business because the customs process had gotten too unwieldy. So, we searched in vane for some of the seasonal treats we used to be able to get there. Jim came home from other shopping hunts with snack bags of Cheetohs & Fritos, black olives and pretzels. Yesterday, I found green onions, canned apricots, and the biggest treasure, celery! But no cranberries or yams :( We'll attempt a festive fare this afternoon.
     We are grateful. . . for warmth, loving family, friends & supporters, health, for the privilege to serve, for our marriage, and for the eternally abundant love, grace, and faithfulness our Savior gives. HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Can't Change People

We can be there for others: love them, listen to them, pray for them, hold out hope, encourage, support, cry, and laugh with them. But we can’t change them.  When a lady is doing well, I often forget the depth of hurt she struggles with. I can’t understand how familiar her darkness is. When she comes to work, seems to have made a decision for new life, is faithful and consistent for a season, I forget. I forget the pain in her past, the wounds, the giant holes of insecurity, the self -condemnation, the brokenness, the functional, albeit ugly, coping mechanisms. I forget the vastness between my world and hers.

Annie had been with us almost a whole year.  She was doing so well. She had learned most of the jewelry designs. She had a new, wholesome look; she seemed more like her true 19 years. Annie was laughing more, forgiving more and getting angry less. We could chart growth.  She had even gone back to high school. She had new dreams and was on the way to attaining them.    

Then her grandpa died. Her family connections were weak and fragile.  But Grandpa’s presence had been some kind of constant in her life.  Then her roommate surrendered, again, to an alcoholic binge that took her back to the streets, back to her pimp, back to darkness. Annie followed.

               And so we mourn and are reminded that a few months of love don’t change a person. Healing takes time. Change has to happen deep within; it’s more than a new wardrobe, new hair color, and a new routine. 

I was reminded this morning, “Leave the outcomes to God.” He is in the people-changing business. His plans for healing and recovery, for working all things together for good, are much wiser than I can imagine. So, I’m trying to leave the outcomes to Him.

               I’m sad. The sadness feels heavy, like an elephant sitting on my chest. I pray for Annie and Nergui fervently, passionately, desperately. But I must trust that the outcomes, the business of change, are His and His alone. 

Adventures of We 3

It was wonderful adventuring as a family in Mongolia. We lifted eagles, paddled pure waters, ate mutton, were hosted in a ger, hiked Gobi sands, visited herders during horse milking, visited museums & temples, and enjoyed just being together. We're all back to our normal routines but will always savor the memories!

Raina is in Mongolia

Raina is here in Mongolia for the first time. She's enjoying the sites and we're excited to show them all to her.
The day we went to see the largest horse statue in the world, its power went out, so we didn't get to crawl into and upon his head. But that didn't dampen our spirits. We just drove a little further on and visited with a herd of real horses lapping up the near by river. Fun times!!