Merry Christmas 2016

Merry Christmas 2016

              It is hard to even remember the year’s beginning of 2016 at this point!  Our family has had many wonderful moments – too many to recount them all!  But it is year’s end and time to catch you up on some of our experiences and give thanks for each and every one of you, our family and friends…so here it is “Merry Christmas – 2016”

            As the year began, our church, Compass Church of Batesville, was in the middle of building a new facility.  We had been praying about this venture for some time and had broken ground in 2015 and started the building process.  We, admittedly, were not very patient and set several move in “goals” but missed them all.  Finally, in July we just packed up and made the move, even though some things were not quite finished! It was exciting and hard, but in the end was worth it all! We love being in our new building and have already had to adjust our children’s area and add two new classes for our children! God is good.

            Somewhere along the way, plans began to come to fruition about a long anticipated mission trip to Nepal!  Mickey and I were blessed to lead the team and quickly confirmed the “dream team” to trek into the mountain village with overseas workers who had feet on the ground, our daughter and son-in-law – Lacey and Chase. 

            It wasn’t long before our family was blessed with an announcement from the Parks’ family.  Their family of five would be adding one!  We were pleased and surprised!  Although everyone would like to see a “pink flavored” addition to the household, Kelly keeps reminding us that “statistically” the odds are against it.  Whatever sweetness arrives will be much loved, you can be sure of!

            Not long after that announcement, the Moore family had an announcement of their own – baby number three was on the way in their household.  We were equally pleased and surprised by this good news. 

            Then bittersweet news came – the Moores would be leaving their overseas duties in November of 2016.  Their commitment time had come to an end and they felt that it was time to return to the United States.  Of course we were elated at the thought of having our children and grandchildren all living in the US again, but also, we believe in the work that is being done to serve the people of Nepal in the name of Jesus, so there was a sadness as well.  Quickly we made plans, along with Compass leadership and our team of volunteers, to continue with the trip to Nepal.

            Not long after the announcements and the trip plans were almost complete, Lacey had a harrowing experience in the mountains of Nepal.  She awoke to signs of a possible miscarriage.  The whole family had traveled to the mountain village as one of their last visits before leaving Nepal.  The trip back into Kathmandu involved a three hour hike down a steep incline and then an 8 hour taxi ride over the compromised roads – Chase carrying both children to expedite the hike and Lacey bearing her own weight, strain, and exhaustion.  When they arrived at the best hospital in Kathmandu, and Chase had passed the children on to dear friends, Chase and Lacey spent a night in prayer and emotional agony, waiting for a technician to arrive the next day for an ultrasound.  We were praying on this side of the world.  God gave us peace.  God gave Chase peace.  Even in uncertainty, we had His peace.  The story, as we were told, is that Chase stepped around to peek at the ultrasound while it was in progress and saw little arms and legs moving!! The baby survived the trauma! God is good, indeed!

            Lacey had good medical care by a western trained OB/GYN through the hospital in the coming weeks.  Kelly and their cousin, Jackie made a quick trip to Kathmandu – knowing it would be their last opportunity to walk the streets where Lacey and her family had lived for five years and it was good.  They all enjoyed one another so much.  And Lacey’s health only showed improvement.

            That is why we were surprised with further news…Chase and Lacey and the kids would be accompanying us home at the end of our trip and vacation days in Kathmandu! Not only did we get to serve the amazing people of Nepal, see where the Moores had spent their overseas time, meet their friends and colleagues, but also would get to fly back to the US with them in tow!

            Finally time for our trip had come and we were beyond excited, nervous, anxious, and overwhelmed!  We went to Kathmandu with an amazing group of people who were dedicated to the trip and were ready to serve the Moores and others who work and serve the people of Nepal.  The trip included a trek to a mountain village, which was difficult and challenging.  Everyone who went endured fatigue and experienced some element of discomfort.  I, Betty Gail, stayed in the city and visited with a local business, helped Lacey with things pertaining to the move, and prayed a lot for our team! The trip was wonderful in every way! 

