tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5460336132649350192024-03-18T22:08:35.202-05:00Livin' the LifeJesus said,"I have come that they may have LIFE, and have it to the full."Jenni Austellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10347411806243729132noreply@blogger.comBlogger136125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-546033613264935019.post-80362054074982782702023-11-09T04:45:00.000-06:002023-11-09T04:45:45.405-06:00End of Furlough thoughts <p> I obviously haven't blogged in ages, and too much has happened to fill in the gaps, but, here we are, stateside, finishing our 6 month furlough, and packing up to return to Addis in 6 days. </p><p>After a culmination of high stress events over our (almost) 5 years serving in Ethiopia, my husband had begun developing anxiety and panic attacks that were growing worse. He can handle a LOT of stress, but he was at a breaking point, as his body was not able to recover. God allowed us to get accepted to an amazing mission conference in Switzerland in June, and the timing was so perfect. We really got to know other missionaries dealing with similar (and even harder) things, being in war torn countries, seeing extreme poverty every day, learning a language, dealing with heavy family issues, persecution, evacuation, running an organization during a pandemic, all the things. It just felt like we were understood, were not alone, and could just sit with God for a bit, in the mess and the hard stuff, without answers or clear ways forward, and take a breath.</p><p>Then in July we came to the States for 5 months. It has been a much needed time of rest. God has really provided. An elder at our church let us stay on their beautiful property in a guest house for 3 months. It was the exact opposite of our house in Addis-so much green space, peace and quiet. The kids were able to go to Briarcrest for a semester, which is the school where Kent previously worked. They were fabulous to welcome our kids in for half a year and it allowed my girls to experience an American school and try a sport for the first time. KJ made it to State in CC and got her PR for the mile. Brooklyn made close friends on her soccer team. Sav tried both gymnastics (she's a natural) and basketball. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFbVP-u8tnx2qzuHNt1_pVZ1DizvxbU0vlgq3cpDrFvBLcEB0neIqnem_EwzYzLxJz5ZPLR4q31eaEX9g7S2Uew4s20lj6J0MU2Ew8CQh7UH6GIhrD1rjbN0RjK_Bf4LcGLeaoBv9ydVv4m0pAYq0LgfyLmXuKM6iXFxE6NivHhv3inLNe0ThnSf1o/s1059/IMG_9178.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1040" data-original-width="1059" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFbVP-u8tnx2qzuHNt1_pVZ1DizvxbU0vlgq3cpDrFvBLcEB0neIqnem_EwzYzLxJz5ZPLR4q31eaEX9g7S2Uew4s20lj6J0MU2Ew8CQh7UH6GIhrD1rjbN0RjK_Bf4LcGLeaoBv9ydVv4m0pAYq0LgfyLmXuKM6iXFxE6NivHhv3inLNe0ThnSf1o/s320/IMG_9178.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRhkdp3fVoMdBBlxJUCoU5OWCEZf13KNGqr2RqBay2XNmRoZlcX4kmJWrGQE74cWjXei47IxeYtoo7pSJy9mdelIdMuTx-2Li27DhbeJXyQEHzV0MI9aiMsuFDYpMWZ2XPl1V_hCTorufOgNNL0Hxx6Ekzdm_tokEXsxm9l8JbqrhdwXHDlLi-7IRc/s4032/IMG_9437.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRhkdp3fVoMdBBlxJUCoU5OWCEZf13KNGqr2RqBay2XNmRoZlcX4kmJWrGQE74cWjXei47IxeYtoo7pSJy9mdelIdMuTx-2Li27DhbeJXyQEHzV0MI9aiMsuFDYpMWZ2XPl1V_hCTorufOgNNL0Hxx6Ekzdm_tokEXsxm9l8JbqrhdwXHDlLi-7IRc/s320/IMG_9437.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg74LyUQmturCyBd6QeVTDKv4A5BD6Kk4gw5-4s3_J_VMDI60XIcTBVgShLOHHoG-aVsnJQEDCITz2o78x0vdBRoKrCadishn6G2lQPOiO94AhuAS-RTUSGb32CwXuWBXZ6P-CfiWqMLygNfwADY6NbhT_ge5n5Te12YXKoX0Y5vdRUdNUTmYa6oTX8/s1059/IMG_9044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1040" data-original-width="1059" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg74LyUQmturCyBd6QeVTDKv4A5BD6Kk4gw5-4s3_J_VMDI60XIcTBVgShLOHHoG-aVsnJQEDCITz2o78x0vdBRoKrCadishn6G2lQPOiO94AhuAS-RTUSGb32CwXuWBXZ6P-CfiWqMLygNfwADY6NbhT_ge5n5Te12YXKoX0Y5vdRUdNUTmYa6oTX8/s320/IMG_9044.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZDC9ML302K3vAiLPs9RGR3eynw_TuXJl-WRydLN1GHt1tT3ADwAHQvelrCvgFligEFjoS3viR1TtsQ80R2-uRpyBIA_Sxu6bh0cN9WSOpVZcyYI5adO32QSIOQoqr1YpJ1MOhyNUnJ539YqMdJyvbannH4ZJnARkdJDaVh6ibzhPbOiFthdy4Rxd6/s4032/IMG_8644.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZDC9ML302K3vAiLPs9RGR3eynw_TuXJl-WRydLN1GHt1tT3ADwAHQvelrCvgFligEFjoS3viR1TtsQ80R2-uRpyBIA_Sxu6bh0cN9WSOpVZcyYI5adO32QSIOQoqr1YpJ1MOhyNUnJ539YqMdJyvbannH4ZJnARkdJDaVh6ibzhPbOiFthdy4Rxd6/s320/IMG_8644.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">We got to meet our nephew Jack, Kent's sister's newest child who arrived in July and the Memphis cousins really got to reconnect.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYLfAnKc2KnpU7CPlbmOXQOl-AWQ7IzHSzqUnv_WE8pm01en-vJqSp5se0vcwdXdtjXiuPIFEVQ9up1XjCdDqgMk5hVxYHafRUUETDTMCACIU8tUsls0cFVsf0GWy1PYz9f2LQGIHO8huXbZl-Cl3vQhI5kQUdB9AsE7127z1IrJnpHkoZqzAl_llM/s4032/IMG_8396.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYLfAnKc2KnpU7CPlbmOXQOl-AWQ7IzHSzqUnv_WE8pm01en-vJqSp5se0vcwdXdtjXiuPIFEVQ9up1XjCdDqgMk5hVxYHafRUUETDTMCACIU8tUsls0cFVsf0GWy1PYz9f2LQGIHO8huXbZl-Cl3vQhI5kQUdB9AsE7127z1IrJnpHkoZqzAl_llM/s320/IMG_8396.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">baby Jack</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitJ24UPOh4uRJlengivdhU_OF3h2PvI1bV1NclJMktrc273j4BvBqXEA5ZfroOVO-Qc8ILgHBZXPWbEL2XDFdPsjMcpkHOiDJCnT_6uOloEtwc_1iCm7FUQxVJIQPwDSjAmSuJxcldPRJ4jlgCPXa_6J2j9V9NoPyi3ij76LGgUUGoENlahFJl9M-M/s4032/IMG_8569.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitJ24UPOh4uRJlengivdhU_OF3h2PvI1bV1NclJMktrc273j4BvBqXEA5ZfroOVO-Qc8ILgHBZXPWbEL2XDFdPsjMcpkHOiDJCnT_6uOloEtwc_1iCm7FUQxVJIQPwDSjAmSuJxcldPRJ4jlgCPXa_6J2j9V9NoPyi3ij76LGgUUGoENlahFJl9M-M/s320/IMG_8569.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We traveled a ton over the past 6 months. Over Labor Day, we went to DC to see my sister.