Moving, ministry, and manual transmissions

So we haven't blogged now in a few weeks ... sorry! But if you're wondering why, it's because we are busy! Busy, busy, busy! So we'll take this time to catch you up on some ministry updates and some personal updates before another week sneaks by without a blog!

Hanging out at the Hangar: a Ministry Update

Marcel has been super busy at the hangar, doing some necessary inspections on the 182, helping to build hangar doors, and doing general hangar organization. It's been quite a few long days, as Lowell is here from the Canadian office to do some training with the pilots and Marcel as well. Over the past couple months, the planes have seen quite a few hours in the air, mostly delivering doctors to various rural hospitals and clinics.

Last night, we (meaning three out of four of the MAF families) had our monthly team meeting--and this one was a special team meeting with Lowell here to share the MAF Canada report on the future work of MAF in Angola. It was encouraging to hear that the board and MAF Canada staff are behind the MAF Angola team, and have a vision to expand the program in the partners we serve, the hours the planes fly, and even adding new runways! I, Kelly, was also encouraged to hear that the board would like to encourage and promote short-term teachers to come to Angola to serve with the International school! (Wink, wink ... please come and live with us!)

Speaking of the school, last week, I had the opportunity to go in for the morning and see the International school and students. I'm looking forward to starting at the school in January part-time! Many of these students are the future leaders of Angola, and I look forward to being back in the classroom and helping these students to achieve their education goals and learn more about Christ.

Finally, on the ministry front, today was our first staff Bible study without Tammy and Gary here helping to lead both the Bible study and the English lesson after with the staff. Fortunately, the Bible study went very well, as we talked about the Christmas story, and Marcel even hijacked the English lesson away from me, taking on the role as "professor" and helping explain the difference between "see" and "look". We both love these weekly Bible studies and English lessons, as it a time of staff bonding and improving our Portuguese. The staff here truly are amazing!

Moving on up: a Personal Update

On a personal front, it's been a busy few weeks! First, our neighbours moved back to Canada. They were such an important part of our transition over here, and we are going to miss them a lot as our apartment complex feels kind of empty without them. The Goertzens served for several years here, and will be missed by many who knew them and experienced their kindness and genuine hearts! We also said goodbye to two other missionary families, one of the families being the Helmholdts, who were working on the runway project here. We are also sad to see them go, as their energetic family brought such life to Lubango! Between helping them move and then moving ourselves, it's been busy. We moved into the Goertzens' old apartment, directly beside ours, and we're happy to report we are loving the upgrades! Just to name a few: couches that don't scare us to sit on (let's just say our others had seen better days!), mosquito nets that don't hang in our faces, a TV (!!!!!!) and a screen door to let in some air!

Ethan is itching to move too ... crawling that is. He's not quite there yet, but he is definitely more mobile! He's got many new friends here as well, including a recently adopted little girl only a few months older than him! Ethan now sleeps through the night, but has a harder time falling asleep without cuddles from mommy! Having a little baby has been such a blessing for us in our transition to Africa, as he helps us meet new people who are curious about the big, white baby! It's been hilarious at times to hear people's reactions, or to see Ethan react to theirs!

Finally, on a personal front, I, Kelly, have learned to drive standard! This has opened up much more freedom for me, as I am now able to drive our vehicle around town for groceries, visits, or to pick up/drop off Marcel at work. Driving is still quite stressful here, as the roads contain many dangers like potholes, speedy motorcyclists, and crowds of mini-bus taxis, not to mention the fact that I still stall pretty frequently! However, it is impressive how smooth things can run with only two traffic lights in the whole city (yes, that's more than a month ago)!

With Christmas coming, but the weather outside sunny and warm, it's been a weird feeling to try and get in the Christmas spirit, but we're getting there, slowly. First, we put up our Christmas tree ... and no, it's not a GREEN Christmas tree, but a BLACK one! How weird is that? Then, I baked some Christmas cookies with the Hall girls, and I've been playing Christmas music almost non-stop. But the real thing that got me in the Christmas spirit was reading through Luke's account of the birth of Christ with our staff yesterday. What a great reminder of the true meaning of Christmas ... it's not about snow, decorations, or even FAMILY, but about God's Son and His saving grace!

Working late at the hangar on the doors

We were so excited that Ethan was actually awake for Tundavala!

Our little family in great big Angola!

The not so glamorous ...

Wow ... one month here already. It's passed quick ... and slow. A lot of you have already watched Marcel's awesome video documenting some of the unexpected aspects of our life here: eg. garbage everywhere, beautiful scenery, constant barking of dogs (in hindsight, the sound clip does NOT do this item justice), friendly guards ... a mix of AMAZING, weird, and  ... well, stinky ... things that characterize our life here. If you haven't watched the movie, here's your chance.



But I really want to use this blog post to talk about the not so glamorous parts of our life here--not that garbage and dogs are "glamorous", per se, but what I want to talk about is just some things I'm struggling with in our transition here. And they are not "glamorous missionary struggles" like drawing my water from a well and lugging it home, or eating strange insects and getting sick ... no, it's just kind of the "real life", semi-boring struggles.

So here it is ...

I'm struggling with being a stay-at-home mom. I'm not gonna lie ... it feels super weird here. In Canada ... it felt normal. I mean, a lot of my friends were doing it, it was expected, and there was a huge move to prepare for. Now that I'm here, I'm dealing with all these feelings I didn't expect to feel.

