"Just Enough"

Caleb started homeschooling this week

Josiah made play dough today

We have learned on our past trips to Israel about how God often gives us "just enough." Not more than we need, not less than we need, but just enough. When a shepherd guides his or her flock to "green pastures," the grass that the sheep eat are little tufts that come up out of the dry, rocky ground. There is not much. The sheep eat only what they need for that moment and trust that the shepherd will later lead them to another spot where they can eat "just enough" once again. When the Israelites were wandering in the Sinai desert, God instructed them to take only a small portion of manna for their families. Those that took more than they needed found that their portion had rotted by morning. God wants to give us what we need, and then He wants us to trust Him to provide the next time, too.

We have found this to be a recurring theme here in Israel once again. God has provided "just enough" for us on a daily basis. And we are having to learn to be content with that. For example, groceries are very expensive here. We budgeted $400-500 a month for groceries. So far we have been spending almost $200 every week, for only the bare necessities. We try to get by on one gallon of milk every 3 days (we go through almost a gallon a day in the States); I cook smaller portions for our meals, but then we find ourselves hungry again shortly after each meal. We try to buy cheap snacks, but well, everything is just so expensive even if they're cheap. Cereal costs $6-7 a box. Since we walk everywhere here, plus we think Caleb and Abby are growth-spurting, we are all hungrier than usual. We are thankful that we have had something to put on the table for every meal; water to drink when we're out of other choices; and snacks when absolutely necessary. God has provided "just enough."

We also find that God has given us just enough in other ways: our water is "just hot enough." Not as hot as we're used to in the States for showers or washing dishes. Each family here has a certain amount of water allotted to them, so we are trying to use "just enough" water for dishes, showers, baths, drinking, etc. The fridge is "just cold enough." At the beginning of our stay, we had spoiled chicken, milk, and cottage cheese. At least now it's cold enough to keep everything from spoiling, but our drinks are not as cold as we like them to be, and our ice cream is soft. At least we have a fridge and freezer that keep our food from spoiling. Just enough.

Our children have "just enough" toys. We brought a handful of items that they can play with but have had to find other means of entertainment - for example, laundry baskets and hampers (see pictures and video below). I was counting on being able to access PBS kids' shows on our laptop so the kids could watch their favorite shows on occasion (we have no TV), but that component of the pbskids.com website doesn't work here. We have a few DVD's that we brought along, so they watch those when we need a break. Just enough.

Josiah using a hamper for a drum

Abby playing in a laundry basket

Caleb and Josiah created a jack-in-box with a hamper. :)

My grace is sufficient (just enough) for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness" (2 Cor. 12:9). We are thankful to the Lord for His provision and for teaching us what it truly means to be satisfied in Him. He has given us everything we need, even though it seems like it's not enough sometimes because of the culture we come from. We trust Him completely with our finances, our appliances and utilities, our children, our health, and our future, because we know we can rest knowing He will provide for all of our needs. Just enough.

School Starts Tomorrow!

The last two weeks have been a huge adjustment for our whole family, to say the least, and I'm still not sure that we've completely made the switch (or that we ever will), but school begins for me tomorrow: New Student Orientation. I am both eager and nervous to enter this chapter. Are you surprised to hear a teacher say he is nervous about being a student? When I saw the draft of my class schedule, I was taken by surprise. I'm not sure why; I have been a college student before. Maybe it is because for the past dozen years, my in-school time has been M-F, 8:15-2:45. Now my classes are here and there, early and late (some days early, some days late, some both early and late). The fact that this took me by surprise makes me wonder what else will catch me off guard. So even with my nerves, I am taking comfort in knowing that I don't need to be "on guard." Yes, it is prudent for us all to be generally aware of our surroundings and not hurl ourselves into danger, but I am certain that this is where I need to be--that we are right now, even on a day when both our boys said, "I want to go home," in the center of God's will for our lives, praying for the strength to embrace the adventure He has for us. Just a few months ago, I remember telling my beloved cross country team that just because God calls you to do something doesn't mean that it will be easy, but where we lack, He provides. His power is made perfect in our weakness. We still covet your prayers.

To update those of you who have been praying for some of the specifics: (1) Our jet lag woes seem to have passed, and (2) it seems like the respiratory virus going around our family is also on the way out. For these things we are very thankful.

Turning the Corner

Josiah and Caleb at the park

We are praising God today because the kids have had two good nights in a row! They're going to bed on time and up between 6 and 7am. What an improvement over the last week when they were up between 2 and 4am ready to start their day. Thank you to all of our friends and family for your prayers as we adjust! I (Michelle) visited an urgent care type-center yesterday morning and found out I have a virus. I had a couple of prescriptions filled and am hoping for some relief from the coughing and sore throat that I've had for over a week. I still don't have my normal voice back yet (I lost it the morning we left), so you can pray for that, too.

Thank you, also, to those of you who have been praying for my back/hip/neck/leg problems. :) I forgot my ice pack in the States but haven't even needed it yet! Praise God! PLEASE keep praying!

We have been walking several miles a day since our legs are our only mode of transportation. The boys do amazingly well as we walk 30-60 minutes one way to get to many of the places we have to go (grocery store, church, library, the Old City, parks, cell phone store, etc.). Today we tried out a new park and bought cell phones so Tim and I can communicate with each other when we are apart. As we walk around town, Tim must look like he knows what he's doing because he's had at least 4-5 people stop him and ask for directions!

The park we visited today is called Liberty Bell Park.

The "baby swings" here are big enough for our big boys to sit in!

