Wow, 10 years already?

Ten years! It's really unbelievable. It's already been 10 years since we arrived in Croatia in May of 2000. It seems like an eternity ago and it's hard to remember life before Croatia.

The day we arrived in Croatia, the 23rd of May 2000 I took this picture of our kids outside the airport. They were so little. Cody was 7, Joshua was 4 and Hannah was 2. It seems like a forever ago. Now the kids are all getting ready for birthdays over the next 4 months and they'll be 18, 15 and 13, all teenagers!

I remember when we arrived in Croatia we were determined to stay. A few had gone before us but were never able to last for one reason or another. Life was hard and very lonely here in Croatia. I remember determining in my heart that we would not be quitters. We would not quit! (I understand that many missionaries are forced off the field for very good reasons and or God moves them, please don't misunderstand) We decided that we would remove the Quit word from our vocabulary just as we had the Divorce word from our marriage. 

Call it stubbornness, heard-headedness, luck, or grace, either way, we made it 10 years. All those times when we thought we couldn't stand, He proved us wrong by holding us up when we were weak. We owe all praise and glory to the Lord for nothing good happens without Him. We're so excited and looking forward to the next 10.

BTW, let me throw in what a sheer privilege it is to serve Him in Croatia. Wow, what did we do to deserve His trust? We're not forced to live in Croatia and be missionaries, no, we're allowed and so blessed. 

Our very good friend Pastor James Rasbeary who pastors at Lighthouse Baptist in Wylie, Tx wrote us this super-special poem for our 10 anniversary in Croatia. He is an excellent poet and he posts many of his poems on his poetry blog, Fitly Spoken. If you read anything read The Critic and the Contender, my fav!

TEN YEARS IN CROATIA

By James Rasbeary

June 1, 2010

Nigh onto twenty years ago,

The saving grace of God did find

A man whom sin so long did blind,

And made him a new creature; 

And by that same grace he did grow

And felt God's call to others go 

As His own gospel preacher.

In God's will this new man did go,

But God did not send him alone

To face and brave the storms unknown;

A sweet help meet for His man

God's loving grace did also make,

His own cup of life to partake,

As they pursued God's plan.

Some fields are cold and hard; e'en so,

God sends strong men to work therein;

The Lord needs someone to begin

To plow the hard, fallow ground;

It oft takes years of faithful pain 

'Fore the harvest of golden grain 

And we bring our sheaves in bound.

Ten years - it seems so long ago

When they flew to that far off place

With trembl'ng heart and tear-stained face;

What a journey they began!

Their work has been divinely blessed

And other men have joined their quest-

A team compiled in God's plan.

We are proud of our friends, although 

'Tis hard to be so far away.

Still, we want them to faithful stay

In their own appointed place.

A nation of souls needs them more;

We have eternity in store

When we have finished our race.

Thanks Bro. James, it means a lot.


Anyhow, I just wanted to share this belated anniversary with you folks. I'm so thankful for God's sustaining grace when we needed it and will need it.


Where ever you serve, be faithful!

Raising Homemakers!

Okay so I can't remember where I found this blog but I'm glad I did. I love the whole idea of training homemakers. I think that this is the one part of mothering that the general population is coming up short in.

Not only is this site gonna be great but they have some AWESOME give-a-ways! Lookie lookie at what they are giving away now. I would love to have this collection.

Anyhow, head on over there and check it out and don't forget to enter to win!!

Giveaway will end Friday, June 4th at 8pm EST.

Two Weeks,Too Long!

Wow, I can't even believe that it's already been two weeks since I left Croatia for my little trip to the States. I have to be honest; as much as I liked seeing family, friends and Wal-mart, I was dying to get back to home. I missed Johnny more than I can say and the kids, well I called the several times daily.God has been so good to me. I have the most wonderful husband ever, great kids and the privilege of getting to live in Croatia and work for Him. Hey and by the way, I don't have to live in Croatia, I am blessed to get to. He is way too good to me!

Anyhow, I noticed something very interesting while I was in the states...

I remember moving to Croatia in 2000 and with everything being so different it was hard not to compare Croatia to the U.S.. I caught myself constantly saying how much better things were in Croatia. For instance: grocery stores were better, bigger, larger selection, just better some how. Our roads were wider, we had Pay at the Pump, people were mostly on time, and just things like that.