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="text-align: left;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzzd_-eJ6q-_I-NzmNrxeaxXMg1tuCUPTq8gSNJw9xmpu17GGGHszc5S8XS6xVG4v9twTMEqWLi2SrUtubaD10lYc12-okaZr3hXWnGAXhhVZJfPMh3XQe5aephFOKLMJ1QnCfJZJtmjgYsiKHehxrfP2ia97eVY4Kh4J2IfIR-CRhvR-6oirjTMCw/s4032/IMG_8880.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzzd_-eJ6q-_I-NzmNrxeaxXMg1tuCUPTq8gSNJw9xmpu17GGGHszc5S8XS6xVG4v9twTMEqWLi2SrUtubaD10lYc12-okaZr3hXWnGAXhhVZJfPMh3XQe5aephFOKLMJ1QnCfJZJtmjgYsiKHehxrfP2ia97eVY4Kh4J2IfIR-CRhvR-6oirjTMCw/s320/IMG_8880.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">my sis and sis in law/bestie</td></tr></tbody></table> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhagHeCuWdZtunc9XKsx_1u9daBOWhkIEf296-2hqg64X7-X5eE_GlmP5XASkVjq8k148MoO3bLzn8xcPHJot2fk5byUuD5mneF_bsG5D95muDc69acSzV4794cH6gvR8pcy9IreDbU7jvbB37WemkPuX4GpC3ObYfA9uprIXC4pK7QpzU2WM5YjKIf/s4032/IMG_8872.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhagHeCuWdZtunc9XKsx_1u9daBOWhkIEf296-2hqg64X7-X5eE_GlmP5XASkVjq8k148MoO3bLzn8xcPHJot2fk5byUuD5mneF_bsG5D95muDc69acSzV4794cH6gvR8pcy9IreDbU7jvbB37WemkPuX4GpC3ObYfA9uprIXC4pK7QpzU2WM5YjKIf/s320/IMG_8872.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">cousins on my side</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The kids got to do American Halloween stuff in October</div></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_5D_O9qufNLnundnzWO1uiwpu-oqt6WFSdONEgCp4y-qQHcX_bLmRgwgXracPY_XGTd6xSHBriqQJ6pTtv4exo_N5gEk0Bj5Ay715eyI9V0I_Nwv_xOv6mFNOEP_FPTjqq7Co5Od3OjFvW5SWd0l8pw8SQCjx1rBiATxaDar68IJtIwOiyswBjdNA/s4032/IMG_9692.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_5D_O9qufNLnundnzWO1uiwpu-oqt6WFSdONEgCp4y-qQHcX_bLmRgwgXracPY_XGTd6xSHBriqQJ6pTtv4exo_N5gEk0Bj5Ay715eyI9V0I_Nwv_xOv6mFNOEP_FPTjqq7Co5Od3OjFvW5SWd0l8pw8SQCjx1rBiATxaDar68IJtIwOiyswBjdNA/s320/IMG_9692.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trick or treating with the cousins</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1QsM_ziwSS3DmOZC-9Kis6Uko9Se10hLKZeutru3E8iUvc3P8b0U4S3JlhjjR7scK_hkUkOMptbgd254Hp5tThxaB6z0Q7KsR8jL3uBhTvHztPsML6mGs7BiDoCnNO8LEf3ts1Ch7j4gWM2SyGArAMBbRbru3h_MFiEQ7K9sfOjTeQZi6JAXpFeAz/s4032/IMG_9459.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1QsM_ziwSS3DmOZC-9Kis6Uko9Se10hLKZeutru3E8iUvc3P8b0U4S3JlhjjR7scK_hkUkOMptbgd254Hp5tThxaB6z0Q7KsR8jL3uBhTvHztPsML6mGs7BiDoCnNO8LEf3ts1Ch7j4gWM2SyGArAMBbRbru3h_MFiEQ7K9sfOjTeQZi6JAXpFeAz/s320/IMG_9459.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">pumpkin painting<br /> </td></tr></tbody></table><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjozW11M2H2hYmDW37HJfxfG3v08AvWdu0efvnP5G29YxjBSwCWLtXUaLeE0-hkffIj9_C2Lr7mAv9AmYGHOOvmocRltgJ8I9tMkmuPhzw4EzJWSA4lZ6zXecNGGTaITgzrWnWZRzagxvJuE1XuyezFzJyShtYhKBcGO9nOaXSsPNS6z_4_zU3QuZFX/s4032/IMG_3147.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjozW11M2H2hYmDW37HJfxfG3v08AvWdu0efvnP5G29YxjBSwCWLtXUaLeE0-hkffIj9_C2Lr7mAv9AmYGHOOvmocRltgJ8I9tMkmuPhzw4EzJWSA4lZ6zXecNGGTaITgzrWnWZRzagxvJuE1XuyezFzJyShtYhKBcGO9nOaXSsPNS6z_4_zU3QuZFX/s320/IMG_3147.JPEG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Kent's fam</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvJbVS3aTuc1KyRONsgGRxLRId2L2iCE0ZcAiazW6zbVai21D8B0R_r0Cf-N5RGsa88qkz8zPuaPpYjvD-iTZDZDtHuj2uIsI8kvHaiy43FptiDP2ZKM8AAZt1ci-upEorZ5O9uSimeFT1gbAIEaRe-2tg8Q0ZivCbVJMjarTYMmH3ks-Bvsb9ZK70/s4032/IMG_0032.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvJbVS3aTuc1KyRONsgGRxLRId2L2iCE0ZcAiazW6zbVai21D8B0R_r0Cf-N5RGsa88qkz8zPuaPpYjvD-iTZDZDtHuj2uIsI8kvHaiy43FptiDP2ZKM8AAZt1ci-upEorZ5O9uSimeFT1gbAIEaRe-2tg8Q0ZivCbVJMjarTYMmH3ks-Bvsb9ZK70/s320/IMG_0032.HEIC" width="240" /></a><br /><span style="text-align: left;">Then my parents came to Memphis for Thanksgiving and we saw all of Kent's relatives at the annual Thanksgiving gathering<br /><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxXophsufVkgFDyQfudjDk1mxfSsFX6QYpzFwnUM_72rjkmtTU4xFPQBF4DZafuRmurrgOJcA89hOz6HOLddQ2jwqRyxstyk60wbfP6k1lI29a_FDtLT39cY2ZRO41vB1NyguxkdrYlAEj1GD0GuPEmA01VU-UDBtZrgIt6WYzhMZt_A4k5IverCIb/s1600/2f9f81fe-901f-4864-95b0-ffba4522c15a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxXophsufVkgFDyQfudjDk1mxfSsFX6QYpzFwnUM_72rjkmtTU4xFPQBF4DZafuRmurrgOJcA89hOz6HOLddQ2jwqRyxstyk60wbfP6k1lI29a_FDtLT39cY2ZRO41vB1NyguxkdrYlAEj1GD0GuPEmA01VU-UDBtZrgIt6WYzhMZt_A4k5IverCIb/s320/2f9f81fe-901f-4864-95b0-ffba4522c15a.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br style="text-align: left;" /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_dWHHZBX-e2A7hJMOgO49N2GvptGZCO2xNHve4PXfG3y31jfw9fwQKqu8httXTFktWXnIqlgOqXXkEB71ttb71i-D-BKEqBmk2WtLKLFl_BsA6_fPENZqXmBCoUkZLsotK-uivey-3GPnufSrB8Ts49JJrEjWoOwGSIUQUp2jMGriALKJW9aYLeAU/s960/IMG_0109.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_dWHHZBX-e2A7hJMOgO49N2GvptGZCO2xNHve4PXfG3y31jfw9fwQKqu8httXTFktWXnIqlgOqXXkEB71ttb71i-D-BKEqBmk2WtLKLFl_BsA6_fPENZqXmBCoUkZLsotK-uivey-3GPnufSrB8Ts49JJrEjWoOwGSIUQUp2jMGriALKJW9aYLeAU/s320/IMG_0109.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We did an escape room with Kent's siblings</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Between visiting our mission organization in Charlotte, a supporting church in PA, friends in Chicago and Dallas, a quick getaway to LV, and a fall break in NWA, we soaked up the time reconnecting with our Memphis friends. It can be really strange coming back when everyone else has moved on in their life and you don't really fit in to their flow. For each friend that allowed us to jump into their flow, Thank You! Moving overseas is a strange deal where you try to fit in to your new culture, and become a whole different person in the process. Then you return to your own culture and find you don't fit as well as you used to and no one understands the things you've seen or experienced. Now you just become an outsider in both worlds. Your heart is also attached to both places and you feel a pain wherever you are as you miss the other community. That's what we signed up for and it's not easy. But for those who showed interest in our lives back in Ethiopia and who brought us into your life here in Memphis, you were a huge blessing!