Author: Jeannie Dalrymple

A Day in the Life of a CHE…

From the prayer letter of Sammy Imbaya Mwemba, learn the activities of a CHE worker…

Bwindi Forest Mission Report (Feb 2020)

As I write to you now it’s obvious that the world is going through unprecedented times with the spread of the Coronavirus.  There is so much uncertainty of what exactly tomorrow holds. But as we exercise government directives on public health control in our respective countries, it’s my hope that the present challenge we are all going through will help us to firmly put our trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, our rock of salvation. May you be encouraged through and through in your faith.

Besides the Corona virus pandemic, I have good news from Bwindi forest. I came back from there a couple of weeks ago after a very successful time of community ministry

Thank you very much for your prayers and support and being part of God’s work in Bwindi forest. Our ministry success is also your success. Among the things we did included:

1.  Showed the Jesus movie in local language

With Easter holidays around the corner, it was prudent to share with the children and adults about the life of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the significance of his death on the cross and the hope in the resurrection. The Jesus movie was a great attraction largely because it was being shown in the native language.  The movie characters and plot became easily to identify with.

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2.  Preached in a local Batwa church

As a visitor to the local Batwa church, the greatest honor they gave me was the invitation to share the word of God. I wasn’t fully prepared for the surprise invitation to preach, but never the less I enjoyed the experience. I encouraged them through the scriptures to find their value and identity in our Lord Jesus Christ who has made us equal through his death on the cross.

As a marginalized community the message sank in so well that the congregation became very emotional towards the end of the service. I made a special altar call  to remind them once again that they matter so much to God that He sent His son Jesus Christ to die for them.

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3.  Public Health lessons/Fellowship

Public Health lessons and spiritual teachings were our core engagements with the community. I first shared with the mother’s of the kids on the importance of observing basic hygiene lessons to counter common community diseases like typhoid, scabies, etc.

Later in the afternoon we had all the kids gather in a soccer field and shared health and spiritual lessons mostly through stories and games. The boys and girls were curious listeners to the stories as we had intentionally built suspense.  We first informed them that we were to have rugby and soccer games played only after the special story session was over plus a special gift awaits those who will participate through the entire session.

In total we had 40 kids of varying ages sit through the teaching sessions. We taught them hygiene, including “tippy taps”, prayed for them and challenged them to share with their families and friends what they had learned.

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4.  Fellowship through Games

It’s always interesting to introduce something to the community. My travelling partner called Matayo Mwenesi, was my former Sunday school student in Nairobi, Kenya. He took leave from work to visit me and be part of what I am doing in Uganda. I invited him to join me on this trip of sharing Christ in the lives of the kids, the same way I did when he was a child way back. But most important, it gave him a platform of exposure on what missions is all about. He is a guy I want to walk with and mentor him further in missions.

Matayo is a former Rugby player and also coaches Rugby in schools in Western Kenya. He taught the girls, (they were more interested in learning the game than boys who went for soccer), some basic principles of touch Rugby.  You should have seen the excitement they exhibited. Some of the girls initially thought this game was another version of Netball but at the end of the day they were very happy to have learned some basic ideas of a new game called Rugby

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Conclusion

Thank you again for being part of this special mission to a special people group. May the good Lord bless you abundantly.

With the outbreak of Corona viruses, the government has come up with public policy guidelines to address the spread of the virus. Among the measures is  the suspension of public/social/religious meetings and public transport among other policies. In view of that we have had to suspend all our upcoming trainings slated for April and probably May. We shall know how events in the coming weeks unfold and make appropriate decision accordingly.  Let’s keep praying for each other in these unprecedented times.Stay safe wherever you are and keep the faith strong.

Thank you and God bless,

Sammy Imbaya Mwendwa

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Matayo and me at the entrance of the Bwindi impenetrable forest

Please pray for Sammy and the many CHEs around the world, serving Jesus faithfully.  The are the heart of the Global CHE Network!

Change, Loss and New Beginnings

At age 58, soon to be 59, one would think I would be able to handle change, otherwise known as transition or limbo!  Just look at my life’s statistics!

