five on friday

1. We are more than halfway through our training in Virginia. We have also made it through 2 of 3 rounds of immunizations. After each "shot day," we take the boys to do something special for surviving all the pokes and prods! Last week, we went on a creative field trip. It started at Best Buy where we played the Xbox Kinect. It was sort of like going to an arcade, but it required no tokens. Next, we went to PetCo. I compare it to going to the zoo but we didn't have to buy a thing. And we finished our day at a store called FiveBelow. Both boys picked out a prize that costed under $5, and we all went home happy! Who says you have to spend lots of money to have fun? :)

2. Henna tattoos are a popular trend in the South Asian culture. Basically, a thick paste is applied. Once it dries, the paste peels off, leaving a stain on the top layer of skin. The tattoo usually last for 2 weeks. A few years ago, a girl traveling in Asia realized that she could use this art to share the gospel with women. She created tattoo designs that could be used to share Bible stories. Last week, I got my first henna tattoo. My tattoo tells the story of the woman at the well. What a creative avenue for sharing Christ with others! For more information, here's a link I found: Henna Tattoos.

3. The facility where we are staying is wonderful. But something about it reminds you of the Dharma Initiative. (My Lost friends will understand!) Please check out my friend Amy's blog post about our stay in Virginia! She has lots of pictures! Click here: The Dharma Initiative

4. My least favorite thing about our temporary home is the lovely sugar ants that have joined us in our quad. Despite attempts to clean up any spills or food particles, those insane ants can find drops of apple juice and minute crumbs like you wouldn't believe! They are driving me CRAZY! I wish I knew the secret to annihilate them!

5. The boys usually leave me with plenty of funny things to share, but this week, the award goes to Max! He has a friend here-- James. James is a grown man, over 6 ft. tall, solid frame- picture Ray Lewis. Well, Max can spot him from a mile away, and he usually runs to him to hug him and talk with him. On Sunday, we saw James walking ahead of us, and Max ran after him. When Max got close enough to touch him, he grabbed him from behind, and James, a grown-man, went DOWN. TO. THE. GROUND. I've never seen anything like it! After we picked James up off the ground, we couldn't help but wonder if we should begin to train Max for the NFL. With skills like that, he's sure to be a linebacker!

1. This week, we had the honor of having a special guest… a REALLY, REALLY, REALLY big special guest. Jack brought home B.J. Bear from his class to spend the week with us! Did I mention he is huge? We finally found the courage to drag him around campus on Thursday. I assure you that many people looked at us as we carried around a life-size teddy bear. Nonetheless, Jack loved it! We took him to the lake to skip rocks, on a walk, and to eat dinner. Fun times!

2. In other news this week, I had a new experience. One of the buildings where we are training is equipped with this:

Yes, it’s a toilet… actually referred to as a “squatty potty.” And yes, I tried it. It was not my favorite experience, but my boys find it amazing. I’m convinced it was made by a man. I’ll spare you the details. I remain a fan of the American toilet!

3. I was reminded this week of a funny video about the cultural differences in South Asia. It is quite amusing. It seems the “squatty potty” will be just one of a million new things we have to grow accustomed to as we move!

4. We had a great time in Washington, D.C., last weekend. We walked at least 10 miles on Saturday. I promise to write more about it, but here are a few pictures from our trip!

5. Calling all iPhone users! I know many of you have upgraded recently to the iPhone 4 but are still hanging on to your old iPhone wondering what to do with it. Let me help you out! One of my team members that will be traveling with us to South Asia is looking for a smart phone to take with her on the field. If you would like to help her out by donating a phone to her, it would be more than appreciated! Check out her blog here: Blue-Eyed Girl in a Chai World.

five on friday

1. My crew is headed to Washington, D.C. tomorrow. I've never been before, so I'm pretty excited. My best part is we get to ride the metro. I have the camera all charged, so you can expect a post on our trip soon!

2. Wireless Internet is unavailable in our "house" where we are living! BUT...who knew this "Internet tethering" thing was an option from my iPhone? I don't really understand technology, but I'm so grateful for the people that invent this wonderful stuff! I'm much more pleasant with an Internet connection! :)

3. A few weeks ago my aunt introduced us to this amazing granola from a little cafe in Valdosta, Georgia. I should have never taken a bite of it, because now I'm highly addicted! I was one happy girl today when I received a package of it from my Uncle Perry! Oh, how I wish Two Friends Cafe & Market was in Virginia!

4. Did I mention that I have to learn Hindi? Take a look at this script:

Consonants

Numerals

We read somewhere that the Hindi script looks like someone dipped some worms in ink and they crawled around for a few minutes. I'm understanding first hand why my little kindergartners always had that "deer in the headlights" look when I first introduced the alphabet to them! Language acquisition is going to be a real delight! I'm not sure which will be harder: writing it or speaking it? Rosetta Stone- here I come!