During my time in the states I noticed a change, in me! I was no longer comparing the U.S. to Croatia and Croatia coming up short. No, now it was all turned around. I caught myself comparing the U.S. to Croatia and Croatia winning most of the time. ***No, I am not against the U.S., I love it and it'll always be home*** but I guess after 10 years in Croatia my likes have changed. I prefer the small grocery down the road. I like having less choices, it saves me time and why waste all that extra space for huge cars when we manage rather well with our small ones.

I don't know if this means I am getting liberal or just love the home God has called me to. I don't know but it sure helps with a contented life.

Anyhow, while I was gone everyone here was hard at work. They had Friend Day and my son Cody sang. *PROUD* I'm am so proud of him and thank God for him daily.

So I know this post is actually overdue and I have been home for two weeks already but better late than never! I have really fallen behind in my blogging and even considered doing away with it but I think I'm gonna stick it out and work a little harder to share what life throws our way here in Croatia.

Many thanks to those of you who are faithful readers and many prayers.

Stop that car!

Well Sunday was a great day in church, regardless of the members who chose not to come.We still had a great time and the singing was wonderful.

At the church in Čakovec we have our main meeting of the week at 6pm. We used to have Sunday school for the children and the main meeting. Well we ran into a problem; no room for all the children who wanted to come to church. This was a problem so we decided to start another service on Sunday at 4 and have all the children in that service in a big Sunday school so we would be able to use the auditorium to fit them all.

Okay so I said all that to tell you this. Sunday at 3:30 I went to pick up my van route in a little Gypsy village called Trnovec. I have a 7 seater van and on Sunday there were 10 of us in the van which is against the law in Croatia. Anyhow, we had SS and then at 5 I had to take them home and run my route for the six o'clock meeting when all the adults come. So I'm taking my kids home and we're zipping along with I see the "sucker". The little hand wand that looks like a sucker is what a policeman in Croatia uses to stop you for speeding or really any offense. So I see this guy and start to pull over while panicking inside at the fact that I have 8 unsecured persons in my van plus two adults.

The policeman walks up to my window and informs me that I was speeding and that since I was going 20 kilometers over the limit I was getting a 500 Kuna ($100) ticket. He asked me if I had the 500 Kuna on me to pay instantly or if he needed to write me a ticket. I was like, yea let me dig into my overflowing wallet for 500 Kunas worth of pocket change.

I was actually doing 72 km in a 50 zone. So he asks for my license and paperwork and I start looking for it. I find my insurance and paperwork and then I did my Texas license out of my wallet only to be dumbfounded. On that license in clear print is said: DATE OF EXPIRATION: 3/26/2010. UUUUGGG! Now I'm panicking because I just realized that not only do I have 8 unsecured children in my van but I also have an expired license. Are you kidding me? How did this happen? I can't even believe that the expiration on my liscense was out, even though at the beginning of the year I faintly remember thinking that i needed to renew. 

As the policeman walked over to a policewoman and started talking I quickly called Johnny and told him to pray. Pray about the license, speeding and all the kids thrown in the back of my van. Later I found out that he and Bro. Scott and immediately prayed for the situation.

A minute later the female police officer asked me too come across the street for a little chat. I walked over and she began asking all sorts of questions. She and the policeman kept passing my expired license back and forth and then laid in in plain sight on the hood of the cruiser. We soon found out that we live in the same village and share some village gossip about the priest that was being let go because he got his girlfriend pregnant. So we're carrying on here by the car and I'm explaining that I'm taking children home for SS and where we were from and all. Anyhow in the end she hands me the ticket and  I say "Thank you" like and idiot and go on my way.

Traci and I are talking after I left about how blessed I was that they didn't notice that my license was out and what a miracle it was. I was okay with the ticket since it could have been so much better. The policeman never asked to look into the van and since my windows and almost black tinted they were none the wiser. 

Finally we slowly make it back to the church and everyone congratulates me and we all have a laugh. I take my ticket out to show Ljubica (national pastor's wife that used to work for the police) and she starts to bust out laughing. Laughing??? What's so funny? She nearly hollers out, "It's not a ticket, it's a warning!". NO WAY! I'm thinking you have got to be kidding me. The male police said I was getting a ticket, he even tried to get me to pay it. It must have been my God sent, gossiping police woman who decided to give me a warning. WOW, God is so good. 

