It's a great job!

While support-raising is a full-time job, our other (just as important) full-time job is pictured below in the lives of our beautiful children. What a wonderful responsibility God has given us in raising these kids.

Glacier's smile is missing something these days!

The boys are trying out the 1970s snowmobile that Glacier and Chris got running....though it probably would work better with a little snow!

A recent November thaw meant getting the bikes back out, and this time, Canyon took to the road without training wheels!

Coral is overjoyed to be walking and talking as she tries to keep up with her brothers. Her favorite phrase, "uh-oh spaghetti-o!" makes us all giggle.  

After I experienced a rough day this week, Glacier asked Daddy to take him to the store to buy a flower for me with his own money. I was humbled by his consideration and love. Wow, what an amazing family God has given me who fill my life with joy and encouragement.



Training Complete

We survived! Our road trip with three kids through 8 states from Pennsylvania to Colorado and back was quite the journey to say the least. But we knew it was worth it even after the first day of classes at Mission Training International (MTI) in Colorado. For the last month our mouths and ears have had quite the workout as we strove to hear and annunciate the sounds of the phonetic alphabet in preparation for learning a new language. We explored a brand new concept of “pulling language in” rather than having it taught to us. Furthermore, our minds were stretched to consider our own “Americanness” and the hidden values we didn’t know we held: values like timeliness and efficiency that we may have to flex as we move to Bolivia where relationships are prioritized over productivity. We explored how we handle stress, our personal conflict style, responding to grief and loss, and the impact that our move will have on our children. These issues just scratch the surface of all we processed and experienced during our training in Colorado. Returning to Pennsylvania with saturated minds and hopeful hearts, we are simply longing to get the field!

Here are a few pictures from our journey:

Lynnie with Pramila, a language helper from India, who invited our family over to her home for an amazing Indian meal.

Dwight, one of our language experts/intructors, developed a written language for the Jeh people of Viet Nam when he and his family were missionaries there before and during the war. His wife retold a few of their stories and we couldn't get enough of them!

Chris trying out the methodology of language learning in a Russian classroom with his language helper, Henri. 

Canyon exploring some of the beautiful rock formations in Colorado. We loved waking up to a magnificent view of the Rockies each morning. 

Coral all set for her "classes" for at MTI. Coral took her first steps during our time there!

Glace posing with his new friends and MTI teacher. While we were in classes, our kids also learned about language and culture at an age-appropriate level. 

Glacier, Lynnie, and classmates learning about the challenges of cultural transition through an interactive demonstration.

We are thankful for all the teachers, staff, and new community of missionaries that made our experience at MTI so rich. We pray that we will remember the material we learned and have the courage to implement these strategies for God's glory. 

End of the summer - Picture update

Glace didn't have to go far for his first day of kindergarten. Chris is doing a terrific job as his teacher until Glace can join his new kindergarten class at Carachipampa Christian School in Bolivia.

Canyon loves to get a reaction from us when he finds a new accessory to wear. Here are some of his recent looks:

 

Glacier turned six in August and celebrated superhero style with his cousins. If Glace could have a super power he would want to FLY!

Lynnie chopped 13 inches for locks of love. It's her third time donating and she's planning to grow out again!

 

 Before:

After:

Coral is definitely a beach baby. Check out the video below of her introduction to sand:

We are looking forward to fall even though we long to hang on to summer. In mid-September we are off to Mission Training Institute in Colorado Springs, Colorado where we will take classes in language acquisition and cross cultural communication. The kids also have their own program to help with the upcoming move to Bolivia. Our excitement is building as our target departure date in January draws near!

Opposites may attract, but can they work together?

      I still don’t know where we should start” Chris stared blankly at the ceiling.
     “Just talk about how we became interested in missions when we were little.” I suggested. I was anxious to get something on the blank screen in front of me.
       “That’s not going to work for me, Chris replied, I wasn’t thinking about missions then.”
I threw out another idea. “Ok well, just talk about missions trips when you were growing up.”
      “Nope, that’s not really what got me to this point,” Chris countered. I’d like to talk about people who impacted me…”
      “Ok, great,” I cut him off. “I’ll make a note of that and maybe add a picture that represents that time period in your life.”
      “Wait Lynnie.” I could see Chris carefully choosing his words, trying not to offend me. “It’s not meaningful for me if I’m reading off your script. It’s got to be in my own words in my own style.”
       “What do you want me to write down then?” I shifted the laptop over to him. “Why don’t you take charge?”
        Chris shook his head. “No, you know what looks good. I can’t take it in here anymore. I’ve got to get outside to clear my head.”
      