For example, the feeling of being REALLY stuck at home. In Canada, I could go places like the park, church, friend's houses, pool, etc. Here, we don't have a vehicle yet. There's not really any parks or pools or cool events for that matter (something I'm missing a lot, like when people post pics of Halloween or long adults retreats). I don't have my same friends, and none of my friends here have babies the same age as Ethan. I can't really go for a leisurely walk with Ethan. Our yard isn't exactly kid friendly ... it's mostly cement. And with Ethan being so young, we have to be careful with him around all the neighbourhood kids for health and hygiene reasons. Oh ... and I'm a foreigner. I'm always going to be "different" ... an outsider.

The other feeling I wasn't expecting to deal with is this feeling of helplessness. What I mean is, there are a lot of opportunities and need around me ... I mean, there's neighbourhood kids right in front of our compound who don't get a good, healthy meal every day. There's people on our street who are dealing with poverty. So many people want to learn English and get a better education, but don't have the money.

The "go getter" part of me is just dying to do something!!!! But I'm kind of restricted. I haven't really mastered the language yet. I don't know the culture (in fact, I'd still categorize myself as CLUELESS about the culture). There's security concerns. I have a baby who needs almost constant attention. And there's this HUGE warning sign going off in my head: don't just jump into something before you really think it out. The last thing you want to do is hurt people in an attempt to help them. Before you start anything, make sure you've really listened. Really looked. Really prayed, and studied, and considered.

And that requires patience. And reading books. And being willing to sit still, to move slowly. To do the boring background research. To ask questions. And to wait ... and if you've followed our blog for any amount of time, you know I hate waiting.

But waiting is super important. Experienced missionaries have even encouraged me to wait several months, even a year (!) before starting anything! It sounds like crazy talk. It sounds painful, and slow! But it also sounds very wise. Just ... difficult. And ... not so glamorous.

So, at last, I'm writing this post to share this frustration with you, and to ask you to pray for me. Pray for patience, and a willingness to wait on God's leading with timing. Pray that I will realize the wonderful gift of motherhood, and treasure it even when it's kind of boring. Pray that I will listen and learn, and be okay if God has different things in store for me than I had planned. Pray that I will embrace life here, and love life here.

Okay ... post over. Hope that this didn't come off as a complaining session, but more of a "heart sharing" session--maybe some of you moms or missionaries out there will relate. I am 100% confident that I won't always feel this way, and before I know it, life here will feel normal ... and dare I say it ... busy with so many cool things. Our God is good, and He's already at work here in my life and the city of Lubango. Praise God for His faithfulness, and His power through weak, clueless vessels like us. :)

Day-to-day Week #3 ...

Wow, the third week already! Seems like it's been much longer ... as the "honeymoon" wears off, and the real day-to-day living begins! What does that look like right now?

Usually, Ethan and I wake up at 5:30/6 am ... not by choice, but hey, there is something beautiful about Lubango in the early morning. It's light already and quiet. I usually get in a workout while Ethan plays, and definitely get the coffee started. For breakfast, I tried my hand at homemade yogurt (so easy and so cheap, and DEFINITELY the missionary thing to do) and homemade granola, which has become our favourite breakfast staple.

Next week, Marcel will start work at the hangar full-time. Until then, we've been exploring our new world. Day-to-day this might mean grocery shopping, chatting with our guards, going to church with a new family each week, eating ice cream with our neighbours, walking downtown, going to pizza night, or just setting up our home. Things that don't sound particularly "missionary-ish" because they're not. They're the day-to-day items of "setting up a new life" and mentally/physically/and emotionally making Lubango HOME.

My work lately has been to push through some really important books and absorb as much knowledge as possible about the culture. The first book was African Friends and Money Matters by David Maranz. Such a key book to understanding and APPRECIATING life in Africa--emphasis on the appreciation part, because without some background knowledge, there are so many things that could drive a Westerner crazy!

My other reading project is When Helping Hurts by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert. This book is meant to be done slowly and meticulously ... and I'm soaking it up like a sponge as fast as possible. Why? Because it's amazing ... and because we now live in the midst of poverty, I feel like I better learn as much as I can from this book about other people's mistakes while helping the poor BEFORE I make my own mistakes! Seriously, if you are moving to Africa, I highly recommend both of these books. They are GREAT! Anyone else have recommendations?

Between taking care of Ethan, who is happy to demand tons of attention, and reading/observing/taking care of the day-to-day essentials, it's not hard to put in a full work day. It's work ... but it's enjoyable. The people around us make it enjoyable. There's some amazing missionaries here, and not only that, but some amazing Angolans too. The view here doesn't hurt either. We have an impeccable view of Cristo Rei and the escarpment. We overlook much of the city. At any point during the day I can sit out on our front porch and watch kids playing, or on the steps out back and watch lizards scurry around. Every day is sunn, and most days end with a well-deserved rain in the afternoon/evening.

That being said, I have a lot to learn, and I'm learning lots. Just last week, I had a "learning hurdle day" (that's me using nice terms to describe a mentally and emotionally draining day). Apparently, there's a lot here that doesn't work the same way as it would in North America. Like walking places, and vaccinations, and making friends, and sharing food. Or the fact that Lubango, a city of thousands of people, HAS NO STOPLIGHTS! Basically, you just have to have an open mind, a prayerful heart, and a willingness to learn.