5. If anyone is interested, our temporary mailing address for the next six weeks is:

The Marlins

c/0 International Learning Center

16492 MLC Lane

Rockville, VA 23146

who am i?

Three months ago I was defined by the following:

I was:

• A wife
• A mother
• A daughter
• A sister
• A friend
• An accountability partner
• An active church member
• A kindergarten teacher
• A children’s worship leader
• A pastor’s wife
• A National Board Certified teacher

Today, that list is shorter. Because God has called us into missions, we have cut away many of the things that were once part of our life. We have had to leave many of the positions that we held dear to us and helped define who we were as individuals.

As I was having my quiet time this morning, I was reading a short devotion and the central theme was “Our Identity.” It made mention of times in our life when we lose our identity. I couldn’t help but be reminded that much of my identity had been recently stripped away. A part of me wondered briefly who I really was without all of my titles and awards.

And then I reread the scripture reference:

“God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.” Galatians 4:4-5

“So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God.” Galatians 4:7

When I read that word “ADOPTION,” my heart couldn’t help but think of my boys. I remember vividly the day that we stripped Jack of his identity and everything he knew. But I also remember how much love was attached to that act. I know he was scared, unsure, and a bit tearful, but we knew what was in store for him. We had hundreds of toys waiting for him, a new room, a new family, love, and attention that he would have never otherwise received.

And then I compare that to my own life. God is sitting on His throne, and He’s shaking His head saying, “Sarah, I am calling you to far greater things! There are people that are waiting to hear of Me. There are eternal riches and rewards that are waiting to be received by you. Take up your cross, put away your selfish accolades, and become what I have intended you to be!”

Tonight if I made the list of how I am defined, I’d simply write:

A child of God.

I am so grateful to be a part of His family, a part of His plan. His ways are far greater than anything I could have accomplished on my own. I am adopted. I am defined by His love, grace, and mercy. And as I cherish the responsibility of adopting my boys and I think of just how much I love them, I cling to the promise of Luke 11:13:

“If you then who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?”

What defines you?

seven on sunday

A quick list of things from our training in Virginia:

1. We have been here since Monday. Each day we all attend class. The boys go to separate classrooms with wonderful teachers. They are adjusting well and seem to enjoy their time away from us! We are grateful for their teachers, Mrs. Becky and Mrs. Brenda, and we pray for them daily as they guide our sweet boys!

2. Our living situation is somewhat similar to dorm life. We share a quad (house) with four others. Each quad has a general living area that is shared, but there are four living spaces that break off of each corner. All living spaces have a small kitchen with a dining area, a laundry closet, a bathroom, and two or three bedrooms depending on the size of your family! Ours has two bedrooms, and we are enjoying it. I think it might even be larger than our apartment that we just moved out of! The boys are so happy to have a family of five living across from us, and they have taken to their children… especially the oldest, Noah! It’s pure torture getting them to leave him each night

3. Each adult is required to serve on a mission team while living here. I chose to be a part of the mail team! Each day I have to sort mail and put it in the appropriate boxes. I have to say that I enjoy being a “mail lady!” Jason is on the “facilities team.” His job is pretty easy. Lucky for him, our training is in the Spring/Summer. If we were here in the winter, his job requirement would be to shovel snow off of all the sidewalks each day!

4. Another requirement is physical activity (30 minutes four times a week). We each had to run a timed mile this weekend. At the end of our training, we will be timed again and must show improvement! My lungs are just recovering from the torture I put them through! Not to worry… I left LOTS of room for improvement!

5. On Sundays, we meet together as a quad for “house church.” As a lifetime member of a traditional Baptist church, this was a different experience for our family. There was no sermon, not instrumentalist, and most of all, not childcare! But I have to say… the boys were perfect! They sat quietly and listened. Max even swayed a little to the music! It was neat for us to worship God in a different way… He is the same no matter where you choose to meet Him!

6. After church, a few people from our group went out for Indian food. This was another first for our family! I was unaware that food could be so spicy--- and we got the “not-so-spicy” version! My favorite thing was the naan- an Indian flatbread. Among many things, we also ate chicken, an okra dish, an incredibly hot spinach dish, and I even tried lamb! I left full, so that’s a good sign!

7. Tonight we attended a “mapping ceremony.” It was a neat event. Everyone in training attended and had an opportunity to introduce themselves or their family. Then we were given a picture of ourselves and placed them on a map where we would be serving. The speaker compared it to the Sower throwing His seeds out on the soil of the Earth. It was so neat to see more than 40 families and singles cover the other side of the globe with hope, love, and message of Christ. Please pray for our family as well as the other individuals that are with us in Virginia that God will prepare the harvest!