  • By age 35, I had moved 16 times in my life and everywhere I went, I brought my kid’s art creations, clothing which I deemed special and memorable toys and videos!
  • By age 37 I had lived in three countries and learned five languages.
  • By age 40 I had gone to nine different schools and studied 21 years—I should have more than a Bachelor’s degree!

Through each time of transition, I would get agitated and anxious.  I just want to be settled down.  Terry and I are quite content and settled where we are right now.  What could be causing us to think of a move?

Loss

As God would have it, I am facing loss.  I still am grappling with the diagnosis of eosinophilic asthma and as I sit alone with a mask on my face, not fearing the coronavirus, but pollen, my heart goes out to those who have had chronic conditions for years. This loss is a big one for me.  I have been a nurse who cared for the sick.  I am not used to being on the other side!

Terry and I have decided, for the betterment of my health, we will be needing to face more change, a move from Phoenix, which leads to loss once more.  I don’t want to lose the proximity I have with my grandson!  I have dreamt of taking him to the “Splishy-splash” and “Choo-choo”, the splash pad and train at our local park.  I don’t want to lose the “Sam’s Club Dates” I have had with my daughter, Karen.  I don’t want to lose the spontaneous talks in the driveway with our neighbors, Joe and Pam.  I have loved opening our home to our friends from church each Sunday evening.  I don’t want to say goodbye to our beautiful home which God has blessed us with to entertain house guests and housed the Global CHE Network office for the past ten years.

As I repeat “I don’t want” over and over,  I know God has a plan.  It just is hard when you cannot see it yet.

New Beginnings

How do you know God is working?  When you see new beginnings.  I have been working as a nurse these last 20 years.  Because of my chronic breathing problems, I was just granted long term disability.  This was never in my plan, but it has released me to be able to be with Terry and help him with communications.  This is a blessing.

We came to Payson in February because I can breathe better outside of the Valley pollution and pollens.  Terry and I have enjoyed walks by the city lake.  We have formed many acquaintances, even a friendship or two, around this lake in the midst of Covid-19.  God is opening up a new home for us directly across from the lake.  I can see a smaller pond from my living room window with the ducks that our dogs, Mollie and Maisie, love to herd! This is a blessing.

Maneuvering through Change

So, I ask for prayer as we make this transition and a huge downsize.  Remember all those kid’s creations I mentioned?  Clothing, toys and artwork?  They have been across the Pacific and back and they now are about to be discarded!  Videos?  They are ancient history…even DVDs!  Terry and I were able to move frequently with ease as newlyweds, even with babies in tow.  We never knew the challenge of moving with aching backs and respiratory issues!  Gone are the days of youth!

Change, Loss, New Beginnings…very much a part of every person’s life.  I am glad for the security of a loving husband by my side.  I know that the God who led Abraham and the children of Israel in their wanderings can do the same for me!

Care Like Jesus

These are difficult times.  These are also times to reflect and hopefully grow in our faith in God and compassion for each other.

In keeping with our “social distancing”, Terry and I have stayed up in our condo, working at our computers.  Our one indulgence is walking in the nearby park.  It is like a ghost town since the Coronavirus came into focus.  We may pass two or three couples on our two mile walk.  Today, we met a man which reminded me that in these tumultuous days, we still need each other.

It was a cool and overcast morning, one which I love!  The lake was filled with quacking ducks. Our dogs Mollie and Maisie believe it is their duty to herd these ducks into place…in the water!  There were fisherman all keeping their distance from each other.  It was a perfect morning to get a bit of exercise.

As we started out, we saw a solitary man coming toward us, clutching an object in his hands.  He appeared upset and about to cry.  My nursing instincts kicked in.  I thought,  “He looks like someone who might need to be in the psych ward!”  Terry asked, “Did you see that man?” with the caring heart of a pastor.  We continued walking around the lake sharing our thoughts.  I told Terry, “I would not talk to him unless I have hospital security near me.  I don’t see any security around here…just fishermen and ducks!”