So, since I don't feel like I "naturally" take any of those stances, pray for me. Pray for us. Pray that we have humility. It's crazy to think how much pride we carry with us day to day, and how moving to another country helps reveal that--especially a less developed nation. Verses like Philippians 2:3-5 challenge me every day: "Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus ..." Every day, I am challenged by what it means to have the mind of Christ. Pray for us as we grow into our new lives and our new roles, as well as counter old habits and beliefs that may hinder us in this new country. Thank you so much!

And now to end with a few random shots from the last few weeks of our life ... Enjoy!

Marcel, Alex, and Marijn try their hand at biking in the African "outback" (or "mata").

While on a weekend trip to Hungaria Falls, we stopped by some women at the river. This one had a baby of her own,
but took some time to hold curious Ethan.

Does it get any better than this? Hungaria Falls, 2.5 hour drive from home.

Morning quiet time: Coffee, When Helping Hurts and African Friends and Money Matters.
Oh, and a great view of Lubango.

Just so cute ... and desperate to crawl and stand. He's growing so much!

More animated every day! He particularly enjoys time with daddy, tickling, and wearing his Hawaii shirt!

The view from the front of our house of the escarpment. 

Cristo Rei and the LUBANGO sign (like the Hollywood sign). View from the front of our house.

Never thought I would say this ... but the bread here rocks!
Portuguese buns, fresh from the oven ... and so cheap! No time to be gluten free! 

Marcel adventured to the "praca" or marketplace with Basilio to find some tools. It's like Trail's End Market ... on steroids!

The Case for a 4x4

I (aka Marcel) have been putting this off for a while now, and it has been easy to do with so much to take in since arriving in Lubango 11 days ago. Language, culture, weather, friends, altitude... life; everything has been a whirlwind of trying to figure out where to place our focus. Thankfully it has been a good adjustment, and we don't have to worry about focusing on one particular thing right now.

The thing I've been putting off is updating the ministry vehicle fund situation, mostly because, well, I don't particularly enjoy asking people for money. In a way it seems strange because if you think about it, most people are happy to get a very nice vehicle for a very reduced price, and that part does make us extremely thankful. However from a different angle, I can't help but think that people are going to say "Why in the world do they need a $50,000 vehicle?"

First of all, We want to say a big THANK YOU to everyone who has contributed already. So far, just over $26,500 has been raised, which means we are over halfway there! I for one am blown away by the generosity of people since we have done very little to create awareness for this vehicle. Many people have gone way above what we expected or deserved. It also serves as a reminder to me that anything we've done so far has little to do with what we do, and everything to do with what God has done for us.

For those who still have questions regarding what this vehicle fund thing is all about, I am going to attempt to answer a few of the more common questions we have received while campaigning for this ministry vehicle. Here we go:

Why is the vehicle so expensive? It just is. Everything here is more expensive. Buying a vehicle here isn't like North America where you can go to a local dealership, or check kijiji for something used. Shopping around, you have limited options here, basically it's Toyota or Land Rover. Importing a vehicle means it has to be 3 years old or newer, and that's going to cost a lot anyway. Buying a vehicle that is 10-15 years old can still cost fifteen to twenty thousand dollars, and with a baby on board, we would like something a little more reliable. Buying a new vehicle will simply cost more than the one being offered us. The good news is, re-sale value is still high! (just trying to think positive here).

What kind of vehicle is it? The vehicle we are purchasing is a 2013 Toyota Hilux that currently belongs to one of the MAF pilots. They no longer will be needing the truck, and are willing to give us a good deal on it. It has all the features that are good to have in an African vehicle too...

• Diesel engine - which is more common here 
• 4x4 - to help when driving through the rivers that the roads inevitably turn into
• Bull bar - for the mild game of bumper cars that can happen in downtown traffic
• Upgraded suspension - so we can drive on our road without feeling like we have square tires
• Extra fuel tank - so we can occasionally drive somewhere outside the city, and make it to the next gas station
• Cap - to prevent something from getting stolen, and then having to re-purchase it at the market

... the list goes on.

What will be the vehicles primary purpose? Since we live close to downtown, getting to the airport at the east end of the city for work, or to Mitcha Compound where the school is and other staff at the north end of the city, will likely be the most common use of the vehicle. There are other options for transportation, and that includes the moto-taxi's, which are the one-person designed mopeds that incidentally have an entire ward at the hospital designated for these riders. We've been warned, DO NOT TAKE THE MOTO-TAXI!

How do I donate? The simplest way is online. You can go to https://mafc.org/missionarypages/boers/ and scroll to the bottom of the page. There is a form there. Under the "Donation Amount" column, fill in an amount for "Other", which will automatically designate it to the vehicle fund. Calling the office directly at 1-877-351-9344 will do the trick too. Gayle and Anna are very nice people.

Will I get a tax receipt? You certainly will! So if you're looking to make an early year-end donation, we would certainly appreciate it.

When do you need the vehicle by? The earlier the better. The sooner we have the vehicle, the sooner we are able to get around town and do things like groceries without tying up other people's schedule by needing a ride.

That's all I have for now. Thanks for reading this far, and if there's anything I have left out, please send us an email with your questions - mboers@maf.org. If you'd like to see what the driving conditions can be like, check out the video and pictures below!

The truck (above), and our road (below) during a typical afternoon downpour

Challenges, Portuguese, Spiritual Leaders, and Neighbours

Yesterday was overwhelming in so many good ways ... that I felt inclined to blog as soon as possible, before it all faded away with the start of yet another day in our new normal.

