the beginning of something Great

Recently my husband and I made a trip to New York’s Long Island. We went for the purpose of visiting the Timothy Hill Children’s Ranch to interview and to explore the possibility of working with them. We weren’t sure what to expect, which I guess is partially why we were told, “You just need to come up here so that you can get to know us and what we’re about, and we can get to know you!” It was deemed an “exploratory interview” meaning neither party had a clear position in mind, but as talents and interests were exposed, a position might become evident. 

Being adventurous world travelers ourselves, we decided to get ourselves as far as we could by public transportation. The Long Island Railroad goes as far as Ronkokoma (which we could not pronounce correctly until several repetitions by the conductor). At Ronkokoma we boarded another shorter train to go further east to Riverhead. It seemed that the entire train from Manhattan was boarding the Ronkokoma train with us until we realized that most of the passengers were using the parked train as a bridge to get across the tracks to the station. By the time the doors actually closed and we left the station we were among perhaps only 5 other passengers going to Riverhead. At the small Riverhead station we were warmly welcomed by Timothy Hill’s friendly transportation coordinator. A short drive to the ranch and we were greeted by the warmth of Jerry and Fern Hill, founders of the ranch. Each person we met seemed to be filled with a contagious joy that only comes through knowing how to love.

We were blessed to be staying at the Hospitality House during the same time that some of the transitional housing residents were staying there. One young man of about 18 years of age arrived at the ranch the same day as us. He came into the kitchen while we were visiting with Ms. Fern. She welcomed him with the same warmth we were growing accustomed to. His posture spoke of unfamiliarity with the kindness being shown to him. With a sheepish smile, he thanked Mrs. Hill and with unexpected confidence stated, “I’m happy to be here, this is much better than where I came from.” Later we learned that this polite young man had just arrived from the local penitentiary. Throughout our time on the ranch, we observed how this young man grew more comfortable with his surroundings as he started to understand that the people around him were sincere and intentional in their love. Love and trust were evidently expressions he was not accustomed to. His transition was just a tiny glimpse of the change that the young men and women who come to Timothy HIll experience on a much larger scale. 

Christmas lights in NYC

We witnessed a board meeting where each resident was commended or reprimanded on their behavior and allowed to make requests. We visited with individuals and couples who have devoted a season of their lives to loving and mentoring young men and women who are working to get their lives on track. We participated in a family Thanksgiving meal. We witnessed a fist fight between residents and saw their mournful faces when they were reprimanded after the fact. We listened as one young man blatantly lied to the board and we also listened as another young man expressed his heartfelt thanks to the program upon his departure. Tough love was exhibited in the most tangible way I have ever seen it. 

Our final interview with the director of the program revealed a position that suited both our vision and our skills and talents. Much prayer and consideration went with us as we replayed our experience the days and weeks following our time in Riverhead. 

We spent a good 3 days in New York City after our time at Timothy Hill Children’s Ranch. The conversations we had at the ranch played over in our minds. The vision of how we could be used there excited us. The realization that God was evidently working through this experience to lead us was becoming clear. The very real faith in God and the sincere action of loving that we witnessed at the ranch left us inspired and uplifted.

Because of these things and much more, we have officially accepted a position at the ranch and are excited to join the work being done there. We know that great challenges will come with our commitment to loving our residents, but we pray that God will take our willingness and work through our weakness to do GREAT things. 

out of the overflow of the heart

Composed on 12.11.2013 regarding my recent work at a local nursing home.