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMw89pRmshGd-AD60ys8_wq05jgLdguIiO9m4Tem4cpzu9_LCrgglRxEBs8xJQaDofyM7DwLH8ejadhohckAZEofbynwR6m2GhLq1KERc2yHtERHbi8EkfpzlVNPM9sPspJqkOHJwccS2c52M-qaiRpRO-ahGjbaDuDicG63AvdlLYECIZMaH-PrKX/s2517/IMG_7137.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2421" data-original-width="2517" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMw89pRmshGd-AD60ys8_wq05jgLdguIiO9m4Tem4cpzu9_LCrgglRxEBs8xJQaDofyM7DwLH8ejadhohckAZEofbynwR6m2GhLq1KERc2yHtERHbi8EkfpzlVNPM9sPspJqkOHJwccS2c52M-qaiRpRO-ahGjbaDuDicG63AvdlLYECIZMaH-PrKX/s320/IMG_7137.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUm_sYRzIJH1Tu-UJWWaLsiGl01bDaUE3qzc3vn9Q75r6PRZKEpdGjDNxU5I4eTfq5BxC52AAt0eIOZRFLOK1dRQiQJkn_J7HPCdPk9XiUZcoosbwC8sr6Z3LfYvwdVwvXNVYIOr0w_40HvntojGfqiwjQP0U16CeNcdPMmvrrTbIAn6_lNGVLEiEL/s4032/IMG_3782.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUm_sYRzIJH1Tu-UJWWaLsiGl01bDaUE3qzc3vn9Q75r6PRZKEpdGjDNxU5I4eTfq5BxC52AAt0eIOZRFLOK1dRQiQJkn_J7HPCdPk9XiUZcoosbwC8sr6Z3LfYvwdVwvXNVYIOr0w_40HvntojGfqiwjQP0U16CeNcdPMmvrrTbIAn6_lNGVLEiEL/s320/IMG_3782.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfKAlT-HlhreC7cvEhQMJ3HuNRo_peu2pAm3tAGxGieYjHHOUXAe4nZQXCjS95iqB0c6TsaKxPXO77FflmkXE7whlEVXrmLIgAOMk_r8bruEp5LjKYAojtlZneAX4TdQfaA6G-C_dXz1pW-iD5O3HvszJdP29W9yCTmbFYQsLFsMFtSlQVcJGoiZg2/s4032/IMG_0206.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfKAlT-HlhreC7cvEhQMJ3HuNRo_peu2pAm3tAGxGieYjHHOUXAe4nZQXCjS95iqB0c6TsaKxPXO77FflmkXE7whlEVXrmLIgAOMk_r8bruEp5LjKYAojtlZneAX4TdQfaA6G-C_dXz1pW-iD5O3HvszJdP29W9yCTmbFYQsLFsMFtSlQVcJGoiZg2/s320/IMG_0206.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiph0j4i61aAVhwu9qv4Rwx9eUJP6ZHmOTuCft-_AldcSzgTDh7qlskxrNfSaPvtgPdA54mlaCohCx4a_aTkKIJDWbSjiD9nDL91Riyl4k87rS8TxEUSE8L3zXyrB3yigXOELLpaFJsFtvUc_Y4Zu73ntlA3iPacqF_O7d5GmfUX916gfQn3oMxcq1Y/s4032/IMG_0097.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiph0j4i61aAVhwu9qv4Rwx9eUJP6ZHmOTuCft-_AldcSzgTDh7qlskxrNfSaPvtgPdA54mlaCohCx4a_aTkKIJDWbSjiD9nDL91Riyl4k87rS8TxEUSE8L3zXyrB3yigXOELLpaFJsFtvUc_Y4Zu73ntlA3iPacqF_O7d5GmfUX916gfQn3oMxcq1Y/s320/IMG_0097.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />I think a normal home assignment every 2 years is 3 months long. In that time we would have done all these things above with zero time for rest. And while visiting friends, supporters, and churches all over the country is fun, it is non-stop busy and you can lose your own family's rhythm. Because we extended our time here, we could do all the reconnecting and also have margin for personal time, family time, reflection and rest. This was a huge gift and super healing for Kent. <br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYL7U5P78LmyZGDTeUB0YOCqm_cM25rAgxIAAHNyYgC8aaFqLdv7ujPuEN4_ZAq00BeYT5zrycpqMOHazgRgVNqzxRs37IwwsaVUB4waP7c6GyP1ZdPC9kEwpv12OcLiH19rOOXNgUZEKSB81K43_zQL9_mx5iVgj7iDq2H75EXJ5cSg2PHUgNWQx2/s4032/IMG_9762.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYL7U5P78LmyZGDTeUB0YOCqm_cM25rAgxIAAHNyYgC8aaFqLdv7ujPuEN4_ZAq00BeYT5zrycpqMOHazgRgVNqzxRs37IwwsaVUB4waP7c6GyP1ZdPC9kEwpv12OcLiH19rOOXNgUZEKSB81K43_zQL9_mx5iVgj7iDq2H75EXJ5cSg2PHUgNWQx2/s320/IMG_9762.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Packing to head back</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><p>We are preparing to leave with excitement to return to Addis, some worries about our kids (dealing with yet another goodbye/adjustment/transition,) and hopes for the future. Pray for us as we continue to seek God's will for our lives, desire to be used by Him wherever we go, and shine His light!</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /><p></p>Jenni Austellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10347411806243729132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-546033613264935019.post-90467783286863183152022-02-19T06:24:00.005-06:002022-12-09T13:34:18.138-06:00Aliens and Foreigners <span> </span>I feel like I've lived here forever. This place is so much my normal that it's hard to remember life beforehand. My kids hardly know a different life. We have our routine, our hang out places, our date nights, our kids' favorite ice cream spots. We have explored this country and seen its unforgettable beauty. If we go for a holiday and visit another city or country, we can't wait to return to Addis. We really enjoy Ethiopian food and love being a part of many of the cultural traditions. We have learned to do without many things we were once used to having. I know I've changed enough that I feel out of place when I go back to the States. People flippantly ask when we are moving back "home". This <i>is</i> our home now. It has been for 4 years. This is not just a "trip"or experience for us. We aren't just "serving time" and then returning to our home country. We are happy to live here and serve here and we want to invest deeply in the community and people. <br /><span> </span>Yet I am still a stranger here. I will never fit in. I will never walk down the street unnoticed. I go out the Bingham gate for bread or fruit and people yell "Forenge! Forenge!" (foreigner). Even if I'd lived in this neighborhood for 10 years, they would point us out. When some people sees, they yell "China, china!" because there are so many Chinese companies at work in the country that they assume foreigners are Chinese. I <i>do</i> feel like a rock star when I go out for a run in the neighborhood. Because I stand out so much, everyone stops and yells at me, "Anbusa! (Lion!) Gobez! (good job) Birtchee! (Be strong) "RRRun RRRunn!" "I love you!" I feel like an olympian in the final stretch of a race haha! Some people look at us and immediately yell, "Money Money money!". They assume, since we obviously flew on an airplane to get here, we are rich. (Which compared to many, we are). It gets tiring not blending in. Some of you know how this feels. There are days I don't have the energy to even go outside the gates. <div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9DI4VMwu1YI1BbctJGIYO1dKC0850Pk6dYM-87uy3L2j-g52Grk6RnRfAM27q9T_ajOz2nHD7fAcsWEQ4epklrPxIOWPLZLwkjta9rjKT0kx-sIISZ3MU-akDQ37v_2IUa1hB80kQ3cnwcH58kmN-CmVaMYkc8t3IIyDXCwvoK_LiTIJMi7R8oN0D/s3088/IMG_5135.