Yesterday ... where do I start. It was a great day, but not because it was easy. It was challenging, life-giving, and mentally draining.

I met Maria, our single mother neighbour who cares for two beautiful children, Eddie and Latinha. Timid and, doubtless, living in dire poverty, she cooed over Ethan while I played with Eddie. But what do two young mothers talk about who live so close and yet come from two totally different worlds? Not only that, but two different languages? Children and being a mother, I guess. We sat with Tio Loorindo, our incredibly humble, funny, and hard-working guard. He is so eager to learn English and has been so helpful in making us at home in Lubango.

Later, I wandered down the street while Ethan napped, and brought our beautiful illustrated Portuguese-English dictionary with me. I found a few neighbours I had previously met, and we poured over the book, talking about my dislike of birds, favourite animals, and the danger of scorpions. All in Portuguese. It was one of those moments I could never have pictured in my future ... until now.

Our empregada, who comes to clean the house, came for the first time yesterday. Yet again, my Portuguese was challenged as I showed her how to use our fancy washing machine and we sat all together and ate lunch, making small talk and laughing at Ethan's attempts to eat the table.

I needed a nap after all of this. Then, the afternoon brought a party of all the MAF staff celebrating our arrival in Angola. If I thought I was home free to speak English the rest of the day, I was wrong. Almost 24 people sat and shared cake, "salgados" (little Portuguese pastries filled with meat), Cokes, games, and a report on the future of MAF Angola. And almost everyone there was a national--except ourselves and two other missionary families. Our guards, the office staff, and the hangar staff, all in one place, and it was a party! Our quiet guards became animated when we played the dice game (my sisters know this game ... it's competitive) and BINGO. It was a hoot. Adelino shared some sort of hilarious, animated story that Marcel and I completely missed the meaning of, but everyone else laughed hysterically. Ze fell through one of the chairs and there wasn't a dry eye we were laughing so hard. A few of the staff gave us wisdom for adjusting to life in Angola that I will forever cherish--the most simple, and profound of which was to pray always, and constantly. Give it up to God.

Finally, our day ended off in the most Canadian way possible: pizza and Settlers of Catan with excellent company. We needed that. My heart was full as Ethan played with Judah and Salome, the children of another Dutch MAF family. It was past his bed time--and yet he didn't cry. He was too absorbed in watching the older kids play with him and his toys. Later, they tucked into bed all in the same room until our game was done. I won.

This morning, I woke up surprisingly well rested. I actually found time to open my bible and pray BEFORE breakfast. I am reading Hebrews, and I'm in chapter 13. This verse stuck out to me (verse 7): Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. It stuck out to me as I struggle daily to discern how I will serve here in Angola. Am I called to teach at the missions school? Do I carry on the work of our neighbour Tammy, who is teaching the staff English? Is there some sort of meaningful way I can get involved in the neighbourhood with the neighbourhood kids? I don't know ... but this verse reminded me to think like and look to the leaders in my life, and put myself in their shoes. What would Graham do? What about Angela or Dave? My parents? Marcel's parents? Or the new leaders I've met here in Angola? Uncle Steve? Tammy and Gary? What would they do?

As I thought of these people, and the faith they have, the way they live their lives, I was greatly encouraged. In this world I am not alone. We are not alone. Not only do we have the Creator of the Universe who knows us personally and walks with us minute by minute, but we are also surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. I don't know what the future holds for us in Angola ... but I need not worry or fear. Instead, I will pray, watch, learn, and imitate the faith of those many witnesses around me. Because of them, I--we-- have the courage to soar.

Party in our backyard! 

Playing BINGO (good practice for numbers in Portuguese)

The crazy, wild dice game where our quiet staff became incredibly animated and competitive!

Honoured by this amazing cake ... and amazing staff.

Ethan making friends with Tchavuka (I know he doesn't look happy, but he was a few seconds before)

Because of so many people ... we have the courage to soar! (Had to add this one ... it's just too cute!)

One week of the new norm

Wow ... has it been one week already since we left Canada? So much has changed already! What does our new life even look like now? I thought about how to best write this blog, and eventually I settled on Q&A style ... since likely, many of you would ask fairly similar questions. So here's a little snapshot into EVERYTHING that's happened over the last week!

What's it like in Angola?

Oh wow ... different than even I could have expected ... and I've lived in Africa! Lubango (our city) feels about the size of London (Ontario), but with more people. Thus far, it's been quite dry, as we are at the end of the dry season and transitioning into the rainy season. It's dusty. When it rains, it pours.

It's dirty here. Dusty, and dirty, with lots of garbage everywhere. And yet, there's lots of beauty. Houses are painted in bright colours. People are beautiful: with exquisite hairdos, sharp fashion, and a happy kindness to them. In the city, nature is non-existent ... it's been stamped out by houses, roads, and garbage. But look up to the escarpment, and you see incredible cliff faces and natural beauty (just search Tundavala, a location only a half hour from Lubango).

Everyone speaks Portuguese, or a tribal language. At least everyone we've met. English is limited. Stores are small, and sell everything and nothing at the same time. There's a lack of organization to the city that would drive Westerners nuts ... yet everything seems to flow. No stoplights ... yet an understanding of how traffic works.

We go to sleep every night to the sound of loud music playing somewhere ... sometimes the church, sometimes the bar. Oh, and the sound of dogs constantly barking. We wake up to the rooster crowing, or Ethan crying.

View from the front of our apartment (note: our bumpy dirt road and the beautiful escarpment)

What have you guys been doing?

