On the field and off the field…
Hi friends, I’m writing this letter from a warm little corner window in the South Perth library. Last week I spent a day at our State library. Our state library now has ‘free wireless’ network. It was delightful to sit, read, write and ‘surf’. In Lao I run from coffee shop to coffee shop trying to find a corner to read and reflect. It is hard work to sip a cup of coffee for 2 hours and spread your books over the table. I miss my library!
As I look out from this window, I can see a ‘footy’ clinic going on. There are 80 odd young kids being coached on the finer details of that beautiful game ‘aussie rules’. I was on the field 25 years ago. There were talent scouts on the hill next to the field (they are there right now-different ones but). Talent scouts look out for the young rising stars, the kids who stand out from the rest. I can remember wearing my favorite team jumper; hoping that one day I’ll be picked up and get a chance to represent my club, colors and stand with my heroes.
Lots of fun, but in some ways I’m glad those days are over. We were often trying to impress the coach, a talent scout or a pretty girl. I was smallish and so I had to use my body to get through the game. I always came away with bruises and knocks.
Today, I’m still on the field. But I’m not alone and I’m not trying to impress anybody. I’ve got my pretty girl. And together we made a small team of field players. God picks us all up when we fall down and I stopped trying to be a rising star. In fact we try and blend in with the crowd. The only time we stand out is when God’s Word or Spirit tells us that we should.
I’m glad the field has changed for me our family. Looking back over these past 18months, it’s been a blast for most of the time. There’s been the stunning and the difficult. And sometimes all in the same day! But over all, I’d rate our entry into Lao as 7.5 out of 10. But who’s scoring!!! Ooppss… back to me footy days! But the score is not to impress. Its a way for us to gauge how things are going.
Since returning to Singapore and Oz for a break, we’re been able to debrief and reflect lots together. We were required by SJSM to get a ‘psychological assessment’. In the feedback session our kids were certified ‘healthy’ and ‘normal’. They seemed adjusted and there was no obvious trauma over the 18 months. Kids can cover up their bad days too!!! The psyche said they ‘seemed to like it over there’...And why wouldn’t they, they got their family, friends and a comfortable house with a mango tree in the font yard! It’s funny. After talking to them the kids said that they like it ‘over there’, in ‘Singapore’ and in ‘Oz’. All for different reasons…the dierden family is so blessed.
We’d like to pause and thank you for your prayers. Without prayers covering our life and our work, I believe we’d be in very different shape. Thanks from the bottom of our hearts, really…really!
ARDA semester finished for us at the end of May. Cc and I were not required to do Summer school this term so it was the perfect to return to Sing and Oz to report, gather vision and some rest. Our students said that they were going to miss us and to hurry back. We took that as a good sign of growing friendships.
Most of our students passed, but not all. One very happy former monk rang me up the day before we left as he made his way a small mountain (In my last letter I asked you to pray for Son Sai. He just finished monkhood just a few weeks ago). Anyway, I could hear Son Sai panting as he walked and he said that he was very tired but he was happy to be returning to his village. He thanked me for teaching him and for helping him to catch a bus back home. He said ‘buy teacher, see you soon’. In my mind I could see his big eyes, bright face and his once balled head which is now covered. I’d prayed for Monk Song Sai many times during the year. My reward (and I hope your reward) was to hear Son Sai’s inner happiness as he trudged his way up the mountain side.
Cc has similar joy and can recount similar stories of emerging friendships through English teaching. For most part, the ARDA English center has been a helpful platform for us to build relationships through work, study the language and understand Lao society and culture.
When we return, we’ll teach our last semester as English teachers in ARDA. Cc and I have decided to explore other areas for work in Laos. Right now, we’re not clear what that will be. But we have a genuine peace about our next steps.
Vientiane Christian Homeschool Co-op Needs Teachers! Home Schooling As many of you know, Cc and I are part of a cooperative (co-op) that’s seeking to do homeschooling in a coop setting. VCHC will kick off at the beginning of August. We’ve rented the premises and have half or more of the stuff we need. Teachers are preparing and we’re still working on the details. Please keep this in prayer too…Seth and Sarah are ‘ok’ to start something new, but they, rightly so, have some apprehensions. Shanae will stay in Pattana School for another year. For more information, contact us at vientianecoop@gmail.com
Singapore Our time in Singapore was enjoyable. We laughed a lot with dear friends from the staff team and from heartbeat. We had a video night to recall the ‘good old days’ with the youth. I have serveral tapes of camps and trips abroad. So we invited everybody over to grandma and grandpa’s house. Grandma was generous and helped with the food and the arrangements. Vicky brought in our favourite ‘Indian’ dishes. We laughed and pointed a lot. The kids love catching up with their gorh gorh’s and jie jie’s…Thanks grandma and grandpa for opening up your home to us!!
Singapore was also tiring…we attended psyche tests, medical tests, changed this account and that account, debriefed with team leaders and ran too and fro to get my new employment visas…lots of admin to finish but many church friends to help us get things done. We will return to Singapore on Aug 2nd and then head off to Malaysia for a 3 day cross-cultural conference. All the workers from SJSM will gather, pray and talk…We are looking forward to this time. Some people we’ve not seen for several years and we hope to learn from their field work.
Perth
Mum is well, as is all our family here. For the first time I we managed to invite some aunties and uncles over to share what is ‘exactly’ that we do in Laos. It was a little difficult at first. People make fun and say silly things. But I think things were helped along by a video I had put together. The video gave some context to our work and people could see that ‘things weren’t so bad in Laos for us…’ I hope to meet up with one or two of them again before we leave. It’s quiet difficult to share why and what your doing with family. Please pray that there’ll be opportunity for me to share faith with our loved ones.
Family Camp
This weekend all our families are heading 1hour South from Perth. We’ve booked a cottage for 23 people and our families will be sleeping, eating and chatting together. We try and do this once every two years. So far we’ve managed this for the past 6 years. This is our 4th family camp away. We’ve given it a little more ‘structure’ this time. But it is loose and to be adjusted as needed. Some of us thought that it might build the dynamics and add to the fun. The rain should hold out and so we’ve arranged archery; rock climbing and a good game of backyard cricket! Pray that we’ll stay sane, go a little deep with each other and God and have lots of fun.
Please pray with us
- 1. For joyful rest and insightful time with our church leaders in Perth and Singapore
- 2. For people whom we talk to in church and other to catch the vision for the working here
- 3. For our family camp this weekend!
- 4. For our Malaysia work conference. Insights and prophetic words from the Lord for all people!
- 5. For next steps- we’ll stop teaching English at ARDA at the end of this year. We don’t know the next step yet. During our trip home we’ll meet our organisation ‘advisor’ & talk about next steps
- 6. For our on-going language needs- we need a new language helper when we return to Lao.
- 7. For teaches for the Coop and for the unity and organisation of the Coop
J Jesus came so that we might ‘live, rest, work and play’ Jh 10:10
W with love from all, dierden tribe
