Half a World Away

Blogging is not like riding a bike.  I can’t remember how to post pictures so all I can offer are words.  The saying is that “a picture is worth a thousand words”.  I will spare you and use a few less.

One week ago, my mom and dad left to serve a mission for 18 months “Down Under”.  My parents are like no other.  They are intimately involved in the lives of 12 adult children (including “in-law” types) and 23 grandchildren.  They attend concerts, recitals, games, award ceremonies, school programs, and on and on.  In their place remains an enormous abyss.  It will require extraordinary effort on the part of 12 adult children to fill that void with the love and support and friendship that we are so used to.        

Joe says there are no coincidences.  I agree with him.  I think everything happens for a reason.   Just 10 short days before my parents leaving, I responded to an email plea to host one of two Chinese language teachers for the school year.  After reading the email, I felt an urgent need to volunteer my home.  I thought I felt urgency because I am surrounded by kind and gracious neighbors.  I didn’t want them to beat me to the punch.  I am so glad I listened. 

The very Saturday my parents embarked on their journey halfway across the world was the very day we welcomed two women into our home, also from halfway across the world.  We will have Lucy living with us until the end of the school year and Yi will be joining her host family later this week.  We have had a week full of learning and sharing and loving. 

We have shared an Eagle Scout Court of Honor (Congratulations Max!  Thanks for setting such a good example for all or your younger nephews), a football scrimmage (Go Braves!), a one-night get-away to Bear Lake including swimming, smoky views, and Tiny Spicy Chicken, a birthday (Happy Birthday Joe!), and a Bee’s game (complete with fireworks).  We are eager to share so much more! 

Lucy and Yi have shared gifts (key chains, chop sticks, hackey sacs), their language (the kids are getting is much quicker than the adults), their cooking (noodles, fried rice (our favorite so far), soup), hard work (our dishes have never been so clean), and love.  They bought yummy dinner, treats at the baseball game and also arranged for a cake (complete with Chinese characters) for Joe’s birthday.  They have cheered Mason as he learned how to do round off back handsprings (on the ground) and celebrated with Tanner as his defense dominated during football scrimmage.  They have laughed at all of Joe’s jokes and endlessly pitched in around the house. 

I have no doubt that what we are doing will abundantly bless our lives, far beyond what we are giving.  I also have no doubt the same thing is true for my mom and dad.  Half a world away, we will be together as we learn to love a people we know very little about.