Adjusting. Need I say more? Setting up our house, shopping for things we need, exploring, relaxing (because you need some down time in a big transition). Eating dinner with fellow staff members. Gleaning advice on everything from where to buy eggs to how to love our neighbours. Talking about future vacations and current paperwork. Hanging out with Ethan and helping him adjust. Learning how to filter our water and how NOT to kill cockroaches.

Hike to Tundavala, only a half hour out of the city, and we get this view!

How were the flights?

Long--but good. If you ask Marcel, the best flight was the last one with MAF from Windhoek to Lubango. It was in the MAF Caravan. It was approximately four hours, broken up by one stop on the border of Angola. We could see everything for miles--including the desert and the Etosha Pan. But ask Kelly, and she'll say that one was the worst ... because of the volatile weather (lots of up and down drafts) the flight was anything but smooth. And ... she threw up.

Yeah ... not so happy to be taking a selfie

 Have you used your Portuguese?

SIM!!!! Yes, yes, yes!!!! Every day.

How is Ethan?

Good! He seems to be adjusting well. We're going to have to watch his sun exposure (his sweet delicate skin!). He's teething, so he's really fussy sometimes ... or at least, we think he's teething. Other than that, I guess the only way to know he's adjusting well is if he's smiling, pooping, and eating. And he's doing all three (not at the same time ... usually).

How can we stay in touch?

For now, Facebook, email, and Skype. We might be slow to respond (time difference ... busyness ... occasionally weak Internet). Oh, and come visit us!

Okay, that's all for now. Stay tuned for more updates! Thanks for your prayers, love, and support!

Thanksgiving 2015

Is it really Thanksgiving Weekend? The summer weather here sure doesn't feel anything like it.

We had dinner and some really good conversation with our neighbours next door last night. They - and many other staff - have been very helpful in the adjustment process here in Lubango.

One of the most surprising things I've learned so far is that leaving home comes with a grieving process. I believe it's healthy to let the emotions out when they come, just now to dwell in that. I couldn't really figure out why there is so much emotion in something like this, but now realize a big reason is that a part of me knows I will be a different person when we return. Kelly, Ethan, and I will be different had we stayed. everyone at home will be older, kids will have grown up... everything will just be a bit different partly due to experiences we will have here.

Sometimes change is something to be thankful for too. I expect to learn a lot from this experience, and trust that God will provide what we need when we need it most. Maybe I should be more thankful for that now.

1 down, 2 to go, training courses that is. I’ve been in Spokane, Washington for the last week getting all up to date on one of the two types of engines that I will see in Angola. You really can't beat the student to teacher ratio of 2:1 that we had, and because of that, I got to know my fellow classmate/roommate Dan, and instructor Ken quite well. It has been a very worthwhile course, and am especially thankful for the opportunity to be a part of it.

Thankfully, it has been a week that has felt relaxing in a way because there was nothing to pack up here, and no arrangements to make with international shippers. The past month has been easily the busiest in my life. Of course no one said packing up your family and moving to another continent would be easy, but I’m fairly sure now that the dreaded part of determining logistics is now in the past.

 Next week I’ll be in Germany, and then France the week after that (that’s training courses #2 and #3 for those keeping track), then it will be back to Canada for 2 days before we make the big move.

 In the meantime, here’s a couple pictures of my time in Spokane (including one of the “Africa Lounge”, where I figured would be an appropriate spot to sit down and write this out). Thanks to all those who have kept us in your prayers. There is so much that is out of our control, it’s amazing to see how well thing have gone so far. Stay tuned though if you would like to keep hearing what’s going on with us, the adventure part is just beginning!

From the Classroom 

Appropriate Blogging Station

 

Bahh ... tired but here's an update!

Hello friendly blogosphere ... I'm here inspite of the chaos that seems to be the norm these days to give you a little life update. Here it is:

We leave in LESS than a month. Oh my goodness!

We're waiting on two visas (mine and Ethan's) but they seem well under way, and we have the most important one--Marcel's, in his passport!

We just got back from a wedding weekend whirlwind, which was essentially a trial run to see how Ethan does with long trips. Answer: he does okay and we (Kelly and my sister Erie) survived and managed to actually enjoy a lot of time together, despite approximately 16 hours of driving!

We have 5 totes totally packed, ready to ship, and one toolbox. That just leaves hopefully only 1 more tote (so long as we can purge and prioritize well!) and a fancy wrap job on some other items!

Marcel is in Spokane, Washington on a course, and hopefully, he can update the blog-world more on that! He'll be back this weekend late at night on my birthday and then Sunday, we have a commissioning service at our church!

Ahhh yes ... Sunday. That's going to be a sad day ... I'm not particularly looking forward to it.

Alright, that's the update. Sorry, not much left in me to add more. :( But here's a cute picture of Ethan, looking as exhausted as I feel, and also looking so much OLDER than 5 months! He's growing too fast!!

A moment of peace ... so I write

Ahh ... a moment of peace after a significant upheaval. So I write a blog ... while Ethan sleeps and before I discover some other task that needs to be done.

Here I am sitting in Blenheim, at my parent's house--our new temporary home. For me, it still feels like home, as I never fully settled down into a house in London--home in London was and is West London Alliance Church. In the midst of waiting, changing, seeking, and again, waiting... WLA Church has been our constant. Our community connections pastor, and longest friend at WLA, Graham said something that rang so true to me last Sunday,"I am only able to succeed because of the community God has placed around me." This is so true in our lives ... without the people of WLA, we would not be able to move overseas and pursue our dream of serving with MAF. They are our prayer warriors, our biggest financial supporters, our deepest friends, our role models, and our family. When people ask me what I'll miss most overseas, I can answer honestly, "Our friends, and our family, and most definitely, our church."