We continued on enjoying the cool weather and the new spring leaves coming out on the trees. I started to turn left to take our regular route, but Terry said “Wait—let’s go back this way.  The man is coming down this path”.  We have been married 39 years this year…we are old school and in our marriage vows, I promised to obey…RATS!

Sure enough, the man was coming toward us, clutching the small box to his chest.  He sat down on a bench and as we approached, Terry asked him, “Are you OK?”  Immediately, tears rolled down the man’s face.  He hesitated, but then started his story.

“I lost my home in Paradise, California in the fires.  I relocated here in Payson.  I had to go back to California to settle some business, and while I was gone, my dog, who has been with me through the fire and the move, died suddenly of pancreatic cancer.  I just got her ashes.  She loved to walk around this lake with me, so I am taking her for one last walk”.

How awful I felt for my judgements toward this man who was grieving on that cloudy day.  I immediately repented in my heart and the Lord brought this thought to me…

Each person I meet is carrying a story.  In this time of social distancing, may I not allow my heart to be distant. 

Care like Jesus. 

Valentine’s Part 2… The End of the Story or The Beginning of a 39 Year Adventure!

During that first week at Southwestern College, we had a night to welcome the Freshman Class. As a newby, I was part of a trio.  (Terry usually inserts a bunch of hyperbole here, but I have to say, I did a better job singing than that crooner I had seen in Tucson!)  When the evening was over, the Freshmen lined up and upper classmen were to come and welcome the youngsters to the college.  I vividly recall a young man approaching me.  I could not forget…it was the crooner…and I remembered my prayer!  I thought, “I got to get rid of this guy.  I want to go to the mission field and he wants to be a youth pastor. This is one of the non-negotiables on my list!” He came straight up to me and said, “Hi, my name is Terry Dalrymple.  What do you want to do with your life?”

 

When I heard these words, I knew something must be done…something drastic!  So I answered with confidence, “I want to be a missionary!”  I thought for sure that this would throw water on any plans that he might get to know me!  Little did I know, this just confirmed in his heart that he needed to pursue a relationship with me!

Since I had seen him four years earlier, much had changed.  Just three weeks earlier, he had returned from a summer mission trip to the Philippines. During his three months in the Philippines, he had decided to return as a church planting missionary once he finished his education. Terry says that he did not have much money and did not want to waste it dating girls who did not have the same interest in missions, so my words were like an answer from God!

We dated for 18 months before he proposed to me.  When he did so, I then told him I had prayed to marry him five years earlier, but I had never said hello!  There are many things I learn about God from our story:

    • God hears our hearts cry, even when we don’t know what to say. He picked up a little girl, longing to ride and church bus and brought her into His family in a miraculous way.
    • God’s timing is best. Terry and I realized there were many times in our high school years when we so very close to crossing paths, but we did not meet.
      • His family tried to visit our home in California when I was 13, but we were not home.
      • We were both at the same youth meeting in Estes Park, Colorado when I was 16. He was the president of the Arizona State Youth, loved every minute of the meeting and made all kinds of friends!  I went to the meetings for one day and asked if I could stay home from the conference for the rest of the week.  I wanted to be alone in Fort Collins!  I write this as opposites do attract!  God brought us together at the exact right time.
    • God is in control and can be trusted. I see this in every step of my youth and think back on these times when life doesn’t make sense.  I know He is in control

Now you know a bit more about Terry and I.  I would love to hear your story!  Glad God led us together 40 years ago!

 

 

 

A Prayer, A Chirp and A Question

Terry and I both grew up on opposite sides of Tucson, Arizona and led very different lives.  As a child, Terry grew up, the oldest son of three boys in a home which taught him about Jesus since birth.  His father was a pastor.  He went to church each Sunday and grew up surrounded by loving Christian people who are his friends to this day.  I grew up, the youngest of five children and by the time I was a little girl, our family stopped going to the Salvation Army.  When my siblings left home, my parents had turned to drinking more and more. Most nights, we had people around our kitchen table, drinking. My father made good money as a construction worker, but it was used for alcohol.  I spent my time outside and often hanging out at our neighbor’s house.  On Sunday mornings, I would see a church bus going past our house and silently wished I could go see what church was like.