She’s not exactly a pleasant woman to be around. Most of the day she stays hunched over in her wheelchair, either asleep or scooting herself up and down the hallways. She often dons a red crocheted beret, slightly tilted to one side. Her loosely buttoned blouse is nearly always stained with tobacco and saliva, her long nails carry remnants of yesterday’s meal. She carries her ziplock bag of tobacco in her blouse and tucks a clear plastic spit cup beside her on the cushion of her wheelchair. Sometimes I find her outside, sitting in a spot of sunshine...I wish more residents would go outside for some fresh air and sunshine. Ms. Marlene is not exactly a pleasant woman to be around, but beyond the exterior she has a special gift that she cannot keep to herself and this, more than the previous description, is what sets her apart. You cannot talk to Marlene about anything without her sharing words of faith in Jesus. 
“How are you today, Marlene?” 
“I’m alright. Thank the Lord! Thank the Lord!”
“Did you eat lunch today?”
“Yes. You know Jesus is the bread of life! He is the Good Shepherd!”
“I agree!”
“You’ve always got to tell the truth! Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life!”
“That’s true...I’ll see you later, Ms. Marlene”
“Okay, bye...Uuuhmaaazing grace! How sweet the sound....” she rolls away singing with a tremor in her aging voice.
That is a typical conversation with Marlene. Psychologically, she is not fully intact, but her conversations are an outpouring of the words that have filled her life. I don’t know her story. I don’t know how she lived her life. All I know, is that I want to live my life in such a way, that when my body is failing and my mind has gone, I want my spirit to still emit sweet words of Truth.

“For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.” Matthew 12:34

our east texas adventure

At the end of a long dirt driveway I turn onto the county road that leads me through a enchanted corridor of overhanging trees. After a few turns, I emerge from the canopy onto state highway 1000. My drive snakes through pasture lands with grazing cattle on either side. The morning sun is just peeking over the horizon of trees as I make my first turn...a different landscape from the one we left not even two months ago...yet still a beautiful witness to the Creator. The moon is still visible behind me, surrounded by pink-lined clouds and elegantly suspended in the morning sky.  I've learned when and where to switch from the local Christian radio station to NPR, knowing exactly at which part of my drive I will loose and pick up each station. My life has changed. OUR life has changed.

We left Italy to land in the blazing heat of a Texas summer. The expanse of grasshoppers who have inhabited East Texas, welcomed us with hops and frolicking, which I can only assume meant they were delighted for our return. Our first weeks were spent getting settled into the house Kyle grew up in and spending time with family. We unpacked boxes, cleaned out closets, rearranged furniture, to make his old room into our room. We also spent a good bit of time taking care of a few things around the house for his sweet parents who have welcomed us to stay here with open arms. I didn't mind cleaning off the back patio, organizing the cabinets, cleaning out the fridge, and hanging the porch swing, the job that I didn't enjoy so much was battling the wasps and spiders who had made their home on the small front porch. I first tried talking to them to explain that they had chosen a terribly inconvenient place to settle as it was directly in our path to get to and from our cars and the house. They didn't seem to listen, the spider just sat suspended in her web, the wasps kept on with their busy buzzing. A few grasshoppers came by to see what the discussion was about, but they didn't stay long. So I had to resort to drastic measures. First the spider webs came down and the spiders that didn't run away were disposed of...a nasty business when they're bigger spiders. Then there were the dirt dauber nests. They were just high enough that I had to stand directly under them to break them down, meaning dirt was raining down onto my head...perhaps that bench we just moved to the back porch should have remained here until this job was done. With those more or less cleared away, it was time to attack the wasps - of whom I am terrified. I looked at the three nests hanging overhead in the corners. There were several wasps flying about. I thought for a second on my plan of attack, but then suddenly overwhelmed with having already destroyed several creatures and their homes, I decided to save these volatile beasts for my man to fight with. And he did. Days of battle against the stubborn wasps resulted at last, in safe passageway through the front door with only an occasional wasp flying by. Besides dealing with these little pests, our time back in the states, though drastically different from Italy, has been wonderful. Kyle and his dad have taught me a thing or two about cows. I learned to drive a tractor, and even had a lesson in pulling and parking a trailer. It's true, East Texas does have a lot to offer! More importantly, however, we have enjoyed precious time with Kyle's family. We have spent quality time with my parents and several of our family of friends. We had a fabulous road trip to Savannah, Georgia with some dear friends. In the midst of all that, we were were praying and searching for jobs and our faithful God has provided excellent jobs for both of us given our short-term circumstances. Until December, I have a job working at two nursing homes in the area and Kyle will be substitute teaching and driving the school bus for the school he went to. We don't know exactly what we'll do next, but we are excited about what lies ahead.

