A new word, a new adventure....
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By Chad Holtz in Missions Published: Wednesday, 02 September 09 - 04:40 PM (GMT) Last Updated: Wednesday, 02 September 09 - 04:56 PM (GMT) |
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I learned a new word today: Herpetologist - so, any time I feel the urge to complain about my job, I'll just thank the good Lord that I'm not a Herpetologist. In case you are wondering, if I understand correctly, it's a specialty within zoology that deals with snakes and reptiles and other various creepy crawlies......ahhhhh....my skin crawls just thinking about it!!! I might be the worlds biggest Anti-Herpetologist. Ok, you animal lovers - I know all about the supposed benefits of snakes, but if I never see one ever again, I'll be just fine. However, the more adventurous my mission trips get, the more likely I am to run into them....ugh.
Big news! My family (me, wifey, 2 kids) have signed up for a new adventure! Oldest is a senior in high school and just got his acceptance letter to ISU (yeah!). So, I want to do some new adventure as a family before he leaves for college. I was talking to them about a mission trip to New Mexico in June right after graduation. Even offering to extend the trip and do the Grand Canyon, etc, etc. Wasn't feeling the excitement. Now, I have the privilege of being on the Mission Board at our Church, so I'm pretty familiar with all the missions coming up. On Sunday, a family that has decided to pack it all up and change their life forever by becoming the directors of a special needs orphanage in the mountains of Jamaica was introduced to the congregation. Now, I'd met them a few times through the mission board but didn't think too much of it. As I heard the pastor talking about the special needs of the kids in this orphanage, my brain started working (usually a scary moment for my wife).
Random thoughts in my head - my wife works with special needs kids at the school every day. She even had a special needs child in our home when she ran a daycare. Hmmm...check that off - good fit. Oldest is going to ISU for Physical Therapy, Sports Medicine, etc - just so happens that is what Joel did for a living before accepting this call. Hmmm...check that off - good fit. Youngest is very used to playing with special needs kids and could keep them entertained and laughing for hours. Hmmmm....check that off - good fit. Me - I'm nothing special at all, but we found out they have a carpetball table in need of repair and may like a second one built - which I've done before - and many many special projects, repairs, etc around the orphanage, which I've been getting better at with all my mission trips and Habitat for Humanity work. Hmmmmm.....good fit. Everyone in the family has some value to add. Coincidence? Are you kidding me - no way.
So, we signed up. We'll spend a week living onsite at the orphanage and helping in any way we can. Anyone that knows her want to make any bets on how hard it will be to get my wife to leave when it's time to come home??
What an adventure. I'm so excited to do another mission trip - but this time with our kids too. Wow. Humbling. Can't wait.
You can find more info at these two sites: http://www.robinsnestchildrenshome.org/ http://www.jamaicanadifference.blogspot.com/
2 Comments so far: |
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| they grow up fast... | Ryan | 09/03/09 |
| By the way, really cool about the missio (...) | Ryan | 09/03/09 |
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Top | Reply to this Title: they grow up fast... Author: Ryan Date Posted: 03 Sep 2009 02:59 AM (GMT) I know EXACTLY how you feel. Our youngest just moved from the infant nursery at church to the toddler nursery. My how they grow up fast... |
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Top | Reply to this Author: Ryan Date Posted: 03 Sep 2009 03:00 AM (GMT) By the way, really cool about the missions trip. I'm jealous. |
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