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2320" data-original-width="3088" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9DI4VMwu1YI1BbctJGIYO1dKC0850Pk6dYM-87uy3L2j-g52Grk6RnRfAM27q9T_ajOz2nHD7fAcsWEQ4epklrPxIOWPLZLwkjta9rjKT0kx-sIISZ3MU-akDQ37v_2IUa1hB80kQ3cnwcH58kmN-CmVaMYkc8t3IIyDXCwvoK_LiTIJMi7R8oN0D/s320/IMG_5135.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><span> </span>The Bible speaks to this and says that is how we as Christians <i>should</i> feel. We should feel different in this world, a bit restless, a bit homesick for our true home, heaven. "I urge you as foreigners and exiles in this world, to abstain from sinful desires which wage war against your souls" 1 Peter 2:11"but we are citizens of heaven where the Lord Jesus lives." Phil 3:20-21 "For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have an eternal building from God in heaven. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling." 2 Corinthians 5:2. We know this world is not our home. So it's ok to feel uncomfortable, different, misunderstood. It's ok to long for a place where we can finally rest and be comfortable. But that day is not now.</div><div><span> </span>Somedays I get discouraged because I will never understand the intricacies of this culture, the jokes, the feelings underneath or how my actions really impact others. My ability to speak the language is still on a 3 year old level so you can see how difficult it is to build deep relationships. If I get a speeding ticket, I have no clue what to do because I can't understand the police officer or where he is taking my license. If my house helper is sad or sick, I can't understand the details of what went on or I misunderstand completely what the problem is. Our Yetesfa girls are learning to trust us and seeing we really care. And when they are finally ready to pour out their hearts or share their struggles, we probably understand 1/3 of what they are actually telling us. So it's hard to respond properly, give good advise and encourage them. We daily do things that probably offend people, and because we don't know the culture, we don't know what we did. It is not easy to feel different all the time. It can make us want to stay in our bubble and find those few people who get us, who are easier for us to understand and communicate with. That's human nature. It can drain us to continually be misunderstood, stereotyped, pointed out, or left out.</div><div>
<span> </span>Yet here is what I've learned. Nothing good comes from staying in our safe bubbles of similarity. We don't grow as people. We don't widen our world views. We don't learn to love those different than us, We don't see things from other's perspectives. I have quickly been humbled when I assume that our western ways would be better than how things are done here. When we first arrived in Addis, for example, I was shocked that there were hardly any stop lights. The intersections seemed crazy and I breathed a prayer every time we would bob and weave our way through the cars that were all merging in at once. A short time later, Addis actually installed several stop lights throughout the city and the traffic instantly got way worse, as the lights only allowed a few cars to go at a time. I literally said out loud, "Gosh, I think the other way worked way better!" </div><div><br /></div><div><span> </span>For those Ethiopians who have tried to get to know us and have helped us understand their culture better, I am forever grateful. To have a few Ethiopian "cultural interpreters" in our lives who help us see what is going on behind the scenes, the long held traditions, ways of thinking, or reasons for doing...it has brought deeper love for and respect of the Ethiopian people and culture. </div><div><span> </span>I think all of us need to make a huge effort to get to know people different than us, put our assumptions away and become learners of different ways of thinking, doing, and being. Walk a mile in someone else shoes. Invite them into your life. Ask questions. Be humble and let other's teach you something new. This is not easy, trust me. Jesus doesn't say it will be easy, but he says that following him <i>will be worth it</i>.</div></div><br /><div><br /></div>Jenni Austellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10347411806243729132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-546033613264935019.post-46646714942490929612021-08-15T07:14:00.003-05:002021-08-15T07:14:54.392-05:00We are still here!<p style="margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br />Hello friends-<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiylX9UdkJzC5ps5Nrgtn0IcoAuJASdpake3pZH-Bw4SU-lpzTlXYAjB9Xj7qEUDtoKzujbQ1aW5HDdAxfwtWW-8C0szAISbzjoCNMmbLhFFRJXEyx3w1b6fSs7N04hI-mAVXHIYMsf6-g/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiylX9UdkJzC5ps5Nrgtn0IcoAuJASdpake3pZH-Bw4SU-lpzTlXYAjB9Xj7qEUDtoKzujbQ1aW5HDdAxfwtWW-8C0szAISbzjoCNMmbLhFFRJXEyx3w1b6fSs7N04hI-mAVXHIYMsf6-g/" width="320" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I know it's been almost a year since I've written something and what a year it has been! I'd love to hear each of your stories of survival, the emotional roller coaster I know you've been on (and may still be on) and how you all are coping with the pandemic. