Shipshewana, Indiana

Balmy 15 degrees...

It was a rough adjustment coming from beautiful sunshine and warm weather to mid-winter in Indiana, but with the cold also came some wonderful blessings including a free Saturday to explore some of Northern Indiana and visit the Amish community of Shipshewana. The day started out very cold and frozen. At one point when it took nearly a half-hour to defrost the car I asked Bud, "If our kids were doing this would we approve?" The nearly three-hour (one way) trip went off without a hitch and God provided us with a beautiful and rest-filled day which we both needed a lot! At one point we stopped at a rest area for Bud to "de-ice" the back window (it was so cold the rear defroster wasn't able to keep up) and the temperature read a balmy 15 degrees! A good Samaritan who had also stopped noticed Bud was using a paper coffee cup to "break up" the ice and offered to lend him an ice scrapper - thank you Jesus!

Buggy Siting

That was about the time I asked Bud if we were crazy to make this trip and that any respectable Amish wouldn't be out in a buggy in this weather! Low and behold, a short time later we turned the corner and I said, "Do you think we're getting close?" Bud replied, "Yep - see for yourself," and there was a horse-drawn buggy on the road ahead of us. We spent the day just being "tourists" walking the snow-filled streets, visiting the various shops and sweet stops, and just relaxing in a quiet little community which I'm sure in the summer is jam-packed with "real" tourists!

Look at all that snow!

The entire day was filled with sunshine and blue skies although the temperature never got above 17 degrees! There was so much beauty to behold (from, as Bud reminded me several times, the inside of a warm car!) We laughed about the reality that you don't have to live "across the ocean" to be in a cross-cultural situation.

Postcard Perfect!

Being in Greenwood for several weeks of training probably wasn't our first choice of how to spend January, but we have been richly blessed in the time we've had with the other missionaries here and the friendships that have been made, and, as Bud reminds me, "We'll always have Shipshewana!" 

Thank you Lord for a reminder of the beauty and glory of your creation which surrounds us everyday.

When I consider your heavens, 

   the work of your fingers, 

the moon and the stars, 

   which you have set in place, 

 what is mankind that you are mindful of them, 

   human beings that you care for them?

 Psalm 8:3-4

In the States...Safe & Sound

Our Little Cottage - It's a 4-Plex

Bud & I arrived safely in Greenwood, Indiana Saturday, January 7 - late. Heidi & Carl Walton graciously picked us up at the airport at midnight and delivered us to our quaint, cozy, comfortable little "home away from home" at headquarters where we'll remain until February 3. During January we'll be attending Cross Training (CT), which is a 3-1/2 week training which is meant to help prepare missionaries for transition to the field. Of course, since Bud & I have been in Haiti since September, it might seem like we're doing things in reverse, but it's always a blessing to be back in the States and to get a chance to reacquaint with old friends at headquarters and to meet new friends. Our 16-person CT group is quite diverse. We are enjoying getting to know all of the different missionaries who are (or will be) serving in a variety of ministries.

View from our Front Window

Since arriving we've been to Walmart, Applebee's, The Goodwill, and tomorrow will attend an English-speaking church. Bud & I both came down with the sniffles, but Bud took it to the next level last night by running a temperature and throwing up most of the night. He slept all day Saturday, was better Sunday, then took a sudden turn on Monday again for the worse. I thought we would be going to the doctor, but thankfully (praise the Lord) he's better and will be able to go back to class today!

When we arrived it was cold and sunny, but last Thursday it turned bitterly cold and snowed, which was beautiful and definitely a change from Haiti where we spent New Year's Saturday at the beach! Last weekend I watched a small group of children sled down a small hill across the road, I thoroughly enjoyed hearing their giggles and watching them play together.

I thanked the Lord for a safe, cozy, and quiet place to reflect on all the changes and transitions we have been through this past year, and for His continual faithfulness. Although it is killer to be in the States and have to accept that we will not be seeing our children or grandchildren this trip, we continue to rest in the knowledge and assurance that we are right where God has called us and has us for this season of our lives. I am so humbled by that realization and so grateful to all those who have joined us in this ministry through prayer and financial support, and for those who continue to encourage us daily. (Since arriving we've had letters, emails, and a package of goodies sent to Greenwood!)  We were also blessed that Mel and Dianne Hurley (couple from our church) are also part of CT. It's been wonderful to spend one-on-one time with them, to hear how God is working in their lives, and it was an extra special blessing that they were able to bring our warm clothes from Oregon!

View from HQ Training Room

I should have taken more pictures of the snow to share, but these are all I have...unless the weather behaves as they are predicting and we have more snow next week. Although, it seems Oregon is under a blanket of white too, so I guess you can look outside to see it for yourselves.

"Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."