This is our East Texas adventure.

the train to Bayeux

[composed on March 13, on a train]


This is our third train today and everything is white outside. Initially our plan was to go to the small medieval town of Bayeux where a museum houses one of the world's oldest tapestries, then we were to meet up with a tour that would take us to the beaches of Normandy and the American Cemetery. The day before departure, the tour company wrote to say that they would have to cancel the tour due to weather. Our eager team of adventurers decided to continue with the plan and go see the tapestry, enjoy a snow-covered medieval town and perhaps rent a car to go see the beaches on our own. Eager, but perhaps a little too idealistic. The canceled tour afforded us a few extra hours of much needed sleep. In the hotel lobby we watched news reports of people digging out buried cars from mounds of snow in the Normandy area. We boarded a train at 10:10, ignorant of any poor travel conditions. "Trains aren't too affected by weather, right?" I pondered out loud. Everyone seemed to agree, so on we went. We marveled at the snow floating around inside the Saint Lazare train station in Paris; we smiled as the snow covered city faded into snow-blanketed countryside, and excitement grew with each stop the train made in quaint towns along the way. We arrived in Caen to find that there were no trains going to Bayeux. In fact, all trains were canceled except for the train we just de-boarded which was scheduled to return to Paris in 40 minutes. We considered our options for about 30 seconds and then unanimously agreed to grab a bite to eat then return on the same train. We stepped outside the crowded station to see what eateries Caen had to offer. There was a closed convenience store, a restaurant, and a Kebab place. The decision was easy, we needed something fast so Kebab it was. The six of us made our way across indiscernible streets through at least 4 inches of snow and stood inside the fast food joint, waiting patiently for our turn to order. With 20 minutes until departure we ordered our food and prayed that the fast food would stay true to its name. Kebabs and drinks in hand, we crowded back into the station (throwing a few snowballs along the way and taking a token photo to commemorate our adventure) just in time to see on the monitor which platform the train was leaving from (as if we couldn't have guessed since it was the train we had arrived on). The stagnant crowd quickly moved into action and we made our way back onto the same train, same car and same seats which we had recently left. We were determined that these Kebabs would be the best ever and totally worth the trip, so we devoured them with optimism and plenty of laughs. Shelby entertained us with stories from the day before of the French shoe store that only sold right-footed shoes and her perceived recent onset of epilepsy. The mood was positive despite our failed attempt to travel to Bayeux and we began to make plans for how we would spend the rest of the day in Paris. And then we stopped in the small town of Mezidon. And there we stayed. And waited. After at least 30 minutes of sitting on the train, unsure of what announcements were being made in French, an announcement came on that stimulated sighs of frustration among the other travelers and people began to put on the coats and get off. We decided we should probably follow suit. Once inside the station (once again crowded), we learned from a kind fellow traveler who spoke English that our train had technical difficulties and could not take us to Paris. So we waited calmly with all the other anxious travelers, for further instruction. A roundish Frenchman looking official with his reflective vest came in to inform us calmly that we would soon board another train to return to Caen, that train would depart from Caen to Paris as scheduled at 17:03. Though it meant we would have little time to do anything once back in Paris, we were delighted to hear that we would be getting back to Paris. I was proud of our group of novice travelers for remaining calm and positive throughout the event. We chatted briefly with fellow travelers while we waited to board the new train. Once back in Caen, half our group was sent into the station for food and supplies (coke and chocolate) to get us through our journey. They returned with a bounty of water, nuts, sweets, drinks and reading materials to keep us supplied until our return. While at the station in Caen, men dressed in red rescue worker suits came through the train offering hot tea, coffee and water. The gesture was appreciated, but after seeing the news reports this morning and seeing the seriousness of the present weather conditions, it seems like making sure we have tea and coffee should be the least of their worries. 

