Why I have stopped worrying about what my kids are "giving up"

Let the name of the LORD be praised, both now and forevermore. From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the LORD is to be praised. The LORD is exalted over the nations, His glory above the heavens. Who is like the LORD our God, the One who sits enthroned on high, who stoops down to look on the heavens and the earth? Psalm 113:2-6

It has been a busy, busy week! Besides trying to recover from the flu and the bronchitis that accompanied it, we are in the middle of birthday season, which encompasses all of March (9th and 17th) and part of April (10th) at our house. Wednesday was John-John's birthday party, which we held here at our home. All of the elementary-aged boys from our mission were here, and though they are all older than John, they made him feel special and wonderful. I think you can see from the pictures that he had a marvelous time.

Marc talked last night with one of the ministers at a partner church who has recently been appointed by the IMB to our part of the world. His family won't be in Russia, but they will be working with Russian speakers, and they had a great talk last night. They just discovered that they are expecting their third child, and while that is joyous and great, I'm sure it's also accompanied by some hesitation on their part, if only because of medical care issues in our part of the world (many of which are being solved...more and more, we have access to really good health care here). When we were in the process to be appointed, our biggest fears and concerns were for our children. Would they be happy? Would they adjust? Were we asking too much of them? Were they giving up too much of "normal life," especially Sarah Beth? These are the questions that kept me up nights. But they don't any longer.

My children's life experiences will be different from the "average" kid in America. There is no denying that. Sarah Beth will not go to prom or homecoming dances, and she won't spend her Friday nights at the football field, because Hinkson doesn't have American football. But this weekend, she will spend most of her time at school, where she is in the choir, because their big spring performance is this weekend. She will likely spend her spring break of her senior year on a mission trip (they are going to Uganda this year), options that are open to her as an enrichment student at Hinkson. Next year, all three will study Russian, then get to go out and practice what they learn in the metro, the store, the sidewalk, at church. Sarah Beth is studying the Russian Revolution right now in history, and I had her read an essay by William Safire about the edifice of the Hotel Moscow and how it is representative of the old USSR. She came to me and said, "OK, is this the hotel by GUM? Across from Lenin's tomb?" And it struck me--she is studying the events that literally rocked the world in which she lives. She can read about religious oppression under Stalin anywhere in the world, but because she's here, she actually goes to church with people who experienced what it was like to live in fear because of their religious beliefs. We are on a pretty amazing field trip.

Yes, there are moments when one of them wishes they were "home" in the States. But those moments are more and more rare. Our reality is here. They are making friends, going to parties and sleepovers, trying to figure out math, trying to figure out dating, spending time with their "aunts" and "uncles" on the field, with their many cousins. The reality of life as a Christian is this--what God calls you to is always His best. And while that may not always equate to what is easy, it means that in the end, He can be trusted with our happiness and the happiness of our children. I don't worry about my children anymore, because it's clear to me that, just like He's doing something amazing in my life and Marc's life, God is doing something amazing in the kids' lives, too. None of us will ever be the same.

Well, it's time to get ready to go to Ashan, our version of a Super Wal-Mart. I'm meeting my friend, Karla, and we're heading out early. You cannot imagine the kind of money it saves us. We are trying to find ways to squirrel away some savings, and Ashan plays a major part in that, since much of our salary goes to buying food. I hope wherever you are in the world, you are looking forward to Easter, and that you know the word for "ham" in whatever language is spoken at your grocery store! Blessings to you and yours!

His,
Kellye