            Time came to make the last leg of the journey over the big pond.  The Moores and Joneses, eighteen bags and 6 carry-ons began the long trip home.  Unbelievably, all the bags made it with no incident and nothing missing or broken!

            So, that brings us to now.  The Parks’, Moores’ and Joneses just spent an amazing 24 hours together in Branson, Mo. Celebrating the sixth birthday of Ajay and the 37^th birthday of Aaron!  God is good all the time!

            We know the first excitement we will face in 2017 will probably be the birth of baby Parks somewhere around January 23^rd and then in a few weeks following, around the first of March, the birth of baby GIRL Moore!  Although we don’t know exactly what God has for us, we are blessed by Him already! 

            The greatest gift He has given is His son, Jesus – the Savior of the world!  If you know Him – give Him praise! If you don’t know Him, our hope is that you will hear His voice and answer His call.  Though we have seen dreams fulfilled and experienced many happy moments this year, we have also felt Him near in our most desperate hours.  He is the same – He never changes.  God is, indeed, so good!

One-Liners concerning the family:

Aaron is the Children’s Director for the new campus of Fellowship Bible Church, Fayetteville

Kelly is a worship leader, singer/songwriter, mentor of young women, teacher, and mother of soon to be four

Asher is attending Fayetteville’s new Virtual Academy as a fourth grader (which means he does on-line schooling from home!) and loves video games

Benjamin goes to Holcomb Elementary School as a third grader and loves basketball

Caleb is a thriving three (almost four) year old who is a comedian, peacemaker, and has stolen his grandparents’ hearts

Chase has been working every job he has been given to provide for his family and looks forward to the next step with Antioch Community Church in Waco, TX as God leads – also is a coffee snob

Lacey loves cleaning my kitchen, apparently, and will be happy to get her own soon and make a home for her soon to be three children (but for now is enjoying singing with her dad and the Compass band)

Ajay loves airplanes, dinosaurs, trains, and little cars and has completed much of his Kindergarten year already in Kathmandu, but hopes to find a classroom in Waco to finish the year

Ari is a little three (almost four) year old girly-girl who can be as tough as any boy and knows no fear but mostly just looks up to her big brother and mimics his every move – and is happiest when she gets to wear dresses

Betty Gail is in business! She is selling Blessed Hope Nepal jewelry and having so much fun doing so.

Mickey is still doing what he loves – serving Jesus, singing and leading the Compass worship band and making admin decisions at Compass Church along with an amazing group of Elders and Staff people.

**Jane – Mom is 91 (92 in April of 2017) has good days and not so good days.  She is working hard in physical therapy, hoping to gain a little more strength but she is still able to put a smile on our faces and loves nothing better than visiting with her 7 children (kids and spouses), 15 grandchildren (grands and spouses), and 14 (soon to be 16) great-grandchildren), nieces and nephews, Anna Pearl Roberts (her cousin and Knot Hole Gang sister), and many friends, whether it be on the phone, in person, or even just on Facebook.  It was a real thrill for her to get a Christmas card from an old friend, Glenda Barry, from years gone by. 

EARTHQUAKE! THEN PLANS SET IN MOTION

                                    EARTHQUAKE! THEN PLANS SET IN MOTION

Months before, our Mission Team at Compass had agreed that Kathmandu, Nepal would be one of our destinations for 2016.  I was excited and thrilled to know not only was I finally going to see where my children were living, but I also would get to help lead the trip and serve the people of Nepal, as well. 

                                    

Five years ago, my children and one year old grandson moved across the “big pond” to pursue their love of a people they did not yet know, but were excited about serving among.  In the five years they had many adventures and challenges.  After living there for a little while they decided to open a coffee shop, along with their team members.  They found a perfect location, remodeled it and moved into a two-story establishment with a rooftop.  They served a killer breakfast, I’m told, and offered pour-over coffee to their patrons – perfect for a coffee shop in a part of the world where many Westerners trek and mountain climb and electricity comes and goes in waves! (The coffee can be prepared by hand grinding the beans and being brewed with a process utilizing a gas stove and kettle rather than depending on electricity to power equipment – and really is excellent in taste.) They studied language and developed deep friendships with locals who worked for and with them.  