But ... the reality of life is that we are not called or commanded to live a life of comfort. Comfort would be so easy if we just stayed in London, and never left WLA... after all, where else are we going to find a better worship team, a better staff, and such great facilities? I randomly opened my Bible today (waiting for Ethan to nap) and read these challenging words from Deuteronomy 10:12-13. "And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments and statutes of the Lord, which I am commanding you today for your good?" No where does it mention "Be comfortable."

Thankfully, some people at WLA challenge me to take action and be uncomfortable... and again, I'll make reference to Graham. His sermon this past Sunday was AWESOME. A word that rocked me to the core from his sermon was humility. Oh boy ... I don't know of too many people who aren't challenged by that word. To be humble like Christ is ... wow, it's hard.

So in humility, I'm asking you this: would you pray for Marcel and I as we move to Angola? Pray that we would be challenged, uncomfortable, humble, repentant, brave, and obedient? It occurred to me that I don't always live out Deuteronomy 10:12-13. In fact, I kind of suck at being a Christ-follower many days. I don't view it as my full-time job ... which it is, for every Christian. And, if I'm not careful, I will slip into the exact same patterns as I do here--being complacent, or scared, or proud, or comfortable.So ... would you keep that in mind when you pray for us? Thank you ... eternally.

Now that I've been all meditative and stuff, I'll conclude this blog with some updates, because I know that there's always lots to share from week-to-week. Regarding Blenheim ... it's great here. Living at my parents is a great way to transition overseas. We've already pre-packed and pre-purged ... so packing for Angola will be easier. And spending time with my family is great. My parents are so happy to be able to spend time with Ethan, and I'm so thankful for their help. Futhermore, it's so cool to see how God is working in their lives, and how they are following him in obedience.

We have a tentative departure date: October 5. Marcel is gone most of September doing several courses to help him learn more about the airplanes he will be working on. He will be in Spokane, Washington, Munich, Germany, and France. However, between his American and European course, we will be at WLA Church on Sept. 20 for our commissioning service. I have a feeling a few tears will be shed by both Marcel and I.

And finally ... Happy Birthday to my amazing husband! Marcel is turning 29 this weekend! God has been so incredibly merciful in my life ... by giving me such a great human being to be my partner, best friend, and husband. Happy 29 years Marcel ... Lord willing, there will be many more years ahead! You are an amazing father and man of God!

Moving out ...

... and moving in.

The "DRIVE" to the finish ...

WOW.

So much is happening now that Marcel has his visa, we move out of our London home THIS WEEKEND and in just over a month, leave for Angola. Yes--we'll be gone the first week of October if everything goes as planned!

And while we pack, ship, organize, purge, say goodbyes, and get excited for hellos, we want to invite you into one final campaign for an item we will most definitely need to purchase in Angola:

A MINISTRY VEHICLE.

This is a vehicle that we as a family will use to actively participate in the work of MAF in Lubango and around Angola. This is a vehicle that will keep us safe travelling to and from the airport/hangar each day, the school, and around town. This vehicle will be a blessing and a lifeline to our family.

The vehicle we are looking to purchase is already being used by another missionary family in Lubango. As they leave the field in December, we have offered to purchase their Toyota Hilux pick-up truck as they are offering it to us at an extraordinary price. We are very excited by this arrangement, as it not only gives us the comfort of knowing the history of our vehicle, but they have equipped this vehicle with many extra safety features for a family with children to travel in the less-than-ideal conditions we may run into in Angola (eg. extra fuel tanks, extra battery, etc. for long, very rural travel).

Unfortunately, a good, used vehicle with high safety standards does not come cheap in Angola ... and the options to import a used car or buy "an old junker" are limited, pricey, or just plain dangerous.

So, with all that being said, we are looking for your help to raise the $38,000 USD we need to purchase the vehicle. We KNOW this is a steep cost by North American standards, but after a lot of discussion, discernment, and prayer, we feel that purchasing a BETTER vehicle NOW will save us from having to fundraise again in a few years, save us from costly vehicle repairs, and potentially save our lives. We want to be able to view this vehicle as a blessing to bless others.

If this is something you feel you can contribute to, pray about it. We want you to feel at peace about it. We appreciate any help we can get to make this big purchase! And if you are led to give, you can make an online, in-person, or mail in donation, the same way you would with any donation for our ministry, but with one little addendum: please put the code "V95C" in a note or on the memo line of your cheque, as this directs it towards our ministry vehicle fund. Without this code, or a note specifying it goes towards the vehicle, we cannot use it towards that fund. You can give online here: https://mafc.org/missionarypages/boers/

A real road near Lubango! (This is a nice road ... by the way ... many are not this nice.)

Musings from a shed ... from the desk (iPad) of Marcel

Aug 13, 2015

I am at WIRED 2015 right now, currently locked in the canoe equipment shed, and it's probably the first time in a while where I actually can't do anything but just wait. This time, the waiting means for a group of 60 jr highs to find a key to unlock this shed so I can get out. Yes, I am literally locked in here with a bag of chips, chocolate covered coffee beans, a bottle of water, and my iPad. As Dave sets off fireworks, I figured this was good time to write a few simple notes. 