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnFMwuhDotj4QVIDrBA-LWvJ2itSjpknbZjN4ClRfDWFPUr0QsC_YL38NPW_YaP8HcjlCoZkVNhF-zUiXXpxMeitCeYWuCUKZvtm-lwEewLS5lPRD8_occ_dln_ue-a-j9ELiz5WDF5Tg/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnFMwuhDotj4QVIDrBA-LWvJ2itSjpknbZjN4ClRfDWFPUr0QsC_YL38NPW_YaP8HcjlCoZkVNhF-zUiXXpxMeitCeYWuCUKZvtm-lwEewLS5lPRD8_occ_dln_ue-a-j9ELiz5WDF5Tg/" width="135" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGMl5AbSnM8NU7au2jw5F1QLx6BSUvee_k2QX5F7a-JCUdiXMf3oL9j36qDY06LwfHIgdcsXtXnsoDbrduq_UzY3KdM7sp60b6mZl6G1pnABtN5XAiFG1Mxv9j9gZez__PhSfAz4nQ9Wc/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGMl5AbSnM8NU7au2jw5F1QLx6BSUvee_k2QX5F7a-JCUdiXMf3oL9j36qDY06LwfHIgdcsXtXnsoDbrduq_UzY3KdM7sp60b6mZl6G1pnABtN5XAiFG1Mxv9j9gZez__PhSfAz4nQ9Wc/" width="180" /></a></span></div></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br />We are so proud as a school to have made it through such a hard year. Covid-19 resulted in some classes going online for a couple weeks at a time but our policies and procedures kept Covid-19 from spreading among students on campus. My elementary age kids had almost all in-person learning and adapted so well to all the new rules. Because we live on the Bingham campus, we had new residential rules about who we could have over for social visits to protect the community from covid-19. No one aside from Bingham staff was allowed on the campus. That means we were never able to host our friends at our house this past year. We were only allowed to have one Bingham family or 2 singles over per week. This was very hard for me as one who loves to host people for dinner, lead bible study at our house and have game nights each week. I found it isolating and difficult to coordinate with someone to see if we could be their "person of the week" or if they'd already made plans with someone else. But knowing it was to protect our community, we all abided by the rules while still doing what we could to build our community and get to know alllll the new staff that had arrived to a new country/new job mid-pandemic. I'm sure it was an extra hard and isolating year for them. <br /></span><p style="margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;"></p><span style="font-family: georgia;">Kent and I had a back porch built onto our second-floor apartment last August. </span><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK3w-1LHR2BKoT1U3hpR_rGvnziU9AsQ7AyqK-aho74xYsbIwZTai0p5067gmd10lktQoD_fEQYSeKbHhHJgeFWXtnhsMIb8SB6Sb_769ctrbb6o2Y8qCz6nM7EVJQC8m8FeG93I_zLpY/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1539" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK3w-1LHR2BKoT1U3hpR_rGvnziU9AsQ7AyqK-aho74xYsbIwZTai0p5067gmd10lktQoD_fEQYSeKbHhHJgeFWXtnhsMIb8SB6Sb_769ctrbb6o2Y8qCz6nM7EVJQC8m8FeG93I_zLpY/" width="180" /></a></div></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia;">This was such a blessing and allowed for extra time with people in a safer environment. We even had a few movie nights out there with the other ladies in our building and really enjoyed making fires and sharing tea with other Bingham staff. </span><p style="margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I'd say the hardest part was that Kent and our covid-19 task force had to be "on" at all times. On the weekend, late at night, or early in the morning, they would get a call that a student had Covid-19 symptoms and all systems were a "go" for then ensuring that the class went into quarantine until the student was tested and the phone calls for contact tracing were made. It was a never-ending saga. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcI9YJbHfZE7RamnWIHamW2Ygb4QMYss1rBkQS0ue7jf6Q3t4Q5NBOaV2UtUN-nfwRVC3DgYbazBiFxqX2P3BecoYFMep4TBmIbazpnwNS52I9RCkp2vMdxZDDC3W5PUukPdReTuwAXNY/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcI9YJbHfZE7RamnWIHamW2Ygb4QMYss1rBkQS0ue7jf6Q3t4Q5NBOaV2UtUN-nfwRVC3DgYbazBiFxqX2P3BecoYFMep4TBmIbazpnwNS52I9RCkp2vMdxZDDC3W5PUukPdReTuwAXNY/" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">staff orientation</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p style="margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6ldHJ3lrT0JbCHn3AlBmvnFUFMlpW6guinzitCWxIlyb5188bLMSgc-hbxYdIFaajeiVFNHRr7szs_TygGPbdhCiy-vChlk5oyJ-AJGuE_bzhlO0UFWYj96aaGEEW_myJ8r7FEhKYJmQ/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6ldHJ3lrT0JbCHn3AlBmvnFUFMlpW6guinzitCWxIlyb5188bLMSgc-hbxYdIFaajeiVFNHRr7szs_TygGPbdhCiy-vChlk5oyJ-AJGuE_bzhlO0UFWYj96aaGEEW_myJ8r7FEhKYJmQ/" width="320" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">We did our best to continue our ministry at Bingham but in a limited way. Our women's bible study met in a big room, masked and with windows open. Our workout crew was spread out in the big gym instead of our small fitness room. And our Yetesfa girls came to Bingham in small groups, with masks and met outside, however we mostly just supplied some food and things for their families.