When I was just 12, my life changed dramatically and I was sent to live with my sister in California.  I cringe to think about where I would be if I had not made that move.  I was entering Jr. High and at that time and really was on my own.

During that first year in California, my life did a 180 degree turn!  I suddenly was going to church, had responsibilities and accountability!  But as I wrote earlier, this was a year of great positive change for me as Jesus entered my life in April of 1974.  When Christ came into this young girl’s life, He changed me in so many ways.  Rather than look for affection in any guy who might pass by, I learned to be purposeful in looking for someone to be my lifelong partner.  I had read of the importance of making a list of what you would want in a husband. Those things which are non-negotioables should be understood BEFORE you ever meet the person.  That way you can blow away all the chaff and be ready for Mr. Right, right?

Well, I made my list secretly and publicly declared myself a member of the “Old Maids ’til the Rapture Club”.

In the summer of 1975, I returned to Tucson to visit my parents who had since divorced.  During my visit, I wanted to go to church, so my dad took me to the only church we were aware of besides Salvation Army–Bethel Baptist.  Reverend McCorkle, my brother-in-law’s grandfather, planted that church while holding down a railroad job. At this time, Pastor Bob Dalrymple and his family had been at that church for nearly ten years.  During the morning service, a high school girl reached out to me and invited me to the Youth “Sing and Sip” that night. Suprisingly, I accepted her invitation.

I remember, that night, seeing a young man leading the singing. He was ridiculously goofy.  Sang the “Noah/Floody-Floody” song with his pants rolled up.  Crowed like Peter Pan singing “Chirp Your Cares Away”!  Neither of these skills were on “Jeannie’s List for a Life Partner”.  However, what I saw was the love that this young man had for Jesus, his leadership abilities and his desire to serve the Lord.  Sitting in a hard wooden seat that summer night, I prayed, “Lord, if I am ever to marry, I want to marry that guy.”  I asked the friend who invited me about the goofy song leader.  I learned he wanted to be a youth pastor and he had a girl friend.

I returned to California, never approaching that young man and went on with my life.

During my later high school years, God continued to do His work in my life.  I went through a Navigator’s Discipleship series and spent a summer in Argentina assisting our missionaries with various projects.  By the end of that summer, I decided I wanted to serve the Lord in missions.  I am certain I could have had a full scholarship to Colorado State University, but I wanted to be closer to my parents, so chose to attend Southwestern College in Phoenix, Arizona.

During that first week, we had a night to welcome the Freshman Class. As a newby, I was part of a trio.  (Terry usually inserts a bunch of hyperbole here, but I have to say, I did a better job singing than that crooner I had seen in Tucson!)  When the evening was over, the Freshmen lined up and upper classmen were to come and welcome the youngsters to the college.  I vividly recall a young man approaching me.  I could not forget…it was the crooner…and I remembered my prayer!  I thought, “I got to get rid of this guy.  I want to go to the mission field and he wants to be a youth pastor. This is one of the non-negotiables on my list!” He came straight up to me and said, “Hi, my name is Terry Dalrymple.  What do you want to do with your life?”

And I guess you will need to find out what the answer was!  Did I give up my non-negotiables?  Was this the beginning to the answer of my prayer? You may figure out the answers as we are going on 39 years this July? Last question.  Should I dare let Terry finish the story?

HA!

A Story of Finishing the Task

I was going through drawers, cleaning after New Year and found my first two needle work projects I completed when I was 14!  (The pattern was designed in 1973!)  I had saved them, moved them to the Philippines and back, carrying them throughout my life, complete, yet not framed, but stuffed away in a drawer.  When Terry saw my hidden work, he declared they must be framed!  So to Hobby Lobby we went.

We arrived at the framing department and met a man named Jantzen who had helped me with a project last September for Terry’s birthday.  Amazingly, he recognized us and was happy to help.  He takes great pride in his work and through our interactions with him, we have become friends.  He even shared that I must try garlic as a remedy for asthma! (You may be glad I write this story rather than tell it in person!)