A short rest under an olive tree

We are having issues with our appliances. Our dryer doesn't work very well, so we have to line dry everything (pretty typical of what most people do here anyway), plus our fridge/freezer isn't working properly. Our repair guy told us to try unplugging it for 24 hours, and that when we plug it back in tonight, it should start working again. Hmmm.... So our frozen food is in our dear neighbor's freezer (Ruth Joy across the hall - a very sweet lady that we are glad to have as a neighbor), and our refrigerated food is in a cooler. Please pray our fridge starts working again!

Hanging laundry out to dry is a new experience for us!

We have seen the Lord's hand over and over again as He has provided for us in numerous ways. We will keep you posted as we begin going on excursions and as Tim learns new things in his classes. He has been studying diligently in preparation for the start of the semester next week.

Tim and the boys by the JUC sign (Tim's school)

This is an exhausting experience!

Just some cute pictures of the kids

Before:

After:

There we were enjoying a snack just outside the Old City when Caleb's really loose front tooth came out. Michelle had just taken a picture of the boys at our break spot, so we have the before and after pictures you see above. In other news, Michelle is making baby food the old fashioned way, and here is a short video of Abby trying the beans.

Prayer Requests

On this front, we covet your prayers in two primary areas. First, we're all still struggling with jet lag, which doesn't seem like a a big deal, but our kids are all struggling at different times, which makes it really hard for us (especially Michelle) to get much sleep at all. Second, Michelle, Caleb, and Josiah are all still fighting a nasty cough, so please pray that they will recover soon and that Abby and I won't get it. Thank you again for your thoughts and prayers.

Trip to the Western Wall

Michelle and the boys in the Old City

Tim and the boys in the Western Wall Plaza

Today was our first trip into the Old City as a family. We went to the Western Wall (Thursday is Bar Mitzvah day here), which was a really neat experience since the last time I was here I had prayed about sharing this moment with my family. More Bar Mitzvah day later. For now, just some fun pictures. Just so you know, Abby was there, too. She was just off camera.

If anyone has any suggestions on uploading a video (about a minute long--I tried here and it didn't work), I'm open to them.

Deuteronomy 8

Some time ago, a friend and I decided to memorize the above passage. At the time, I did not really consider the implications of God speaking to me through the text of this passage. The closer the time came, the more Deut. 8 popped into my mind. Obviously, this passage was not written specifically about our trip (more so another group of people coming into this land), but I believe that the Word of God is living and active, and that He speaks to us through it, reminding us of His promises then and now. (By the way, if you would like to hear 8 good reasons for memorizing scripture in less than 4 minutes, here you go.)

Your clothes did not wear out and your feet did not swell during these forty years.

God's provision is even in the details. Now these were really significant details, but sometimes those are the ones that go most unnoticed. I wonder how many of the people had stopped to consider that they didn't need new outfits for 40 years and never had to make an appointment with a podiatrist. Sometimes we're so focused on the fact that we're in the desert that we don't recognize God's lavish provision. I'm trying to daily remind myself to hope and trust in that.

For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land...

That caught my attention because I was memorizing it in the waiting room of the consulate as I was applying for a visa to come here and the person helping me had a name that means "broom tree," a symbol of shade in the desert--also a picture of God's provision.

...a land where the bread will not be scarce and you will lack nothing.

God's provision, again. This one really hit home today as we went grocery shopping for the first time while here. I have gained a new appreciation for grocery stores back in California. Even in that, the lesson is God's provision, right?

Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God...

And there it is. For me, it has to be a conscious decision that, having received much from God's hand, I don't get thick-headed and start thinking, "Wow, I've done a great job providing all this for my family." So when I consider the two-word lesson: "God's provision" (today's theme, I guess), I should not overlook the first word.

Our "New" Home

The above is Josiah's name for our apartment to distinguish it from our "old" home in California. On today's flight, we made it until we were over the Gulf of St. Lawrence before Josiah asked, "Can we go back to our old home now?" But now that we're here, and the boys have more run-around room than in the airplane, they're doing just fine. Still, it's a transition and at bedtime, the kids were unsettled. It gave us the chance to talk about God's care and provision, even for "insignificant" details of a journey, and the tangible places we've seen that even though we're only through day 1. We talked about how this place is a little different than "home" (our old one), but that God is the same here and there, yesterday, today, and forever. After we prayed with them, I suggested to my still whimpering younger son that he can continue to pray, and he managed something like this: "Dear Jesus, please help me not to be so scared." What a simple, beautiful prayer! Two minutes later, he was fast asleep. Praise God that He hears and answers! And thank you for your prayers on our behalf.

Take the Story in

Purpose

As the title suggests, this is our purpose: to dig deeper into the Text of God's Word. This is more than merely opening the Bible; it is taking it into very beings, living it out in our daily walk, and cheering it on in the lives of others.

Sandal Prints

A wise teacher once said that one of the best ways to learn is with your feet. We will be following the figurative sandal prints of Abraham, Moses, Elijah, and Jesus and His disciples, learning the historical, geographic, and cultural context of the Words of God.

We have reached a chapter in our story where God is calling us to do something that is quite a stretch for us. On good days, it is beyond exciting to be walking the path on which God is leading us. On bad days, it is a somewhat frightening proposition.

Why the Blog?

The reasons we are keeping this log are (1) to chronicle the story ourselves--to remember God's faithfulness, (2) to share what we're learning with our friends and family, and (3) to communicate prayer requests along the way for those willing to pray with and for us. We appreciate your prayers for our family as we approach this time of significant transition.