</span></p><p style="margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqmkPG9iWYil8b9EnhEbcnHPvIgaKN1sQycWZwTM6va8udLhySdKhDz2cmvtUiuLX5GGAlHDlnzXEysq56Rw8JC8tH2TvdqdQQl1On0Xc-zNjP2lEqlBfChqc23taKhveeiN3Hbpm99Ls/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqmkPG9iWYil8b9EnhEbcnHPvIgaKN1sQycWZwTM6va8udLhySdKhDz2cmvtUiuLX5GGAlHDlnzXEysq56Rw8JC8tH2TvdqdQQl1On0Xc-zNjP2lEqlBfChqc23taKhveeiN3Hbpm99Ls/" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-mc23l4AkEqzsWnfeJosR_IBrDoA7sLn4q0nZspPXXOwEssXQ9uA1Kvt97esgW5dHbkcXInIb6R4XKm-8uGHdsQGAAAYUevPHkhl3LSaq3es9LjPI3vVPCOrB4KUrcw9xGS67_Qlpbvs/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-mc23l4AkEqzsWnfeJosR_IBrDoA7sLn4q0nZspPXXOwEssXQ9uA1Kvt97esgW5dHbkcXInIb6R4XKm-8uGHdsQGAAAYUevPHkhl3LSaq3es9LjPI3vVPCOrB4KUrcw9xGS67_Qlpbvs/" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Uq6DMK1CuW41zxGY3ARbW7l1nym_09O5xFGjd-mx4ftFTwBWjnWHKa-PHnIu0yagZX3kWWF_LcaDDNMIVyVmrqcuiwNQWE-azKxq8a7ipYhc1F_w8TmuAWyZ3GNvrIpI-LZc_fz9WFw/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="1152" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Uq6DMK1CuW41zxGY3ARbW7l1nym_09O5xFGjd-mx4ftFTwBWjnWHKa-PHnIu0yagZX3kWWF_LcaDDNMIVyVmrqcuiwNQWE-azKxq8a7ipYhc1F_w8TmuAWyZ3GNvrIpI-LZc_fz9WFw/" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Supplying chickens for their Easter dinner</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div>After getting Covid-19 in July on our home assignment, our family never got it again this past year. We really limited our circle of people who we shared life, more so we wouldn't be the cause of spreading it to someone else. But we did not want to sacrifice our entire well-being and relational needs for fear of getting Covid again, so it was definitely a balance. Two of our closest friends were leaving after the school year so we wanted to try and maximize time with them. <br /></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></div><p></p><p style="margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCUJMfTLpz8fpECkKtZzZcjxB8CbEn1L3Mv3DX2x4ko0FRVOiUmpr3jMmN-HVG1-0MiUj7tiCE983WPDgaPo7KEn55JYdDFmO5DOEJ7oJyrwV0750QjdYywggW8mxAO-mfKvPvsJF5dto/s2048/IMG_1094.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1539" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCUJMfTLpz8fpECkKtZzZcjxB8CbEn1L3Mv3DX2x4ko0FRVOiUmpr3jMmN-HVG1-0MiUj7tiCE983WPDgaPo7KEn55JYdDFmO5DOEJ7oJyrwV0750QjdYywggW8mxAO-mfKvPvsJF5dto/s320/IMG_1094.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My besties- two of which have now moved<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;">So, while we did feel limited and restricted socially, we got closer with those few families in our circle and that was really sweet. One of our favorite families moved to Italy in May and another family (my college bestie) moved back to the States last month so we are grieving that loss. Plus, most people left for the summer so our campus was mainly full of workers and campus development work. </span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">We actually really appreciate having a quieter campus and find it very restful here in the rainy season. We always look at it as an opportunity to focus on language learning and getting family time. Whereas last semester I had been doing Amharic tutoring for 2 hours, 4 times a week, Kent wasn't able to, so he took over the 2 hour sessions and has made quite a leap in his language ability this summer. At the end of June, we took a two week much needed vacation to an island off of Kenya called The Seychelles. Another Bingham family joined us and we had so much fun in a little paradise filled with mostly empty but beautiful beaches. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh3hMGF64MxVutJiSwcFOzwAl6wXpVChgtOi87SE0F4sxtFdDsLhXO2Ma2oxHve40Cx4E_aEGq1RYaNrEDL4NRZcPen3lO2G1Kw_0rtAKPf24qRXtcmiGyK5a5uuOA2Th2DclVEj1rKk8/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh3hMGF64MxVutJiSwcFOzwAl6wXpVChgtOi87SE0F4sxtFdDsLhXO2Ma2oxHve40Cx4E_aEGq1RYaNrEDL4NRZcPen3lO2G1Kw_0rtAKPf24qRXtcmiGyK5a5uuOA2Th2DclVEj1rKk8/" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifmyIQlGrW8-OhVOM3Q9yPFX4_cy52UnGxG0gRhEfQZ7A-zc5M5KTdG9mnMEaMa8ttqH6ba2nxKLH4uEPLOjfMhLyC1JD_5s1zh1yrqoFpIJo7DWAUOouQVh6LfY6tq9xOn3NSy5onDTI/" width="240" /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ocQoJgto2zGAWxz81m7pFc6N5Ivf7c0ualUBB7DkBds0c_FDp83Mp5ZMAqhy7pElSHD-LgFR43w6SFRVnJEj2gVJMWembBYlakMquKxJor_iC954nLJesee5u4eJXLgLe01CsE9dX0Y/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ocQoJgto2zGAWxz81m7pFc6N5Ivf7c0ualUBB7DkBds0c_FDp83Mp5ZMAqhy7pElSHD-LgFR43w6SFRVnJEj2gVJMWembBYlakMquKxJor_iC954nLJesee5u4eJXLgLe01CsE9dX0Y/" width="180" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZNEcVy5SjtgEw3Y19Nc8BwbJw1hRwVQqwT8ODa3ePjEFbCA2BXtnDc9kljeTsPKBzhwYRKGykTseNYgEUpV7qGmrz8xNsb5ISIBdhMwJrRHFd8WuZR4SSzYU4bQ5v-beF3yOPvxVC_DI/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZNEcVy5SjtgEw3Y19Nc8BwbJw1hRwVQqwT8ODa3ePjEFbCA2BXtnDc9kljeTsPKBzhwYRKGykTseNYgEUpV7qGmrz8xNsb5ISIBdhMwJrRHFd8WuZR4SSzYU4bQ5v-beF3yOPvxVC_DI/" width="180" /></a></div> <br /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKAZMFNTohiu6206Wg42aG-HnUEulO5cOyPQ2IhVeDqUy9Yi5VHz6S4zKWKCdQF3Vt1pD9a3Dt5WmreG-aMVIyMr5IgTvIrYKPORESYPZTTiFrkEAcz1NjSpR_oi2siJf7GZkWU2i93Dk/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKAZMFNTohiu6206Wg42aG-HnUEulO5cOyPQ2IhVeDqUy9Yi5VHz6S4zKWKCdQF3Vt1pD9a3Dt5WmreG-aMVIyMr5IgTvIrYKPORESYPZTTiFrkEAcz1NjSpR_oi2siJf7GZkWU2i93Dk/" width="180" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ-Q0zUhHSiQDaD2TWYtnGzgneN17jAs4F6Z0OfmStdI02ydqcoPO7uQzofEdLBsiDqUnPMf452mxZd_OY2WuPbetgCtn6kYMQiScCTdRVbxmmbM5oN-M3yRGC6ByHbkaY0VJXnEMkiQQ/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ-Q0zUhHSiQDaD2TWYtnGzgneN17jAs4F6Z0OfmStdI02ydqcoPO7uQzofEdLBsiDqUnPMf452mxZd_OY2WuPbetgCtn6kYMQiScCTdRVbxmmbM5oN-M3yRGC6ByHbkaY0VJXnEMkiQQ/" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1nFJj7t9TKwPEvzvDjSC-X01LkxHkc-cEnEyOQlACyNjiYzwhiZQxLkodIEwoSRe42vzUZVLJTFhbDZsr2kn1-jnLziIBWUllJ3XLONX3JHATIr8ExlYYsh3dG0oAiVaeJon3k-4bluk/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1nFJj7t9TKwPEvzvDjSC-X01LkxHkc-cEnEyOQlACyNjiYzwhiZQxLkodIEwoSRe42vzUZVLJTFhbDZsr2kn1-jnLziIBWUllJ3XLONX3JHATIr8ExlYYsh3dG0oAiVaeJon3k-4bluk/" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLKtD9AKhPRVfjqlwXD01tBOFbsPEAbthxpQ3snCjOWconhPE_YB1uy6gjm4vwLm-3xkzI3s1NnGu7_MUU8j3iutMq2DG8PUScyoL4BtIrNt_ybbGXIKkAqfchEQ8kw0FWUQzYb3Cn6Lg/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLKtD9AKhPRVfjqlwXD01tBOFbsPEAbthxpQ3snCjOWconhPE_YB1uy6gjm4vwLm-3xkzI3s1NnGu7_MUU8j3iutMq2DG8PUScyoL4BtIrNt_ybbGXIKkAqfchEQ8kw0FWUQzYb3Cn6Lg/" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="text-align: left;">We celebrated all of