So now here we sit. After about 4 hours on this train. It is hot. Eric has voiced concern regarding train temperatures and our up coming overnight train to Zurich, "What if they bake us in that couchette?" Some of our group seems to have lost their senses, but at least it is providing for lots of giggles. It's dark outside, but we can see that the ground and rooftops here have accumulated more snow since we left them this morning. We are nearing Paris. There's still time for exploration and dinner on this, our last night in Paris, maybe even more adventure than we bargain for...but I hope not, we've already had that today. 

Sleepy students taking advantage of our unplanned "day of rest"

independent travel

[Paris, France - March 9-11, 2013]

Kyle and I have the privilege of traveling with four HUF students during their independent travel. We planned to visit Paris, Normandy, Brussels, and Amsterdam. With bags packed, passports in hand and excited for new adventures we boarded our flight and the journey began. Paris greeted us with its chilly winter night charm as we navigated buses, the metro and a maze of underground tunnels. Our hotel was nothing to brag about, and the men standing outside arguing was not comforting, but it was good enough. Tired, thirsty and hungry for a snack we poured into the Asian convenience store across the street at about midnight. Once satisfied we were off to bed to rest up for the next day's explorations. 

Over breakfast each morning, with maps in hand, we plotted out what to do that day. The first day we began with a free walking tour led by Elliott, a cleaver red-head with a thick French accent. He showed us secret places of Paris and explained why French gardens have no grass and the story behind the shape of the Channel No. 5 bottle. We stopped for delicious crepes at a trendy organic restaurant and then set out for the Musee D'Orsay. The amount of works from many masters, particularly from among the impressionists, are almost overwhelming. It's unfair to try to appreciate all of the pieces in a brief two hour visit, but we appreciated what we could until they kicked us out - without even letting us buy postcards! It seems like the bookstore should be the last thing to close rather than the first, but no one asked us. 

That evening we rode the elevator up to the top of the Eiffel Tower for spectacular views just as the city lights were beginning to glow.

View from la Tour Eiffel

Sacré-Cœur Basilica

Our second day we climbed up to the Basilica of the Sacré Coeur (Sacred Heart) and marveled at the wealth of symbolism and beauty the landmark holds. Kyle and I then went to buy our train tickets while the students made their way to discover the treasures of the Louvre. We met up at Notre Dame and ate lunch at a Latino American dive. Kyle's family have been friends with the restaurant's owner for many years. Unfortunately he was not there, but we savored the ethnic dishes and enjoyed a taste of familiarity. 

After our meal we walked back to the nearby Notre Dame to discover its treasures. This year is the Cathedral's 850th birthday. The gothic style exhibited with superb stained glass and terrific gargoyles never ceases to amaze. We attempted to make a brief visit to the Musee Rodin, but despite what the website says, it is closed on Mondays. So, naturally, we sat down for a coffee at a nearby cafe to plot out our next move. 

Monday had been deemed "date night" by my thoughtful husband so the students went their separate ways and we discussed options for the evening. We had seen several river boats with restaurants on them so we decided to try that. We found the port and boarded the dinner cruise at 7:45 pm. The boat was nice, but almost had a floating disco feel to it complete with dance floor and flashing lights. We sat in small arm chairs side by side facing outwards towards a port side glass wall. The window extended up above our heads for maximum viewing. We embarked and enjoyed views of Notre Dame, the river islands, Musee D'Orsay, the Louvre and other fabulous works of French architecture as we ate our Salmon and basmati rice. The boat approached the Eiffle Tower just at the top of the hour so that we had a perfect view of the sparkling tower. At that exact moment, the constant drizzle which had been coming down all evening, turned to snow! Thick, delicate flakes seemed to be streaming down from the sparkling tower overhead. It was one of those magical moments we will not forget. Kyle and I just sat and marveled. We didn't even take any photos, we just enjoyed the moment, and it was perfect. The boat turned away to head back to our starting point and the snow tapered off and turned back into a wintery rain mix. It was as though that moment was just for us. "Thank you, God for choosing to bless us with a magical moment to share!"