       Feeling the pressure of the clock, I nodded but didn’t join him. We had been staying up late for a week, trying to put together a ten minute presentation for our fellow missionary appointees at a SIM training conference we attended last year in North Carolina. The task seemed simple enough – create a power point presentation that detailed our journey into missions.  As teachers, Chris and I were both comfortable with public speaking, so we didn’t anticipate any major obstacles. What we didn’t foresee is that our styles were completely different. It has always been my desire to work with Chris in ministry together. Not only would we be doing meaningful service together, but we would have endless quality time with each other. Now this dream seemed to be dissolving before my eyes. How in the world could we work effectively in Bolivia together if we couldn’t make it through a basic presentation?

      The week was a painful but worthwhile experience for us. By God’s grace, we did figure out a decent presentation and since then, we’ve gotten pretty good at working and presenting together. It wasn’t until a recent conference at Houghton College, though, that we began to appreciate our differences as one of our greatest strengths. During one particular session, we reviewed our personality types according to a Myers-Briggs assessment. Chris and I found it humorous but not at all surprising that our personalities were completely opposite in each category. I have an ISTJ personality, otherwise known as an organized, plan ahead, detail oriented, responsible introvert. I am married to an ENFP who is a big picture, spontaneous, heartfelt extrovert. So while opposites may attract as evidenced in our story, can they really work together effectively? It was a question for us to mull over before moving our entire family to a foreign country where teamwork and unity in our marriage could make or break us.

         The process is not pleasant, but it’s times like this when God’s handiwork really becomes clear in our lives. Now that we are working together constantly, we have to turn to God when conflict arises. Instead of criticizing each other when we differ, we are starting to pray more for each other and with each other. The result is usually not a changing of our spouse, but a softening of our own hearts towards each other. We are also learning how to build each other up by commending the uniqueness of the other’s personality during this challenging season of life. Instead of asking me to be more flexible or less particular, Chris has helped me realize how my personality is valuable in our marriage and needed for ministry. “Lynnie, can you do your ‘thing’ with the house?” he will say when we are scrambling to clean up before guests come over for a Bolivia appointment. He knows I’ll make it look clean and inviting and he takes time to point out that that aspect of my personality. The other day when Chris was packing for a big trip he shouted, “Lynnie, I need your super power! Do I have everything I need?” I love it when he refers to my knack of details as a “super strength.” Vice versa, I am learning to value my husband when he uses the gifts God has put within him. Even as I am writing these words at the park, I can see my husband in the distance chatting away with a couple he just met. He has the unique ability to strike up conversations with just about anybody. He is a genuine relationship builder which is an essential component of an effective missionary team.



Celebrating our 8th anniversary with a beautiful hike

         Reaching this point in our relationship where we see our differences as strengths has been a journey.  While working together on a constant basis has opened up painful areas in our relationship, through the process, we have seen how God has uniquely designed us and made us creatures who best shine when we are dependent on Him. Ultimately our effectiveness in Bolivia or anywhere will depend on us allowing God to use the personalities he has given us for His glory. Our effectiveness also requires extending grace to each other when our styles differ and conflicts arise.  I aim to encourage him when his “super powers” are evident as he does for me.  Please continue to pray for us as God works in our hearts and molds us according to His plan.

 

 

Family update

With the school year done for Chris and Glacier we are ready to begin our relaxing summer. Just kidding! Today we are scrambling around the house finishing paperwork and packing for our two week missions training (Pre-field Orientation) at Houghton College. The boys are thrilled to tell everyone they are headed off to college at the ages of 3 and 5! Chris and I are also excited that the conference is hosted at this location because it's where we both graduated exactly ten years ago. It'll be our first trip back since then.

After our training, we are gearing up for a full summer of support raising where we will travel to meet with churches and individuals to share about how God is steering our hearts towards Bolivia. I was pleased to hear Glacier get in on the action the other day by explaining to his friend at the park that he was going to Bolivia to tell others about Jesus. He may not completely understand the huge change that is happening in our lives, but he gets the significance of why we are going. We can't ask for more than that!


The boys have been extremely flexible with the amount of travel and appointments that our current lifestyle demands. I love seeing them become buddies and use their creativity when mommy and daddy are occupied. One thing they love to do is wash their bikes. I give them a bucket of soapy water, a sponge, and the hose, and they will be hard at work for the next couple hours. Then comes the fun of riding their clean bikes through the mud puddles they created!

Coral's cuteness has only multiplied recently. At 7 months she's sitting up, rolling over, laughing, and demanding to be the center of attention if we leave her alone for even a minute. Her bright blue eyes and her delightfully squishable thighs are irresistible, and make up for her early morning wake-up calls. But her sleep has definitely improved. After her first four months of extremely poor sleeping patterns, she has finally turned a corner letting all of us breathe a sigh of relief. We're thankful for the prayers on her behalf.