our birthdays over the past 4 months. The girls turned 5, 7 & 9. </span></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJVs4IZPVXGeTy_dyqTziImav3Fw8GjwRFyT5dDvtR0Af5qBh3jhU1AY2sgFepAplNIbKICHwlvBgtuDvcpEQNJpBAMZkF1yBTx4hrtgV9T2nkNnGyimPfERuDTnYBQRFLsgMzXFieOs0/" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1533" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJVs4IZPVXGeTy_dyqTziImav3Fw8GjwRFyT5dDvtR0Af5qBh3jhU1AY2sgFepAplNIbKICHwlvBgtuDvcpEQNJpBAMZkF1yBTx4hrtgV9T2nkNnGyimPfERuDTnYBQRFLsgMzXFieOs0/" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My 30-something bday in May</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLf_VUnPAyayM4FaGgs-zJN85Sp5hiIj6KLtfHZFQekNwGrXHd8Xlzv7xw3rANQM0YNKTvkq2NyZ9PhwAvUiRJRClNO9KgVX_cvIbg1IF7drIlih1TU83MoGWD6veRMgyyY6WblYgYkZM/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLf_VUnPAyayM4FaGgs-zJN85Sp5hiIj6KLtfHZFQekNwGrXHd8Xlzv7xw3rANQM0YNKTvkq2NyZ9PhwAvUiRJRClNO9KgVX_cvIbg1IF7drIlih1TU83MoGWD6veRMgyyY6WblYgYkZM/" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">KJ's 9th bday in July</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyJgMCickKEg_BbnkahHeJSADSYfQSYxD_tShhTAHxelxgHxw9HCOONSw0pYSOkiC-n5yJnw8uEkwIwsgexWoJWPjihzhCRTKJXDRtpTfyR6okGgSRNg6Tyr9_sQYMtFwZMkQCbeR07CQ/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyJgMCickKEg_BbnkahHeJSADSYfQSYxD_tShhTAHxelxgHxw9HCOONSw0pYSOkiC-n5yJnw8uEkwIwsgexWoJWPjihzhCRTKJXDRtpTfyR6okGgSRNg6Tyr9_sQYMtFwZMkQCbeR07CQ/" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Savy turned 5 in June</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVdyENOEK-sHhNhnf3TPtQ-Uv31dGQntBYTBgBCtVRCpPD8Occod8yreDChvXd8sEPVAd7cAPDlQO5XkjkKTQBSwP2Vvwf_B4baRWap90dHM4TkAJOXv3IBtT-XUaGg53t1tyk7PVnNBI/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVdyENOEK-sHhNhnf3TPtQ-Uv31dGQntBYTBgBCtVRCpPD8Occod8yreDChvXd8sEPVAd7cAPDlQO5XkjkKTQBSwP2Vvwf_B4baRWap90dHM4TkAJOXv3IBtT-XUaGg53t1tyk7PVnNBI/" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kent's 35th in Seychelles</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfgFl_VE-AG_QAv9rJ5h2jpcGUooflen7RzKu2GAD5btUH54uXt_GAT3nHL2DDbjjHhNU6n8q2lJ34V6pgIaq6RLOPr3SFKybaGCMEnDkMELPzNISGXbye4zyoTDb23x6pBPnWeBfJKHM/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1138" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfgFl_VE-AG_QAv9rJ5h2jpcGUooflen7RzKu2GAD5btUH54uXt_GAT3nHL2DDbjjHhNU6n8q2lJ34V6pgIaq6RLOPr3SFKybaGCMEnDkMELPzNISGXbye4zyoTDb23x6pBPnWeBfJKHM/" width="135" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brooklyn turned 7 in April</td></tr></tbody></table> </div><span style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhri9R3CDvmAif6BL6PZMtzjlS9gCWnKgf-ZUbLtM6RHoDVRiKVD2_Dp5poc7RYh0TOeM7XNnQ_EvlWM2s-Zg2MntsI__LEWU_U0chFN8jplb4exLMJBay8PK9CoELHoXdegVJe6OXmZic/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1152" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhri9R3CDvmAif6BL6PZMtzjlS9gCWnKgf-ZUbLtM6RHoDVRiKVD2_Dp5poc7RYh0TOeM7XNnQ_EvlWM2s-Zg2MntsI__LEWU_U0chFN8jplb4exLMJBay8PK9CoELHoXdegVJe6OXmZic/" width="135" /></a></div>What else happened this year? Well, Savy fractured her collar bone and learned to ride a bike. Brooklyn lost a bunch of teeth. Kent and I arrived at 11 years of marriage. I got certified to lead trauma healing groups in May. And Kent preached at our international church in July. </span></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-l2x04ZO4l0CMJtOQrVzTYjRnq_RvaQI1KJAbJaYJOSOZH-3L958WgHvCMb0pW-7VtKjE6hZmFN4NsYn6BJ_KzZNuTEoLYfmNEwla3bwylZpVH_1fjBRxNk67IytCD1-DozAZNQXu-8g/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-l2x04ZO4l0CMJtOQrVzTYjRnq_RvaQI1KJAbJaYJOSOZH-3L958WgHvCMb0pW-7VtKjE6hZmFN4NsYn6BJ_KzZNuTEoLYfmNEwla3bwylZpVH_1fjBRxNk67IytCD1-DozAZNQXu-8g/" width="180" /></a></span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span><span style="font-family: georgia;">The girls got to take care of a neighbor's bunny this summer and also found a couple baby chameleons and kittens, which was exciting. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBf-vOaOh7s8TKXRqp2cRofuDDyJo0MOEpYzUobk8EQI6DynFMV8xDIEjwb8uMRJ2vY5eB-vXnm62UVLc5zMBSifDmFc8f4Fbh8bjrY5muXZVengpseqqMSMFG-j4595ZIlvgHImLTJaU/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBf-vOaOh7s8TKXRqp2cRofuDDyJo0MOEpYzUobk8EQI6DynFMV8xDIEjwb8uMRJ2vY5eB-vXnm62UVLc5zMBSifDmFc8f4Fbh8bjrY5muXZVengpseqqMSMFG-j4595ZIlvgHImLTJaU/" width="180" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLILLtQH1TJVQUNOQsFm4V18cBFN86Ne74iUdiFGrUwVYnGdPxpkbzyNmE-31SloW9Cas1vrx80HsKfEdOwQj0JS6k2SOti1L8qAMiujfp_lgRf8dJjkiZ6kQ85pKkDpxKvJyNhidppjk/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLILLtQH1TJVQUNOQsFm4V18cBFN86Ne74iUdiFGrUwVYnGdPxpkbzyNmE-31SloW9Cas1vrx80HsKfEdOwQj0JS6k2SOti1L8qAMiujfp_lgRf8dJjkiZ6kQ85pKkDpxKvJyNhidppjk/" width="180" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8knu9Lmn6wzpUOQ4pll9XeUEtgkir2tXWuB71v77CezIkDIlEKOHGu9tMoyU3-Fkt_pAuQCgpCzC6cz5WfzCBY1LOQC0Q7YK45fdloEjG9xuF-4bILeh3LV1CuaZ6gpGmVZI6vK6XrQI/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8knu9Lmn6wzpUOQ4pll9XeUEtgkir2tXWuB71v77CezIkDIlEKOHGu9tMoyU3-Fkt_pAuQCgpCzC6cz5WfzCBY1LOQC0Q7YK45fdloEjG9xuF-4bILeh3LV1CuaZ6gpGmVZI6vK6XrQI/" width="180" /></a></span></div></div><p></p><p style="margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">We all LOVED watching the Olympics and cheering for so many different countries (due to living at an International school and having friends from all over the world)!</span></p><p style="margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">However, despite our time away and a quiet campus, the past year really took a toll on my husband (and all of us) and we could use prayer as we gear up for, likely, another strained, and challenging school year. Families and teachers have trickled back to Bingham and the campus is becoming noisier again. Last week Kent was at the office more as he prepared for the start of teacher orientation. Today we saw old and new staff come together for the kick off. We are excited but tentative and uncertain, as we expect the delta variant or others to trickle in again with very few people here vaccinated, and also feel the increasing tension of unrest that is going on in the country around us.