I look at these pictures and learn a few things from them:

  1. I think they are now pretty special as it took me 43 years and an insistent husband to get them up on the wall.
  2. Maybe, God was waiting for the right time to get them framed so I could meet Jantzen and be an encouragement to him in his life.
  3. I find happiness in looking at them–and I had stuffed them away in a drawer.

What might you have stuffed away which is waiting to be completed? Maybe it is a project, or perhaps a gift or talent waiting to be shared–even a garlic remedy for asthma?!?  Take inventory.  You may be surprised with what God has waiting for you!

 

Getting to know Terry and Jeannie

An interview with Terry and Jeannie

Terry and I were appointed to go the Philippines in July of 1984. (This number looks like it belongs in a history book!) Recently, Bethel Baptist Church in Tucson, Arizona sent a series of questions.  Although the questions were pretty basic, it was fun to think back and relive where we have been, where we are now, and look to the future.  Hope you learn more about us!

Why did you want to become a missionary?

Jeannie: This is a story which takes time!  When I was 12 years old, I moved to California where I lived with Gary and Susie Williams for six years.  Susie is my sister and I can look back now and say I am grateful for their love and care.  When I first moved into their home…I was not so grateful!!!  My life had turned upside down.  During the first 12 years of my life, I never had to go to church.  Suddenly, I was expected to attend church, do chores and even babysit!!!  I was the youngest in my family and not used to this type of treatment!

However, God was working and by April of the following year, I had received Jesus as my Savior.  I have many pleasant memories during that time.  One which stands out was that first Christmas at Gary and Susie’s, I am sure they did not have 2 cents to rub together.  Grandma Williams (Loretta) had come to visit us.  She insisted that I call her “Grandma” which was very special.  I never had grandparents.  She also gave me a Christmas gift, a “tie-dye” purse, which I treasured.  These memories and family loving on me during a difficult time in life, caused my faith to grow as they were Godly people themselves.

After I had received the Lord, I loved when missionaries would come to church.  I would read their letters and look at their pictures in the church hallway.  I had always enjoyed and had a propensity toward foreign languages, having studied French and Spanish.  In my Junior year of High School, our youth pastor arranged for several students to go abroad for the summer to assist the missionaries.  I went to Argentina and that solidified my desire to go into missionary service.  I chose to go to Southwestern College in Phoenix to be an education major as I wanted to teach missionary children.  It was there I met Terry “officially” (which is a whole different story).  Our first date, we discussed missions and eventually went to the Philippines in 1986 with our two small children.  You supported us from the start!

Terry:   My story begins at Bethel where I grew up surrounded and loved by Christian people that taught in the ways of our Savior. After a short period of rebellion as an early teen, I yielded my heart to Christ on April 20, 1974 and was baptized. From that moment, I sensed that Jesus was calling me to follow Him, although I had no idea what that would mean. During my years at Bethel, I taught a Good News club with Child Evangelism Fellowship, started a Bible club and daily prayer meeting on my high school campus, served on a committee to help facilitate Sing-n-Sips in Tucson, picked up young people in the church van and brought them to church (days were different then), spent my summers serving at a Bible Camp in Show Low, and served as the State Youth President for the Arizona Baptist Convention. By the end of my high school years, I was convinced God was calling me into ministry.

The next transformative moment in my life came at the CBA National meetings in Colorado in 1977. A pastor from Brazil named Brother Fanini, pleaded for missionaries to come and help in the harvest. His invitation was simple – “If God were to call you as a missionary, would you go?” That seemed to me to be a call I could not resist. I went forward to say to God “Anywhere? Anytime! Anything!” My mother came up behind me, took Brother Fanini by the hand, and with tears streaming down her face said, “If God wants my son on the mission field I will go.”

God provided a scholarship to Southwestern College where I was discipled by the Missions Professor, Rev. Steve Sonmor, and sent to the Philippines where he had served before being forced to leave the field due to illness. I came back from the Philippines convinced that God was calling me to be a missionary.