We may have our summer calendar full, but we will always make room for spontaneous ice-cream trips, camping out, s'mores and bonfires, and swimming in the lake. And most of all, we are praising God for his beautiful creation and the life he has given us.

Almost unthinkable - our kids away from cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents



Coral and Emma: Girls sticking together

Won’t it be difficult for your kids to adjust to a new home away from family and friends? Gulp. I always get a lump in my throat when asked about this aspect of our move. Our kids’ best friends are their cousins. If they had it their way, they would live half the year at "Grampy and Grammy’s” house, and the other half at “Wama and Papa’s” where the fun and love never ends. It will be extremely hard to say farewell and a big adjustment for all involved.



Wama doesn't stand a chance of
staying dry

Two weekends ago I watched my boys join in an all-cousin squirt gun attack on Wama. My mom never looks better than when she is soaked from head to toe surrounded by her nine energetic grandchildren.  Then the following weekend we spent all day picnicking at a soccer tournament where my boys just come to life making their little cousins giggle. It hurts my heart to think of taking them away from such amazing childhood relationships.



Cousin Squeeze: Glace, Skyler, & Grampy

My kid's time with their extended family is one of the first costs I count when I think about moving overseas. So why do it? With much prayer and Bible searching, we have made the decision to go despite this big challenge of leaving family and friends. It boils down to the fact that there is no better place to be than in God's hands, and this is where he is leading us at this time.  

Tickle war with Aunt Alissa
 & Uncle Alex

We also know many individuals who have benefitted from growing up amidst two cultures, and we will do all we can to help our children reap the richness of this experience. Influenced by Bolivian and American lifestyles, our children will fall into a separate category called third culture kids (TCKs). Living a cross-cultural life away from family and friends will surely impact our children to some degree as they constantly work through transitions and goodbyes. Many TCKs also struggle with identity as they try to find a sense of belonging in cultures in which they live. Because Glacier, Canyon, and Coral won't be exempt from such obstacles, Chris and I have committed ourselves to helping our children work through and even grow from the challenges ahead. We pray they will see that the benefits of being a TCK outweigh the negatives. An expanded world view, learning multiple languages, and developing a love for peoples of other cultures are a few of the rich outcomes that many TCKs experience. Furthermore, studies have shown that TCKs often emerge as adults who are able to solve problems, mediate conflicts, and can relate well to a variety of people. We are praying for our kids’ transition every day as well as those who have to see them move so far away. We covet your prayers for us, our children, and our precious extended families.

 





Getting back up



Glacier flying on the Super Squirrel

Last Sunday was my personal deadline for posting our blog entry. Throughout the previous week, I had debated topics until I settled on “spiritual growth during a busy season of life.” It seemed fitting since our calendar has been extremely full with meetings, appointments, traveling, and just keeping up with everyday tasks. Though I was stretched to the max, I gave myself credit for keeping my head above water. Little did I know that those waters were about to rise.

Chris and the boys were out swinging on the Super Squirrel after church. If you haven’t seen it, the Super Squirrel is an extremely long rope on our biggest tree with different attachments we hook onto the bottom. Chris’ latest attachment was a ski handle. For maximum fun, you run full speed down the hill and launch yourself into the air for a high-flying experience. I was inside when I saw the boys run toward the house at top speed (which is not unusual). I heard a frantic pounding on the door followed by a “Mom, come quick!” (Still I thought nothing of it as the boys often have an “important” and “urgent” discovery to show me). “Daddy’s not getting up,” Glacier yelled. My heart stopped as I gave him my full attention. I took in the information in a fraction of a second and was out the door in an instant with slippers on my feet and  a baby on my hip. I found Chris lying on his back in a jungle of weeds and just slightly responsive. Though he was talking, he was obviously struggling to piece things together. “Why… am I on the grass?" he mumbled. My questions came too fast for him to take in, and I couldn’t get a coherent answer to what I wanted to know the most. Are you ok? 


Even in the uncertainty of the moment, God provided care and encouragement to us in immediate and visible ways.  A family member who was planning on visiting that afternoon arrived at the same moment my boys had raced toward the house. Having extensive medical background, she was able to assess the situation and arrange for the help we needed. Additional family members arrived within minutes to give needed support followed by paramedics and an ambulance who came on scene shortly thereafter.  Chris received great care and was taken in without wait at a local hospital. While Chris sustained a significant concussion and painful shoulder sprain, the x-rays and head scan revealed no broken bones or any lasting injuries. I allowed myself to breathe again. God is good and he is in control. I was so thankful.

Super Squirrel with ski handle (now broken)

My thankful attitude didn’t stay with me for long, however. With Chris in recovery mode this past week, I did my best to add “nurse” to my already full schedule. Because the muscle tissue in his arm/shoulder was crushed, Chris couldn’t lift his arm. If I thought I was busy before, I had now reached a new level. I almost broke down when I had to give up running (my valued outlet) for the third day because Coral refused to nap, and Chris’ arm was still too weak to be able to hold her.  I wasn’t just ungrateful, I was angry.