So the the jest of the whole story is that I made it through the traffic stop without getting into any trouble for the speeding, expired license and the child endangerment. WOW! God sure is good. 

Just wanted to share this with you so you could rejoice and be amazed with me!!

*Updated to include:
Since I haven't renewed my license in person in more than 10 years I will have to go to the US to renew it. I need my license, I run a van route for church and without a license the folks that come with me on Sunday would be out of luck. Huge bummer but God has supplied a way.
Not too long ago I found out my mom was having complete shoulder replacement and would be in the hospital for a little while. She's 60 this year and I have never really been "there" for her since we have always been here. Anyhow with this whole license problem and my moms surgery I will be going back to the states soon. Praise the Lord we have a United Mileage Plus card and we have racked up enough miles for a FREE ticket.  So I'll be in the states for the next two weeks and visiting Wal-mart often! :0)

I'm a walker!!!

Wow, I can't believe it, I'm a walker!!!

Traci (new missionary wife in Croatia) and I have been walking daily since Monday. I'm so excited to say that we have walked just short of 15 miles in 4 days. YEA for us! 

I have always wanted to be a walker. I am so blessed to live in a country that is a clean and very safe place to walk. I don't think I'd be taking all these walks if I were in the states.

I know that it's said to be the best overall exercise and it's so cheap too. Walking is a great way to maintain a healthy body and the means I'm using to get one!

Here are some of the many benefits of walking on a consistent basis.

• Reduces the risk of heart disease by improving blood circulation throughout the body.
• Keeps weight under control.
• Improves blood cholesterol levels.
• Prevents and reduces high blood pressure.
• Prevents bone loss.
• Boosts energy level.
• Helps manage stress.
• Releases tension.
• Improves the ability to fall asleep quickly and sleep well.
• Improves self-image.
• Counters anxiety and depression and increases enthusiasm and optimism.
• Increases muscle strength, giving greater capacity for other physical activities.
• Provides a way to share an activity with family and friends.
• Establishes good heart-healthy habits in children and counters the conditions (obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, poor lifestyle habits, etc.) that lead to heart attack and stroke later in life.
• In older people, it helps delay or prevents chronic illnesses and diseases associated with aging and maintains quality of life and independence longer. 
CREDIT 

Okay so my little ticker in the sidebar says that we've walked almost 15 miles and our short term goal is 100 miles. WOW! You just wait, it wont be long!

Smelling a little icky!

So the other day I took some laundry out to the line and on the way I could smell something icky. I mean it was rank and I didn't have a clue where the smell was coming from. So I finished my load of clothes and headed in not knowing what that smell was that made my nose wrinkle.

A little while later I was on the patio doing something, watering the plants I think and I noticed that smell again. It was a strange smell, not at all attractive but somehow familiar.

Later I heard Johnny scolding the dog. Apparently K.D. had found a way out of the yard and had gone off to play in the world but was very safe to be back before morning. No, I'm so not kidding. She got out and did who knows what and was back by morning. Little did she know, even though she made it back to where she was suppose to be and in time she hadn't lost the smell of her jaunt in the world. She apparently had played in the little canal close to our house and then rolled in some dead remnants or something like that.

Anyhow, later in the day as she dried she still reeked of her trip out and it wasn't getting any better. 

As I was passing Hannah on the stairs I was suddenly hit with that smell. It was K. D., no, wait a minute, it wasn't K.D. this time. No, this time it was Hannah. Hannah smelled like K.D.. Hannah smelled like K.D.'s time in the world. It was awful and almost as strong on Hannah as it was on K.D.. Earlier in the day Hannah had been out in the yard hanging around with K.D.. Little did Hannah know she was being infected by K.D.'s worldly aroma.

Even though Hannah hadn't sneaked out of the yard in the night and gone swimming in the canal, Hannah still smelled like the world. She smelled just like she had partnered K.D. in her trek in the gloaming.