               

And then one fine day in April of 2015…the top of the world came crashing down, literally! 

Here is the story from my side of the world:

It was about 4:30 am in America and I was awakened from my sleep by a soft “ding”.  I rolled over, rubbed my eyes, and saw that it was a text from Lacey, my daughter.  It was rare in those days for her to send a text in the middle of the night, but it would be common for me to open it and read it.  “Mom, we are ok.  There has been a major earthquake here but we are all ok.”  So that woke me up!  I began surfing the Internet for any more information that was available.  It was true, I soon found out – a reported 7.9 quake had rattle the mountains of Nepal and there would be great loss of life and much damage to this very poor third world country.  On the off chance I would get through, I face-timed Lacey – AND got through!  There they were, sitting on a green grassy area, the kids in a small tent for protection against the blaring sun, and they and most of their teammates comfortable on a quilt just waiting for the next after-shock.  We quickly lost communication as the poor infrastructure began to crumble.  Those days ahead were filled with both anxiety and wonder.  I connected to family members of others we knew in Nepal and we kept a chain going – informing one another of any news out of Kathmandu that we were receiving.  The Moore family and their team relocated to the American Embassy in KTM (Kathmandu), and this momma was so happy to hear that, when the news finally came.  After-shocks were strong and the ground moved a lot in those first days and I knew the embassy was probably built to withstand the shaking – at least I thought that! 

                        
       *Here are a few pics of some of the devastation caused by the earthquake.  The most significant damage was done in the mountain villages and to some ancient temple sights in the city.  Just following the earthquake Nepal *was deeply impacted by a strike on the southern border in protest of the newly adopted constitution which blocked the import of much needed petrol (gas for cooking, heating and transportation).

Quickly it became apparent that the best thing would be to leave KTM and Lacey and the children made the long journey to the US.  Chase, on the other hand, stayed behind to wrap up some business concerning Circle Street Coffee and his employees.  It was stressful and a blessing all mixed up.  A second earthquake of great strength occurred in those first days, leveling villages and causing landslides of ice and snow to barrel down the mountains catching trekkers and locals alike in unprotected situations where many lives were lost.  Meanwhile in America, I would say to four year old Ajay, who never likes to be separated from his daddy for any reason, “It is ok.  It will just be a little while until your daddy gets home, Ajay.”  Quickly he corrected me!  “Nanna, stop saying that.  Nepal is our home, not here.”  He has such a great love for the country that he has known all of his young life!  It inspired me to want to visit and see what all of his enthusiasm held.  Chase’s true adventures began that fateful day.  An employee asked Chase to travel by motorcycle with him into the most devastated mountain villages to find his family and parents.  Compassion overtook good sense, as it should have, and the two set out on a journey of dangerous discovery.  Their mission was successful and Chase’s friend found his family.  Two weeks after his family arrived in the US, Chase followed.  They had business in the US and a short time of recovery from the earthquake trauma.  The earthquake wasn’t all that was shaken.  Team Everest, Chase and Lacey’s entire team left Nepal, never to return.  Different ones had planned to leave but this event propelled them to leave early.  So, what was once was a team of ten or more was now a team of two (plus two children).  They discovered that there were other changes with which to deal, including the loss of their second floor and rooftop at Circle Street.  Things would indeed look different, but different isn’t always bad. 

                                      
         *Chase and Lacey, Ari and Ajay on their rooftop just outside their fourth story apartment where they road out the earthquake.

I’ve shared these things because I think it will help you understand my trip better.  The things they experienced and relayed to us, impacted our hearts to want to make the long trip to their beloved country.  We had heard stories and we wanted more.  We wanted to be a part of seeing “the ends of the earth” as they had begun to see through trips and treks that would come following the earthquake. 