As I pushed a wailing baby in the stroller around the house I felt like crying myself. I should have been so thankful my husband wasn’t more seriously injured, yet I was only thinking about how I would never catch up with the chores, paperwork, exercise, dinner, shopping and all the other tasks that seemed like an insurmountable mountain. I knew something had to change or I would only go deeper in my pit of self-misery. Though I didn’t feel like it, I made a conscious choice during that stroll to change my attitude. I knew God does not desire us to rely on our own efforts, but on Him. God, take my grumpiness, my weakness, my mountain of tasks that are too big for me to overcome.

Andes Mountains of Bolivia

It didn’t all change in an instant, but change did come. One step at a time, the mountain wasn’t so big to climb. Within ten minutes, Coral had fallen asleep, and I took the chance to run even though I knew Chris wouldn’t be able to pick her up if she awoke. Amazingly, she didn’t open her eyes until I walked back in the door - a definite answer to prayer and just the first of many to come.

We may be on a journey toward Bolivia, but there’s a much bigger journey going on in my heart. It’s a hard lesson for me to learn, but my attitude and my desire to have control are areas that God wants me to surrender. I know that the only good in me is what comes from Him. I can keep on climbing these mountains on my own and fail, or I can allow Jesus to lead me up and over them.

  

So what's happening?

Life is in full swing in the Clark home. While we are busy support-raising and traveling most weekends, we still try to make family time a priority.

Glacier is finishing his first season of Upward basketball, and Chris even got in on the action! (picture on right). Glacier is also excited to have lost his first two teeth. He worked hard to pull the second one out at school so he could carry it home in a sweet little tooth case from the nurse. Glacier also recently received a remote controlled helicopter from Uncle Tim and Aunt Te-te (Sarah). It instantaneously became his new favorite pastime and he's not bad. After maneuvering a tricky landing last week, he looked back at us for acknowledgment. When our clapping stopped he replied, "now if we only had more people here, there would be more clapping." So much for raising a humble child!

Canyon just celebrated his third birthday and was overjoyed to have two parties - one with each side of the family. The boys were in awe when I took them to a party store in Binghamton, NY. They could hardly contain themselves as they feasted their eyes on every party décor and favor imaginable. We ended up leaving with two sets of supplies for a "Buzz Lightyear party" and a "Dusty plane party." I have since concluded that one party is definitely enough for this momma. Nevertheless Canyon is a cutie flying around in his Buzz Lightyear garb shouting "to infibity and beyond!"

Coral is our "precious whittle angel" as Canyon likes to say. She is quick to give you a winning smile as long as her mood is pleasant. On the flip-side, though, she knows how to wail with the best of 'em. All my boys, Chris included, have those big ear protectors you use for mowing the lawn...except they wear them in the car when Coral is screaming. Her favorite moment to make her presence known seems to be during our Bolivia appointments. Thank God our friends have patience! A lot of people have asked me about her newest thing. As a four month-old, she pretty much just hangs out, discovering the world through touch. Among her favorite textures is daddy's hair. She coos in delight when her little fingers rub against it. It is a terrific tactile experience if I do say so myself. :)

If we are not traveling, you'll most likely find us in the sugar shack this month. Our uncle and family friends who spearhead the operation are overly fond of catering to my boys' sweet tooth. But I can hardly blame my sons when they ask for "just a tad bit more." The smell of the sap boiling into sweet maple syrup is simply intoxicating. It keeps us all going back for more!

We are welcoming the blue skies of spring with open arms and embracing a season of spiritual growth as well. We are so grateful for those who have encouraged us in this new phase of life as we prepare for our journey to Bolivia.

Spotlight on the Quechua people

My heart (Lynnie's) has been turning lately to the Quechua, an indigenous people group, who live in the Andes mountains on the outskirts of Cochabamba (our future home). While our ministry does not primarily focus on Quechua outreach, I can't help but be captured by the beauty of this people as well as their significant need for Christ. I am encouraged that Chris and I will be teaching at a school that does support missionaries who are currently involved in this outreach. I have a feeling that one day we too may be able to work more directly with the Quechua. It's neat to think that Glacier, Canyon, and Coral will be studying the Quechua language at school and perhaps grow a passion for this people group as well. The need is certainly great as the Quechua remain the largest unreached people group in South America largely due to the fact that their location is geographically challenging and that they are so spread out. One ministry that is making an impact is radio Mosoj Chaski, which broadcasts the gospel of Christ and supports theological training to raise up leaders among this people. Click on the link to check out this sweet four minute video. (Chris added the last sentence).





 Link to Radio Mosoj Chaski Video