Being Uprooted Right Before Christmas
Thirteen months of SOOP [Service Opportunities with Our Partners] have passed more quickly than we expected. In each of the five locations where we served we met newcomers to the US who inspired us and challenged us to be more like them: humble, grateful, resilient, hopeful, patient, and loving.....unlike the vocabulary our government and even some church folks apply to them.
We worked side-by-side with many churches and organizations who are tirelessly extending their tables and homes and hearts to make room for these brothers and sisters from lands near and far.
What have we learned?
We can get by with a lot less 'stuff' and still live fully.
We can worship in many different settings and still sense God's presence.
We can adapt our skills to new ways of doing things.
We can gauge our energy levels and stop to rest when we need to.
We can make deep friendships even if we are physically in the same locale for only a few months.
We can live with uncertainty, taking each day as it comes.
We can grow younger in thought as we age older in body.
We can learn from leaders our children's ages and be inspired by their insights and energy.
As we close out this 'season' and anticipate a new one, we welcome your continued prayers and friendship in whatever form that takes. We don't know exactly where we'll settle or when. Our present plans are to finish out the year in the Lancaster, PA area with family and relatives and then travel down to San Antonio, Texas, again, to explore that as a possible place to settle, at least for awhile.
To close out 2019 we are enjoying spending time with Ruth's Dad, Jim's siblings, Ruth's brother and his wife back from a three year assignment with MCC in Vietnam, our son Mike home for two weeks from his work at a school in Korea, and our daughter Michelle in Philadelphia working with immigrants. However, Mike is trying to decide whether to stay at the international school where he is now or relocate to another school in South Korea that has an opening. Our eldest daughter, Denise, and their family abruptly had their visas revoked and will be flying back from South Asia December 16. They will stay temporarily with her husband Robbie's family in Idaho, but don't know what their future holds. And Michelle is unsure of her part-time work situation after Christmas and not sure of housing, either. So, family dynamics make our plans rather fluid.
All this to say, being uprooted before Christmas may be somewhat like what Mary and Joseph felt that first Advent season. We join with their story and the story of many of the friends we have made over this past year...the story of not having a home and yet making a home wherever we go. We'll keep you up-to-date as time goes on. Please feel free to stay in contact. We certainly appreciate the continuity of your friendship in the days to come.
We worked side-by-side with many churches and organizations who are tirelessly extending their tables and homes and hearts to make room for these brothers and sisters from lands near and far.
What have we learned?
We can get by with a lot less 'stuff' and still live fully.
We can worship in many different settings and still sense God's presence.
We can adapt our skills to new ways of doing things.
We can gauge our energy levels and stop to rest when we need to.
We can make deep friendships even if we are physically in the same locale for only a few months.
We can live with uncertainty, taking each day as it comes.
We can grow younger in thought as we age older in body.
We can learn from leaders our children's ages and be inspired by their insights and energy.
As we close out this 'season' and anticipate a new one, we welcome your continued prayers and friendship in whatever form that takes. We don't know exactly where we'll settle or when. Our present plans are to finish out the year in the Lancaster, PA area with family and relatives and then travel down to San Antonio, Texas, again, to explore that as a possible place to settle, at least for awhile.
To close out 2019 we are enjoying spending time with Ruth's Dad, Jim's siblings, Ruth's brother and his wife back from a three year assignment with MCC in Vietnam, our son Mike home for two weeks from his work at a school in Korea, and our daughter Michelle in Philadelphia working with immigrants. However, Mike is trying to decide whether to stay at the international school where he is now or relocate to another school in South Korea that has an opening. Our eldest daughter, Denise, and their family abruptly had their visas revoked and will be flying back from South Asia December 16. They will stay temporarily with her husband Robbie's family in Idaho, but don't know what their future holds. And Michelle is unsure of her part-time work situation after Christmas and not sure of housing, either. So, family dynamics make our plans rather fluid.
All this to say, being uprooted before Christmas may be somewhat like what Mary and Joseph felt that first Advent season. We join with their story and the story of many of the friends we have made over this past year...the story of not having a home and yet making a home wherever we go. We'll keep you up-to-date as time goes on. Please feel free to stay in contact. We certainly appreciate the continuity of your friendship in the days to come.
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| Nov. 15 we had 14 inches of snowfall. That happened Thursday overnight, but by Friday evening roads were cleared for the weekend retreat group...no problem. That's when we knew for sure we were no longer in NC. |
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| One of the main weekday tasks was for Jim to make seven new bunk beds. Three polyurethane coats on each took us as long as the construction to complete. |
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| Thanksgiving weekend we visited our daughter, Michelle, in Philadelphia and enjoyed an Uzbek restaurant meal.  His church had a meal and program for him Dec. 9 to thank him for his 30 plus years of making 30 or more loaves of bread a week to give away. 'Dad' John Bucher talking to his pastor Karl McKinney before the program. |
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