I met Jeannie in 1979, married her in 1981, and arrived on the mission field in 1986 as church planting missionaries. Today I serve as founder and coordinator of the Global CHE Network with ministries in 134 countries mobilizing and equipping the church for transformational Gospel movements in a million villages. www.chenetwork.org.

Where are you a missionary?

Jeannie:  During our time in the Philippines, nearly ten years, we learned two languages.  We planted a church in the town of Iloilo City and we still have dear friends there to this day!  While in Iloilo, we were confronted with poverty and illness, which however good intended the two of us were, we learned we could never solve the problem on our own.

We returned from the Philippines for home assignment and learned of a group called Medical Ambassadors. They too, had concerns for poverty alleviation while teaching the good news of Jesus.  They were using a strategy called Community Health Evangelism–a strategy which addresses the needs of the whole person, physically and spiritually.  We joined Medical Ambassadors and moved to Modesto, where we were based until 2009.

Terry has always been a visionary.  Community Health Evangelism needed to be implemented by different mission organizations around the world.  In 2009, he started the Global CHE Network which now works to assist over 900 organizations working in over 134 countries.  I was recently at a doctor’s appointment, explaining what we do…he was astounded that this work is being done out of a small office in North Phoenix!  God is VERY good!

We are now based in Phoenix in order to be near to Terry’s mom.  Much travel is required.  We are blessed to live in this time as communication takes place worldwide on a daily basis because technological advances. This week, Terry has an online meeting with 11 people from all over the world!  This beats the days when we first moved to the Philippines and it would take 3 weeks for a card or letter to cross the Pacific!

Tell me about you and your family members…

Terry hit the big 60 this year!  Thank you for all the cards and well wishes.  In his spare time, while not leading the network, he has written a book and is currently working through the right publisher.  He injured his back in May, which has been a “thorn in the flesh”, so he appreciates prayer.

Jeannie is working at Mayo Clinic part-time and works in the Global CHE office as Terry’s admin.  She is loving this position as it has placed her in contact with international servants all over the world. She loves being at their service as it was her desire since she was in high school.

Our dogs:  Mollie and Maisie, keep us on our toes and sit at our feet as we work in the office!

Our son, Tim and his wife Vanessa, currently live in Bend, Oregon.  Tim is studying at Western Seminary for his Master of Divinity.  He has the same teachers Terry did 30 plus years ago! Tim and Vanessa have three children:  Jack, age 7, Finn, age 5 and Esther, age 1. We love getting to see them.

Our daughter, Karen and her husband, Joe, live just 25 minutes from us in Phoenix.  Karen is blessed to be able to stay home with their sweet baby boy, Ian, who just turned one.  Joe works in computers and is an editor.

Our daughter, Michelle and her husband, Cody, live in San Diego.  When Michelle is not playing basketball or Cody riding his motorcycle, they like to camp with their two dogs, Waylon and Billie.

What exactly does your job entail?

Terry, as coordinator, of the network, casts vision and gives direction related to priorities in coordination with representatives throughout the world.  At this time, they are working on the following priorities:

  • Strengthen member ministries, organizations and partnerships.
  • Facilitate prayer globally on behalf of the poor and the workers that serve them.
  • Facilitate training and monitoring for the next generation of leaders and measures to assure the quality of tour work.
  • Encourage formation of national coalitions with National strategies for expanding Community Health Evangelism in every country.
  • Intentionally seek out opportunities for CHE work among the unreached and unengaged peoples.
  • Research best practices and provide the network with tools and curricula for the continuing development of the CHE ministry
  • Assist governments worldwide in poverty alleviation and community health using CHE principles.

As you can imagine, these are goals to reach for and we need your prayer to accomplish them!

My job, in the network office, is to assist Terry, oversee other office staff, communications and prayer.  I love working alongside Terry.  I still work at Mayo, as a necessity for health insurance reasons.

What is something exciting you are currently working on?

You may have heard the term, “Million Village Challenge”.  This is a goal to reach a million villages with the good news of Jesus by challenging nationals to adopt ten surrounding villages and bring CHE principles to these villages and bringing Christ. This is just one initiative which is ongoing at this time.  We would ask for your prayer as nationals reach their neighboring villages.

