I had not planned to blog anymore today, but now I need to. Tonight we got an email informing us of Sheldon Martin's death. He is the husband of Louisa, and they both attend our church back in the States. Or did. Two days ago Sheldon went to Heaven after his canoe capsized in Lake Cheney. He was newly married and only 31 years old. This is too unbelievable! He was the children's SS superintendent this past year. Week after week we all had the privilege of watching him teach biblical truths to the children in the most interesting and entertaining ways. The children loved him. We are in shock- completely. Please pray for Louisa!! Please do. That would be my heart cry- pray for the family. We know Sheldon is fine now.
Sudden, tragic deaths and the resulting sadness are very real to us. Soon after Sheldon and Louisa got married, about 3 years ago, we lost our 12 year old son. Seth was in a hayride/tractor accident. The details I'll save for another day, if The Lord grants that. Honestly, all of our days are numbered. It seems presumptuous to assume any of us have 'another day.' Let's give God our ALL today while we still have time. He is worthy.
......and if you haven't yet, please pray for Louisa.
Tuesday, 19 November 2013
Homeschool
A backyard photo of a soon-to-be double rainbow in Dungarvan, County Waterford.
Exactly two months ago we arrived in Ireland (September 19th). Before we even arrived I had hoped to blog our adventures. However, the sheer amount of cultural adjustments caught me off guard, and so my blogging journey is a little behind.
For me, the biggest adjustment is trying to homeschool my children in a foreign country. I like my homeschool day to go like clockwork- everything on time and in perfect order. However, life in Ireland has challenged my every attempt to do that, or so it seems. Recently, I had designed, what I thought, was the 'perfect' schedule. Everything fit neatly into a time slot, and school was going to get done. Well, that lasted about a week, when 'real-life' knocked on my door again. This time it was a couple that needed someone to watch their 1 and 3 year old children, so they could go on a much desired 10-year anniversary trip. Of course, we couldn't pass up this opportunty. My children 'love' little children and well, how much more educational can it get? And, besides, aren't we here as 'missionaries' to some extent? Aren't we here to encourage the missionaries and other families that are building God's kingdom in Ireland? A big yup to it all! So, without much hesitation, we told her we'd be available. The following week was spent house and babysitting for them and it was tremendously educational! Child Care and psychology were the themes all week. It gave them a deeper understanding (and empathy) for young mothers in a way that no textbook could. And as a side note, I think the young children benefitted, too, as they had many doting 'parents' who read to them all week!
Well, can you see my dilemma, though? So many educational opportunities are presenting themselves outside the typical curriculum scene. Anyway, these thoughts were abounding as I stumbled over an inspiring website: storiesofanunschoolingfamily.com. This is an amazing website. So, anyway, after discussing this with Wolf, we decided that an 'interest-led' education is what we need to try.
We aren't 100% interest-led/unschooling folk, however. Although we are learning in 'unconventional' ways, Mama (I) still do good-'ole math with them. Guess I can't kick that habit- besides I love math! Just wish the children did. At least they enjoy our library trips, plus all the excursions we do here. So far, we've visited the Hook Lighthouse (oldest operating lighthouse in the world, I believe) and the Dunbrody Ship, or famine ship. It was basically the type of ship that brought the Irish folk to America in the 1800's (potato blight times). The type of ship that my ancestors, and maybe yours, were on. In the near future I really want to take them to the Waterford Crystal Plant to see how glass is made and transformed into a work of art.
Each weekend that Wolf is with us, we try to do a special trip. Of course, with him going to the States for 12 days or so each month, it makes it harder, but we still do exploring on our own. Since the ocean is just minutes from us, we went clamming and 'musseling.' Not much success in the clam dept., but we enjoyed feasting on mussels that night!
Anyway, the bottom line here is, educational opportunities are all around us. But, more importantly, opportunities to answer the door when God knocks, also abound. So, we've decided to answer those knocks, and put our own desires (my set homeschool schedule) to the side. We desire to put God first in all we do, and that includes in the homeschooling realm, too.
Yoder Days
Maggie and Joy are good friends here.
We are going for a walk. In the background, there are fields with cows grazing. A very common sight in Ireland.
Anna doing Joy's hair. I'm sure this was Anna's favorite part of the day!
Even Nehemiah enjoyed reading to the children.
The girls
Anna, Beth, and Maggie with Princess, the dog.
We spent the last week at Jonathan and Joyce Yoder's house watching their two youngest children. Anyway, this is their back deck, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Can you see it way back there? So beautiful!
Thursday, 7 November 2013
Arrival in Ireland
October 2013
Well we've all happily survived our first month in Ireland. It's going well now, but was a bit bumpy in the beginning. All the cultural changes were hard to adapt to, but the children have taken it with ease.
Driving was the first and biggest hurdle. I never would have guessed that we'd have to drive on the right side of the car and on the opposite side of the road, with a stick shift. And when you have the car in motion, hope fervently that a car doesn't pass you. If you are on a major road, no problem- they will pass you on the right side, but you get used to that. However, if you happen to be on a little country road- that's where the fun comes in. The roads to the boy's camp are a bit wider than a car, but the roads are all lined with stone border/hedges that are only a couple feet from the edge of the road. So, if a car is driving towards you, you both may need to stop and wiggle around each other for a moment (without hitting the stone wall). Most country roads are this way.
Anyway, driving has had its challenges, but the effort it takes is far surpassed by the beauty you see everywhere. Ireland is absolutely beautiful! Lots of green pastures with sheep and cattle all over. The most interesting thing is seeing those same stone walls bordering properties all over the countryside, giving it the appearance of a patchwork quilt. The ocean and the mountains add to the beauty.
Now to discuss camp:
We didn't know quite what to expect before we came. Since the boys are still not at the camp yet, would staff morale be low? Would everyone be 'bumming around' bored silly? We weren't sure what we were getting ourselves into, but soon found out. Wes Sensenig, the camp's director, met us at the Dublin Airport in the morning and drove us to our home, where the camp cook had a crockpot lasagne and loads of groceries waiting for us. That evening we met the staff at the camp. And what an awesome bunch! These are on-fire-for-the-Lord folks and we instantly felt comfortable among them. We all shared a meal together and sang a bit. After talking and being around them, we didn't sense any 'low morale' or frustration- they were finding work to do in the community and keeping busy in all sorts of ways. We were impressed and relieved.
The next day we got a tour of the campgrounds. It's not too far from a small town, but down a long,windy country road. There's a main building, called the Chehorta, or chow hall. Whenever we have staff meals, we gather here. It's built with a very woodsy-theme, but comfortable too. Then, a short distance away, down a well-manicured trail is the campsite itself. After looking at the buildings, and admiring the hard work evidenced around us, we sat down and talked.
At one time, we discussed the need for this fledging mission to be more self-sufficient. We have a cook here, Susan Burkholder, and others that are ready and willing to bake more and raise money. In the meantime, we are looking for a retired couple or VS worker with good social skills to work in sales, distribution, and development of our "rising" bakery business. Do you know of anyone?
The thing that left the biggest impression in my mind was the quality of the workers themselves- they are a motivated, optimistic bunch, who are eagerly waiting for the boys to return. As far as the boys returning, we have been working through the bureaucratic tangle with good success, and are expecting the boys to return in November.
Please keep praying, though. After all, "Except The Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it..." Ps. 127:1
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