Aussie memories

Robert has landed safely in Australia after a rocky start. One of the girls was unable to go due to illness, they missed their connector flight, and then they were delayed 1/2 hour. God is good, they are in Brisbane with our extended family he has not seen since 2009. I am so happy for the time he will be with the people we love so much. As I reminisce on my trips there, I thought I would post a few of my favorite memories. Please keep them in your prayers as they share with and serve "down under."

Listening to Annie's story - amazing!

3 incredible women! Kylie, Elizabeth and Daun

My Peydon!

Mt Cootha with my boys

downtown Brizzy with Robert

Tim and I talking about what God was planning for Robert and I back in 2005. He has been an amazing support for our family!

Shelby Joy 2012

Robert's video for our daughter, Happy Graduation 2012!!!

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A young woman went to her mother and told her how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved a new one arose.

Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water. In the first, she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs and the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil without saying a word. In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl.

Turning to her daughter, she asked, “Tell me what you see?” “Carrots, eggs, and coffee,” she replied.

She brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. She then asked her to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg. Finally, she asked her to sip the coffee. The daughter tasted its rich aroma.

The daughter then asked. “What does it mean, mother?”

Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity—boiling water—but each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard and unrelenting. After being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior. But, after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened. The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water they had changed the water.

“Which are you?” she asked her daughter. “When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity, do you wilt and become soft and lose your strength? Or are you an egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Do you have a fluid spirit, but after a loved-one’s death, a relationship breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have you become hardened and stiff? Does your shell look the same, but on the inside you are bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and a hardened heart? Or are you like a coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor. If I am like the bean, when things are at their worst, I get better and change the situation around me through Christ-likeness.

A daily devotion I read and loved. Hope you did too.

Liz

Whirlwind - something that happens very quickly, or a rapid succession of events.

Yep, that sums it up. Our life has been a whirlwind recently, and shows no signs of slowing down. That is OK with me! My mom always tells me I am too busy, I am always doing something and I need to slow down. Yet, that is how I have always been, as long as I can remember. I function better under pressure, moving fast, getting things done and then crashing in the end. In school I was involved in lots of activities while managing high grades. In my different jobs I multi task, I am not happy while idle. So with getting ready to move into support raising mode, our youngest graduating from high school, our other kids moving out on their own, prom, choir shows, awards banquets, birthdays, mothers day, fathers day, we live on a roller coaster. A ride that is preparing us for the next big thing!
Here are a few pictures of our past few weeks. Our lives are not promised to be calm and slow. I yearn for the next adventure (coming soon) and live for the ride we are on now! - Liz

Coffe, Coffee, Coffee!!!

For 50 years I resisted. I didn't like coffee. I didn't need coffee. I didn't want coffee. The flavor was nasty and bitter. It was like drinking a cup of hot steaming tar.
I didn't get the whole coffee thing.
Then a few years ago I started meeting with a couple of friends, Rob Bishop and Raymond Macias, each week. We would meet at Starbucks. At first I would get sparkling water, then it went to a frappuccino, and from there to a Mocha. I figured I'd give this coffee thing a shot. I think I even got to like it.
Then it happened, I went to Andaluz. A Lebanese restaurant right in the middle of Little Arabia in Anaheim. A guy, Samir, ordered Arabic coffee. He put like 2 teaspoons of sugar in this little demitasse cup. I mean this thing looked like mud, no, motor oil, used motor oil. only thinner. It even had the coffee grounds in it. He asked me if I wanted to try it. I thought, "why not?" (By the way, that phrase can get you in a heap of trouble.)
It was awful. Then after a few minutes I started to think about it. I actually said "I think I like that."


Ibrik

Needless to say I bought an Ibrik. And started making Arabic Coffee. I love it.
I even started drinking regular coffee. I love it too. I drink it black with sweetener, no milk or cream. I drink it all day. I love it. I crave it. I want a cup all day long. My day isn't complete until I get a few cups of coffee in me. MMM...COFFEE!!!!!
Wait, did I say coffee? 'Cause what I meant to say was being on the Mission field.
You see, for 50 years I resisted. Didn't like, need or want the mission field. Then I went on a short-term trip to Mexico, then Australia. Then both of those trips again. To the point that I went to Australia every year.
Then it happened, I went to Arizona. I met some of the Apache people from San Carlos. And I was hooked. Now all I desire, all I need, is to go and do life with the Apache people, with Tory and Kara Satter and 3:18 Ministries.
So as soon as God works out the details, finances and a place to live, Liz and I will be moving to Globe Arizona to work with 3:18 Ministries.
If you are ever in Arizona, stop by and have a cup of coffee with me. I would love to sit down and talk over good times and future times with you.

Robert