I am working on improving our communications, to supporters and to network members.  I have enjoyed renewing relationships and making new ones!

 

 

Christmas Lights & Coming Changes

Way back on Christmas eve in 1980, Terry Dalrymple proposed to me as we went through Winterhaven, a section of town in Tucson, Arizona where each home agrees to put up Christmas lights.  We were both very young and had starry eyes which were twinkling faster than any of the lights which surrounded us that night–but this did not mean that we were jumping into things.  We knew God had called us to serve together in missions.  In fact, on our first date, we learned we had each spent serving on the mission field.  I had been in Argentina and Terry in the Philippines.

Fast forward almost 40 years.  We have spent nearly a decade in the Philippines, learning two languages and starting a church before we returned to the United States; and when we returned our roles changed dramatically.  Terry began to serve as the Southeast Asia Director at Medical Ambassadors and I chose to return to school for a nursing degree. Today, by God’s grace, Terry has become a missions leader with a great understanding of Community Health Evangelism, while I have been blessed to work at Mayo Clinic in Phoenix.

Many nurses will tell you, “I always wanted to be a nurse since I was little” or “My mom, aunt, and grandmother were all nurses.  It’s in the genes!”  When I graduated from nursing school, I was asked to speak to the graduating class. I surprised them when I said,  “I never wanted to be a nurse. I thought I could not deal with the blood or poking people!”  Actually, nursing was a practical choice–It was a profession which could work well around my family.  Given time, I was able to get over those fears.  I had the hope that one day, when my children were grown, I could once more work beside Terry and use my nursing skills which I acquired.  It’s been over a decade since our last child left home, yet until now, this dream has not become a reality.

Until now, I have been able to justify our differing roles as I see that serving patients in the hospital IS a service to Jesus—a real mission field.  I have had many opportunities to minister to people when they were at a vulnerable time in their life. One big thing has been missing—Terry and I have been living parallel, supporting roles, but not working together as we had hoped and dreamed.

In May of this year, Terry had a great need for help in the Global CHE Network office.  I told him that I would be happy to volunteer part time.  During these seven months, I have found great delight working in the office (yes, I do get to see him out of the corner of my eye).  I have loved writing to churches in the United States and co-workers around the world, building relationships and informing of needs.  I have loved working behind the scenes, supporting Terry.

In September, I became very ill and have been off work at Mayo. Over these three months, I have learned that working next to Terry is exactly where I need to be.  I would not have learned this had I not stepped out and volunteered to help.

For most of you, this is NOT a new story, as you have followed us and prayed for us since 1985 when we were first appointed to the Philippines.  You may not know some of the details and may have thought that we were happy working “parallel”.  I have to say, we were happy, but we will be even happier as in the near future I will be able to resign and work alongside Terry full time.  Would you pray for us in this transition?

I started out talking about our engagement in Winterhaven.  Terry took me there because he knew how much I loved Christmas lights.  I no longer need to go to Christmas Tree Lane because of the number of lights Terry has placed on the outside of our own home to make me smile!  (I tease and say our dogs must keep moving or they may be adorned with a string of lights!) He will occasionally come hobbling in due to his back problem and overexertion.  I promptly scold him, but I know it won’t matter.  His love for me and desire to bring joy to my heart cause him to sacrifice.

This Christmas, can you give a gift of sacrificial love to someone? It’s exactly what Jesus has done for each one of us!

Merry Christmas!

Jeannie

 

Luke 2:6,7    While they were in Bethlehem, the time came for Mary to have the baby, and she gave birth to her first son. Because there were no rooms left in the inn, she wrapped the baby with pieces of cloth and laid him in a feeding trough.

The Life of the Wife…Continued

In the first episode, Terry was out of town and I was considering wearing a scorpion anklet for approximately 4 seconds. The saga continues as Terry left town on Tuesday…

On Thursday, two days later, I came home from work and the smoke detector was chirping. It just so happens, I have experience with smoke detectors as in October, I disabled one which was chirping outside my bedroom. That took a lot of doing since our ceilings are high, but with ladder and reacher in hand, I had yanked it apart. I knew I could handle this challenge! At least I thought so.