We began planning and the first thing was to build a team to take with us.  We (Mickey and I) were excited but we didn’t know if anyone else would be.  Plans were developed for a “mountain trek” and a “city ministry”, allowing people with different interests to go on the trip.  I knew that a mountain trek of this proportion would not be feasible for me and there was valuable work that could be done in the city, as well.  Much to our pleasure, the team began to form.  One committed and quickly others added to the list.  It was moving to see how God was putting together the perfect, imperfect team! 

We prepared via email and Skype with Chase and Lacey.  We looked hard at the people we would be serving and loving on.  We followed trails and landscapes via the Internet.  We prayed.  We exchanged texts and emails of encouragement and information, scripture in which we found strength and comfort, and our personal thoughts and even fears.  We knew we would never be fully ready, but we were prepared and trusted the Father for the task set before us.

At some point we got news that was quite unexpected.  Circle Street Coffee had been closed.  The earthquake had taken its toll on the business and it just didn’t survive the fallout.  There was more news.  Lacey was pregnant!  Grandbaby number seven was on the way!  And then more big news.  Our trip would be the last of the short- term trips with the Moores.  They were moving back to the US to pursue other things in ministry as the Lord had guided them to do.  OH, what bittersweet news!  We loved what they had been called to do and believed in their mission among the Tibetans of Kathmandu, yet as parents and grandparents, our hearts were bursting with joy at the prospect of their coming back to the US permanently – something we didn’t dare ask or dream.  We had to ask ourselves the question, however – “Should we continue moving forward with this trip?” Ultimately, you must know the answer or I wouldn’t be writing this post!  There was still much to do and still much to pray over as we began more seriously planning this trip of a lifetime.

NEPAL, A BUCKET-LIST ADVENTURE

NEPAL, A BUCKET-LIST ADVENTURE

WELL…I have been to Nepal and my heart is full.  My children and grandchildren have lived in Kathmandu for the past five years, loving on and serving the people whom they call family now, with determination and compassion.  I have followed every step they have made with awe and sometimes shock.  As they relayed stories of their lives and those around them, I’ve had a growing desire to see this strange and wonderful land for myself.  My curiosity was two fold – one was to set foot on this third-world country, see with my own eyes the exotic and ancient sights and vivid colors, hear the incessant honking, gonging, and chatter of different languages, and smell the odd – sometimes lovely, sometimes not so much – wafts of street food, mixed with incense, spices and honestly, dirt.  The second was that I believed in the work my children were doing among this beautiful people who were created by God to be culturally different, and I wanted to be a part – be it small – of that work.  I guess there was the third reason that should go without saying – I wanted to hug and kiss my children and grandchildren in their adopted homeland.

I have been to Asia four times now.  We visited Lacey as a young, single overseas worker in Darjeeling, India several years ago.  We went to Indonesia to help some friends with childcare and then I went to southern India when our fourth grandchild was born.  There are some things that are just expected in Asia like the piles of shoes by the front door, as wearing outside shoes inside is socially unacceptable.  As, I stated before, Asia is full of exotic sites and sounds to enjoy, unlike you find in western countries.  Navigation of streets and sidewalks is a skill that is developed from a very young age – call it defensive, if you will – as people walk and drive aggressively to their destination without major accidents in overcrowded narrow pathways and alleyways.  And then there is the random cow that saunters down the middle of the street alongside you, only to stop and eat from a local trash pile! These are things that are strangely endearing to me as I have experienced Asia.  Then there are the people – beautiful people with varying shades of dark skin, rosy cheeks and inviting smiles.  They are a kind and friendly people with curiosity about the west and although they might speak in very broken English their communication skills are practiced and effective.  They will sell you their goods at whatever price you are willing to pay and delight at your poor bargaining and haggling skills!

This trip was different from the others I have made to Asia.  Though the torturous 15-hour plane ride was the same, the difference was clear as I gazed across the isle and peered through the open window of a fellow passenger with a clear view of the ice capped Himalaya Mountains.  I had seen the Himalayan hills before, but never the majesty of such grandeur as these tallest mountains in the world presented on this blindingly sunny day.  Though the brightness was overwhelming, my eyes were continually drawn back to the view in awe.  Even though weary from the strenuous travel, excitement built within for the adventure that lay ahead.  And we were almost there!