It turns out encouragement comes in a flat-rate box from the US Postal Service...who knew?

Hannah and I went to the salon and had our hair cut yesterday. Doesn't she look grown up?!?!

Boo Boo and I being silly after John John's Christmas party.

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light... I Peter 2:9

There are some pretty excited kids in our apartment this morning, because there is a pretty good amount of snow on the ground, and it is still coming down at a good pace. Okay, it's not just the kids who are excited...Marc and I are loving the snow, too. The only one who isn't excited is Sarah Beth, who hates the snow. Her first words to us yesterday, when she woke up to find it snowing, were, "Okay...who prayed for snow?" But the rest of us are loving it! The high today is 20, and the forecast is calling for snow the next four days. Sweet!

I was thinking this morning about an old friend of mine. During a very dark and difficult time in her life, when we had taken her children somewhere or done something for them, she wrote us a thank you note. In her note, she said something I'll never forget. She thanked us for our kindness, and she said that when we did something for her children, we did it for her. I thought I knew how she felt then, but it wasn't until we came to the mission field that I really understood what she was saying. We have recently been the recipient of just this sort of kindness, and now I truly understand that when you do something for my kids, you've done it for me.

It has been a truly difficult six months since we moved to Prague. While we have no doubt that we are exactly where God means us to be for this moment, it is not home. We live in someone else's apartment, with someone else's cats, and though we are grateful for the roof over our heads and the companionship of their pets, those things are theirs, not ours. For the first time since we came to the field, we have very little money, because we took a cut in our field parity to come to Prague, but our expenses rose (due to things like electricity, internet, etc.) drastically. We do not have plans for the next year or two nailed down, yet, which is disconcerting. And though I cannot believe I am going to say this...we miss Russia. In fact, we pretty desperately miss Russia. God has definitely used this time in Prague to make us know for certain that our hearts are fitted for Russia and for Russians. He has used our ministry to Russian speakers as a way to confirm that, and we are grateful for that ministry, but it does not make us long for Russia less. So...it has been a difficult six months here.

So imagine how we felt as Christmas quickly approached. Very little money, homesick for America, homesick for Moscow, lonely...you name it. We were feeling pretty down and blue. But then something amazing happened. My dad would call and say, "I just put money in your account from so-and-so. Just wanted you to know." Or, "A Sunday School class has adopted you guys for Christmas, and they need a list of things you'd like from home." Or my sister would call and say, "My Sunday School class has collected money for a gift. What would you like me to do with it?" Then, last Friday, seven boxes arrived from our home church. SEVEN! The nice young man who is our delivery person for the Czech postal service even clapped his hands as the kids danced around and shouted to each other. The boxes were full of presents and treats for Christmas. I had so much fun letting the kids put presents under the tree and enjoy their Christmas socks and Christmas cups. What a great time!

But it's not the boxes that made a difference in our feelings. It was being remembered. Imagine the fun of looking at the names on those gifts and recognizing people from home. How would you feel if you were far away from home, if you hadn't seen people you loved in a couple of years, and you knew that someone at home had gone to the store and bought something especially for you? Imagine the joy of imagining someone at Walmart thinking to themselves, "John Hooks would really love these cars." To be thought about, to be remembered, to know that you are prayed over...these are things that far surpass boxes and gifts. I have received several notes in the last two weeks--words of encouragement and love and support--and they have lifted my spirits in ways I don't even have words to describe.

Imagine the joy of watching my children be encouraged. We were able to throw a surprise Christmas party for John with money donated to us by Sunday School classes. I was able to surprise Hannah with a haircut at a salon yesterday with money donated by a Sunday School class. The fun of watching them look through those presents under the tree, shaking and listening and wondering...indescribable. And because folks did these things for my kids, they have done them for me.

Do boxes of gifts from home and notes of encouragement change any of our circumstances, make us miss Moscow any less, make it any easier to be here? Nope. But there is something about knowing that we are loved and missed, thought about and prayed over, something about a tangible reminder of these things, that makes it easier to deal with the discouragement, the loneliness, and the homesickness. It makes it easier to face the next eight months and finish well. It really does.

So here is my challenge to you. Find someone who serves somewhere to encourage today. Maybe your pastor or youth minister or worship minister is going through a tough time and could use a little love. Maybe you know of a military family who is experiencing separation this Christmas. Send them a note. Remind them that they are loved. Thank them for their service. Pray for them. Above all, pray for them. I promise you that, just like the boxes blessed the Czech man who delivered them, when you give and encourage and pray for someone, you will be blessed, too.

Well, it's time to make breakfast for my hungry crew. Wherever you are in the world, I pray that you are encouraged by those who love you and are praying for you, and that there is snow in your forecast, too. Blessings to you and yours!

His,
Kellye