I climbed the ladder after my 14 hour nursing shift with ease and was able to stretch and pop the battery out without the assistance of a reacher!  I climbed down, headed towards the kitchen and to my amazement, I heard a “chirp”!  This was puzzling, but since this alarm was hard wired to the ceiling, I thought maybe I had to climb back up and replace the battery. Fortunately, I had not put the ladder away, so I climbed up and stretched AND stretched and finally, popped in a new battery and climbed back down the ladder with a sigh of relief.  Finally–I could relax, but was once again bewildered by a loud “CHIRP”!

This again was puzzling, but I was thankful for modern technology, (not necessarily smoke detectors at this time), and googled “How to stop your smoke detector from chirping”.

I found a great video about how to disconnect the thing from the wiring;  soooo, I proceeded back up the ladder, stretched AND stretched AND stretched and took the thing clear off! Just wires remained hanging from the ceiling!

I headed back toward the kitchen, but before I got there, AGAIN, I heard “CHIRP”!

Now I couldn’t believe it. I searched the Internet some more and finally decided to look up a handyman and messaged him.  I was now at the mercy of the callback from the handy man! I went to bed in the bedroom farthest from the noise. Even so Mollie, Maisie and I were lulled to sleep by the not so sweet chirping of the alarm….

This morning, I turned on Christmas carols and pretended that the chirp was a sweet sounding triangle in a symphony. I had to use my imagination, but it was better than going nuts!

I ran errands in the morning, leaving Mollie and Maisie subject to the sound of chirping. When I returned in the afternoon, I had not heard anything from the handyman and the chirping continued. I started working on projects and soon the chirping kind of faded into the background. I went down the hallway and there was a sudden loud CHIRP, piercing my left ear, leaving it “ringing”! I turned and there was, at nose level, a carbon monoxide detector!   I quickly grabbed it, yanked out the batteries and promptly stomped on it until it was dead!  In our first episode with the scorpion, I had too much fear to stomp on the pest, but used a ceramic pot to smash it to smithereens. I had no fear today, however, but rage at this instrument of insanity!

All is well now. Heels up. Hallmark channel on. Hot tea on hand. Christmas tree is sparkling. Dogs snoozing.

Silence is golden!

The Life of the Wife: It Ain’t Always Easy!

Terry and I have served as missionaries since 1985.  It seems like yesterday, yet it has been ages ago!  When we first went to the Philippines, I served alongside him and cared for our children.  For the last 22 years, he has traveled and I have stayed home.  Inevitably, when Terry is gone, that’s when trouble happens!

This afternoon, I had great plans. After getting my housework done and working on my Bible study, I would spend time outside planting flowers, BBQing dinner and watch our “super moon ” rise with Mollie and Maisie, our two dogs and my constant companions.

Well, planting flowers took a while as I had to wet down and enrich the soil neglected by our hot summers. However, it got done. I was doing a final watering and rinsing of the porches when I felt something on my left ankle. Maisie was next to me, so I dismissed it as she was sniffing at my feet. I felt the tickle again and thought, hmmm…a dead leaf–then I did a double take, started leaping, dancing and shouting–YIKES! A giant yellow scorpion!!! (3 inches)

Granted, I know that the smaller ones are much worse than the larger ones, but it just isn’t my style to wear a scorpion anklet.

I was too chicken to step on him. I did think, ” Why, oh why do these things happen when Terry is away?”    I did the best I could and picked up a heavy ceramic pot and used it to grind the scorpion into oblivion!  (I hope).

If anyone would like to come and lift the pot to see if there are any remains, you are welcome to do so. I would even share my steak. I think I will pass on the “Super Moon” tonight just in case that yellow scorpion’s cousins are around.

I wonder if when I get to heaven, there will be rewards for missionary wives who have survived, fires, coups, rats , etc… while their husband was away.   I can now add scorpion anklet to the list!