Wow, what a lesson learned from a dog. It's not necessary for us to go running around in the world to begin to look like the world. No, all it takes is to have a worldly friend and before long we'll look like them and even start to smell like them. We've got to be very careful about whom we run with. If we run with them you can be sure we will eventually look and smell like them too. 

Special thanks to K.D. for today's devotion!

Insulated on the mission field far away from Me-ville.

It's not just a little jump from Texas to Croatia. We're not just right around the corner. Texas and Croatia are 5,588 miles apart. Hey that's a long way! We're not talking about a few miles, it takes 9 hours on a plane to get here from the Lone Star State. Once you step off that plane you're in a whole new world. Croatia isn't just another country it's another world. As life begins new here the memories and activities of life in the good 'ol USA are slowly forgotten.

One interesting fact that kinda slapped me in the face our first year in Croatia was that life in the states and at our home church kept on going despite our absence. Church didn't just stop because we were gone, instead it continued to go and grow and kept having victories and defeats along the way. 

Our first furlough we were in total shock at how  much things had changed in just a few short years. I mean people looked different, buildings had changed, couples had been united and some torn apart. The "friends" we had known had forgotten we existed and life in general was totally different. Somehow it moved faster, people jolted from here to there and back again and never came up for air. Another interesting fact was that the fashion in church had changed. It had become much more laid back. Men had started to drop their ties on Wednesdays and flip flops in church were everywhere. I was also in shock that the length of skirts had risen a bit, not to major but a bit. Life had made a major change in just a few years. 

We returned to the field and closed our little box to the rest of the world until our next furlough. Shock!!! I was literally in shock at the change in America. Churches had changed, some completely. I remember the lack of excitement and the overwhelming sense that the church was all about "us" and forget those in the highways and bi-ways. Many churches we visited had decided to drop their bus programs, those we the most dead. The didn't have time for the children and it seemed the Holy Spirit didn't have time to visit their services. 

Our next furlough we took a little early due to financial woes from the whopping Euro but it didn't make the change any different. This time we noticed more than outward appearance which had drastically changed to knee length skirts (knee length if they were standing but sitting was a different story altogether), leggings and long shirts, and the Miami Vice mock turtle neck and blazer of once tie wearers. Something else had changed, the people were different. Those who once had an excellent spirit were very self consumed. Men had become pretty somehow and in more ways than just appearance. Neck lines had plunged and so had attitudes. The the hardest thing was to realize how man had "gone away". People who had stood and preached the cause were now eloping to the new movement of happy church. They weren't only throwing away standards but their beliefs had some how changed. The old faith that was enough to save them was now some how inadequate to save anyone born after 1985.

Through out all these furloughs I noticed a thread of unity in thought; "Life's too short." This wasn't the good kinda "Life's too short.", the kind that says, "The day is short and we must be busy about the Father's business.", no this was a "Life's too short, I'm gonna get the most out of it that I can even if it means letting some really important things go." 

It's been a heartbreak to see so many fall by the wayside. Not deep into sin but way deeper into compromise of right than any Christian should ever even think about going. 

Sadly I've been mistaken about the insulation of the mission field. As it's worked for us it's failed many other missionaries. I have watched as many have somehow caught the "Life's too short." bug and have also fallen by the wayside. 

Something very real and very scary is happening all through our IFBaptist churches. We need to all wake up and take a look around and all of the "Me thinking" going on. Hey there is only one of ME and there are billions of THEM, we're spending way too much time of the ME and not enough on the THEM.

Sometimes we've been called stubborn or hardheaded. PRAISE THE LORD! That stubbornness has kept us firmly planted in the OLD WAYS and we're not moving. My real concern is my children that are getting ready to join the ME life in America. They're getting ready to go off to college and when they do??? I feel like I'm sending them into Sodom somehow and there isn't anything I can do about it. Once they're gone they are gone. Outside of my protection and amidst a world of compromise.

I praise the Lord for the insulation of the mission field but I fear that the walls are breaking down as we speak.

I wonder what will be in 10 years. What will be left for our children. Will the old paths be long forgotten? 

God forbid! We have to stand rigid and unyielding! 1 small step in the wrong direction can be the one that sends us over to ME-ville.

If anything this post has been a warning for me. We are for sure in the last days and if we ever needed to stand we need to stand now.