1. Camp is exhausting, but in the best way possible. It's fun, tiring, and when you sleep, you sleep reeeeeal good. When you mix that with the notice that September will be a month of travelling to Washington - Munich - France - Toronto - Windhoek - Angola, you are going to feel overwhelmed. 

2. When you're overwhelmed, it's okay to vent, cry, and whatever else you have do. You will also be able to count on your friends to help you through. I realize through this process, I will be overwhelmed many times. Jesus is faithful and will not leave me to fend for myself.

3. The word of God is true and living (as Pastor Travis has been speaking on this week. Romans 8:18 hit me this week - "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us." No matter how hard this week, the next two months, next 4 years, will be, it will always be worth it when compared to the glory of Christ.

I can't wait to see what the next little while brings, and the experiences that will come with it. I know that there is a lot to give up, but a whole lot more to gain. For now, I don't even mind how long it takes for those kids to find that key to get me out of this shed. This solitary confinement (if I can call it that) has been worth it.

Prayer Update: Moving, health, and vehicle

Hi All!

This is just a quick little update, especially for those of you that keep us in your prayers!

Moving: We are currently looking up the best ways to move some of our stuff over to Africa, and also, we are moving out of our London house at the end of August! We are excited to move in with Kelly's parents, and for Erie to take over our house with some housemates! We may be trying to get rid of things (either for sale or for free--eg. books, some furniture, etc.) and we are also open to suggestions if anyone has ever moved overseas before ... what to bring, what not to bring!

Departure: We still have no definite departure date, though that will likely be determined in the next week or two. Please pray that God will work out all of the details!

Ethan: Please pray for Ethan's health. He is a happy, healthy, and strong baby (weighing in already at 18 lbs!!!!), but some regular blood work revealed some concerns regarding his ability to fight off infections. For now, it is just something to be monitored, but please pray that this will not pose problems to moving overseas, and that God will keep him in good health!

Vehicle: Thank you to those who have already donated to our ministry vehicle fund ... we haven't even started a campaign yet! Wow! After a lot of thought, prayer, and discussion, Marcel and I determined that we would like to invest in a good ministry vehicle--one that is reliable and safe for the conditions that we may encounter in Angola. Our hope is that by purchasing a good ministry vehicle NOW, we won't have to buy another one for many years. Though MAF uses airplanes for much of the work done in Angola, a vehicle is necessary for our family to commute around the city/country, to and from work, and participate in various opportunities to minister with those around us. We are currently looking to purchase the vehicle from another missionary family coming out of the field in Angola. If you would like to donate towards our ministry vehicle fund, please make sure to indicate V95C with your donation. You can donate here, by the way: https://mafc.org/missionarypages/boers/

Thank you so much to all of those who have been praying for us continuously! We are so so grateful for the prayer ... and how God works through it!

Visa Approval!

God is so good! A week and a half ago, we received the news we have been waiting many months for: Marcel's visa has been approved!

What does this mean?

• We will likely be moving in the early fall ... possibly as early as September! 
• We now can apply for Kelly and Ethan's visas, which should take considerably less time.
• The rest you can watch in our latest edition of "Breakfast with the Boers"!

But before you do, can we just share a moment with you?

When we say God is so good, we don't just mean it in a trivial way. I feel like we throw that expression around a lot, "God is good ... He did this and that for me ..." as though God is only good when he does something for us. But He is good, all the time, and sometimes in ways that we wouldn't chose, or we don't like, or that seem totally out of whack with our timing. And waiting for this visa is one of those scenarios. I was not very happy about waiting. Ask me if I thought God was good, and I would say, "Of course!" because in my head I knew that. But in my heart ... I was not feeling it.

But that is the good, and HARD, truth about the God of the Bible. He doesn't ebb and flow like our emotions. He isn't good solely based off of our actions. He isn't good based off of our human standards. He is good in all things, because He is the source of all things good, He is truth, and He is love. His goodness provides us with what we need, when we need it, not according to our plans, but according to His. 

The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season. You open your hand; you satisfy the desire of every living thing. The LORD is righteous in all his ways and kind in all his works. The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them. The LORD preserves all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy. (Psalm 145:15-20 ESV)

Thanks so much for your love and prayers while we waited (and continue to wait!) ... stay tuned! And now... here's Breakfast with the Boers!

Eight positive things about living in limbo ...

No new news on a departure date. So in the spirit of "looking on the bright side", I've compiled a list of the positive aspects of living life in limbo.

1. You save a lot of money. Like ... a lot. Why buy new winter clothes when we're moving someplace warm? Old vehicle died? Well, we'll make due with just one car. Oh, and that cast iron pan? Yeah ... something about "cast iron" screams ... heavy suitcase. Living in limbo has saved us a lot of money and forced us to live more simply. It's been a blessing in disguise! We've learned the art of borrowing, making due without, and buying second hand!

2. And on that note ... we've learned the art of purging and selling. Kijiji is our best friend. When you know you're moving eventually, you assess what you need and what you don't.

3. You don't take things for granted. Like a perfect, sunny day doing something classically "Canadian". Or visits from best friends. Or time with family. Because every time could be the "last time".

4. People make more of an effort to see you ... just in case this is the last time. But since the whole process has been taking longer than we originally thought it would, we've been able to see people for the last time again, and again, and a little bit more!