Our two days in Paris were lovely and we continue to be optimistic about what adventures lie ahead despite ominous weather reports.

sharing my heart

[01.23.2013.AZ0115.AMS-FLR] As we lifted off the ground for our final flight, the snow covered tarmac turned into fields of white, which blended into the grayish purple haze in the distance, hiding any distinguishable horizon from sight. Above the haze, the orange glow of a winter morning sky was visible. Soon we were in the haze ourselves, with only the soft gray-purple clouds around us briefly. We emerged to hover above an expanse of calm white clouds as far as the eye could see, merging into the waking sky along the horizon. There is something about the final flight of a journey that creates a prime time for reflection. Perhaps it is because I know the concerns of daily life and new transitions will consume my mind as soon as I arrive, or perhaps I’m just too tired to do anything but reflect. Either way, with my husband of one week and 4 days asleep beside me (yes, he actually slept on this flight), I took a moment to pause and just reflect on all that had happened over the past two months and year.

My heart has changed. I am still and will always be a global nomad, but my heart is no longer just my own, but also his. And his heart is mine to cherish. On January 12th, surrounded by precious friends and family, we promised ourselves, our whole beings, our futures, our dreams to one another. The celebration was more beautiful and perfect than I had imagined, and we left our wedding feeling filled and spilling over with joy and love. This is not at all where I imagined I would be a year ago, but it is exactly where I want to be, where I need to be, where I am. We felt an outpouring of God’s love through the many words of blessing and encouragement and congratulations that were given to us. God is good. All the time. I am amazed by His love and the new depth of His love that I get to understand and experience through marriage. 

Traveling is something that Kyle and I are both very experienced in and enjoy very much, but we are used to doing it alone...or at least without the other. On our trip home, one would have been humored (as we were) to watch us gently “correct” or “advise” the other on the “best” way to... go through security, get your bag out of the overhead bin, navigate through the airport, [fill-in-the blank]. We are learning to set our own “old” ways aside and learn new ways together. We are learning to love life together and to share with one another. We know that there is a long journey ahead, likely with many bumps, but we are cherishing this time of establishing a new life together and we are having fun. We plan to stay in Italy with Kyle’s job until the end of June, at which point we will return to the States. We don’t really know much beyond that, but we are prayerful and excited about the many possibilities being considered. Your prayers in this matter are appreciated as well!

To close, I leave you with a precious poem written by Gary Williams, a dear friend who officiated our wedding and read this to us before many witnesses on our wedding day. We believe it was Spirit-inspired.

From Many, One

For Kyle and Elizabeth, by Gary Williams

In the fullness of time – which God saw from the start,

He provided, guided you to each other’s heart.

When you both were content to fly solo in life,

He then gave you a husband and gave you a wife –

Revealing how his unending grace and surprise

Works throughout our lives more than we can realize.

He equips and prepares you for what is to come,

Creating with you now, from your past, a new home.

So many languages, faces, places, meetings!

So many addresses, embraces and greetings!

From many companions, you’ve each chosen one friend

To journey beside you in this life to the end.

Many hearts with yours now on this one day rejoice

To affirm and to witness your beautiful choice!

And you’ll someday discover the love you now know

Is but yet a mere shadow of how it will grow.

One melody, formed in your symphony of love

Because you live in harmony with God above.

So many stories merging, blending into one!

Cherish one another, and now have lots of fun!