5. You learn patience. So it's not fun learning patience, but you learn it. And patience is a good thing. Yup.

6. We've had more time to learn Portuguese with our awesome tutor in the comfort of our home. Which means we'll be more prepared when we do have to use it!

7. More time in Canada = more time for Ethan to hang out with our family. And I don't think any of the grandparents are complaining about that!

8. And finally ... we've learned to trust in God and lean on Him more day by day. We know that He sees all and nothing is outside of His control. We've felt the encouragement of people praying for us. We've praised Him for His good works and brought our honest, heartfelt petitions to Him. He's given us a son and time to enjoy as a family in Canada. And even though we don't know when everything will come into order (and this can be very frustrating for us) ... visas WILL arrive and we'll head overseas one day soon. We know that He hears our prayers and will work things out for His glory!

Heroic Rats and Prayer Requests

I can't make this up--it's just too outrageous. But in Angola, rats are doing life-saving humanitarian work.

Rats you say?!

Yep, rats. HeroRats. I read a cool article a few days ago about Gambian pouched rats that are trained to detect land mines--and their life-saving work in countries like Angola is an awesome example of innovation in the the humanitarian world. They are trained to detect land mines by scent, and they are able to work up to 20x faster in detecting mines than a human with a metal detector could! How cool is that? GO RATS GO!!!

Check out this article with a little video for more information about the Hero Rats in Angola--it's serious cool: The Giant Rats That Save Lives

Prayer Requests

Please continue to pray for our visa process. This has become so heavy on my heart as of late. Right now, it's the final step in a process that began way back in 2009 when we first talked to MAF at the Urbana Missions Conference. From there, we began orientation in November 2013, finished our fundraising in February, and look forward to moving as soon as we can get our visas! So will you pray for the process to happen soon? My heart longs to be in Angola--to start life there after living the last few years in limbo.

Please also keep MAF in your prayers as they work in Nepal, and the MAF staff in South Sudan particularly in your prayers, as the security situation there is rapidly deteriorating.

Brief Snipits of Life

Currently, I am sitting in the kitchen listening to Ethan breathe heavily while asleep in his little vibrating chair. The radio is playing, the coffee is brewing, and the sun is shining ... life is good. The perfect time to write a brief little update on our blog.

God's timing ...
We are still waiting on our visas, but one blessing that has come out of waiting is that we get to enjoy more summer here in Canada, and hopefully, witness a wedding, a birth, and several big moves for some of our friends. Please continue to pray for our visa approvals!

Renters ...
We are looking for renters to take loving care of our house in early fall! No, we don't know out departure date, but if we aren't gone by then, we are sure we'll be able to find a temporary home with some family! Keep your ears open if you know of anyone looking for a lovely, 3-bedroom condo!

Ethan ...
Look at this guy! At one month, he's getting so big (fitting very nicely in his three month clothing at over 12 lbs)! He's smiling more, grunting more, and looking more and more like his dad! This pic doesn't accurately show his little double chin forming, but it's there!

MAF in Nepal ...
MAF does not normally have ongoing operations in Nepal, but after the earthquake, the MAF Disaster Response team has moved to Nepal to help with relief operations there. They have secured the use of two helicopters, providing much needed subsidized flights to some of the most isolated regions. Check out this video and the updates from the MAF US and MAF UK webpages.

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Praise the Lord ...
Psalm 150 came alive to me this morning, specifically verse 6: "Let everything that breathes sing praises to the Lord! Praise the Lord!" Having a newborn makes it hard to find time for devotions in the morning, but how lovely at the most quiet times of the night to sing God's praises and find time for prayer. There is no better way to tackle late nights, early mornings, difficult circumstances or incredible days then to praise God first for who He is and the good things He has done. It is rarely easy for one reason or another, but it is so life-giving.

Leaning on the Father ...

We are no different than little Ethan.

All that we have: health, skill, talents, possessions, love, joy, peace, opportunities, money, time, etc. comes from our Heavenly Father.

We too often forget that we are no stronger than a little newborn infant compared to our God. We build up kingdoms and claim them as our own. We pride ourselves in our accomplishments--when they are all His giving, His doing, His making.

All that we have comes from Him. Each new day is a gift, a mercy, a miracle from Him. We are dependent on His heavenly storehouses.

As we wait ... as we long for the day to join our MAF team in Angola, we trust in His perfect timing and His great knowledge. We bless His name for giving us a beautiful, healthy child--truly a gift from above!

"We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps." Prov. 16:9

"Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding." Prov. 3:5 (AMP)

"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." Psalm 139:14

Little Ethan Garnet, hanging out with Dad.
Born April 5, 2015 (Easter Sunday)!

Hey check it out!

Hey all!

Thought I would refer you to the new and improved MAF Angola website. This year, MAF Angola is celebrating 25 years in Angola ... wow! MAF staff have been in Angola during war and peace times, and the role of MAF has certainly changed over the years. Get a little taste (you know, some pictures, a few stats, meet some of the staff) of what our life in Angola will be like: http://www.mafangola.com.

Another great site to check out is the CEML hospital website. This hospital is run out of Lubango (where we will be living) and works in close conjunction with MAF. In fact, many of the missionaries in Lubango are either associated with MAF or with the hospital! MAF helps with medevacs and flying doctors and supplies to and from remote villages. Their site has a lot of interesting information about Angola, the healthcare needs in the country, and how God is working through doctors and nurses to make a big impact on the poor! Check it out: http://www.ceml.org.

Still no word yet on Baby Boers or visas ... so for now, we wait!