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in;"><span face="-webkit-standard, serif"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I think everyone, no matter what they did this summer, is still feeling exhausted and a bit traumatized from the strain of last year. Prayers for you all! May we enter this new year with hope, standing on God's grace, and waiting to see how He will continue working in and around us. Thanks for keeping us in your prayers! Pray for this country! We love and appreciate you all!</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p><br /><p></p></div>Jenni Austellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10347411806243729132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-546033613264935019.post-6275100163751235662020-08-19T14:31:00.000-05:002020-08-19T14:31:20.499-05:00Is it 2021 yet?Welcome to our lessons in WAITING and TRUSTING...<br /><br />
We had big plans for our 6 weeks in Memphis during our first furlough back. <div><img border="0" data-original-height="1259" data-original-width="2048" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW6F638XSlLNK981KpT-etkdchqNIntL3PH2HHEY5pZH7etx9zVwioKoKv9v_RCGfhn29hVbmSfZ0a3eEOFCp-hrA8F_DolwXLa80PreW7Agy-z_nByysgc-N78SeqUVCW9dOeBJX3vCY/w410-h251/KJ+%2526+Fam-6-2.jpg" width="410" /><br /><div>Let me tell you how it really went down. The first week we had some zoom calls with our sending mission organization, SIM to debrief our first term on the field. During that week on a run one morning, I started getting a tightness in my calf. The pain grew significantly worse over the next couple days and I kept thinking to myself, it feels like my blood is being blocked and won't flow to my foot. I tried to keep off of it, tried icing and massaging it. A few days later, it started swelling quite a bit and I felt tingling in my foot. I started getting worried, and looked up what a blood clot feels like. The description was very similar to what I was feeling. The next morning, I had a dermatologist appointment and thought I'd just ask her about it and she confirmed that I should get an ultrasound and make sure everything was fine. Turns out it was a muscle strain or tear and nothing to worry about, but It was a bit of a stress for me those days, and just the beginning of a bunch more medical issues.</div><div><br /></div><div>The second week, we planned a staycation in Memphis with Kent's siblings. That Monday, I had my annual physical where I needed blood work done and other things in order to return to the mission field. That day, I learned I had a UTI and needed antibiotics. Later on that week, I also found out the iron levels in my blood were too high. They wanted me to see a blood doctor, a hematologist, to figure that out before returning to Ethiopia so they sent my bloodwork over and said they'd call me to book an appointment in a week or so.<div><br />
Meanwhile, we were spending the week with Kent's siblings at an airbnb in Memphis so the cousins and siblings could all get time together. I snuck away on Wednesday for a dental appointment that morning, and after my cleaning, found out I had a small cavity in my front tooth, so I booked another apt for that Friday. Saturday ended our stay-cation with Kent's siblings, but Sunday the brothers reunited for a game of 2x2 basketball and we celebrated Kent's birthday together.<br />
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The following week we tried to see a few of our close friends and catch up with them. It was great until we found out one of Kent's siblings was exposed to Covid-19 the previous Saturday. So his brother got tested and we all waited to hear his results to know if <i>we </i>were also exposed. The biggest concern for our whole time in Memphis was to keep Kent's mom safe. Because of her previous cancer and compromised immune system, we wanted to be extra cautious during our time living with Kent's parents and had tried to take all the precautions.</div><div>
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Saturday, July 4th, Kent woke up early in the morning with fever. We were definitely thinking it was Covid, though his brother hadn't gotten his results yet. So Kent drove to a nearby testing center and had to wait in his car 6 hours in a winding line to get tested. We thought his results would come back with in the week. His parents graciously left their own house and Kent took over their room downstairs, isolating from the rest of us (for the next 18 days). So of course we are all watching (from a distance) his symptoms. It was our first 4th of July back in the states in years and we were so excited for our kids to celebrate an American holiday IN America. but on that day began our 14 day quarantine as we isolated from Kent and stayed home. The girls and I had no symptoms but didn't want to expose any friends or go anywhere public just in case.<br />
<br />Two days later, on Monday I got a call from this new hematologist's office saying they'd booked me an appointment for 2 weeks and that they'll email me my new patient registration. A few hours later, I got an email from the West Cancer center. I thought it was spam until I saw the words "new patient" in the subject line. It took me back as I realized I was going for more testing <i>in a cancer center. </i>Of course my fears took over and I googled what it could mean to have high iron in my blood. I ran down to tell Kent, only to find him asleep in his bed with fever and chills. So I kept it to myself for a few days, trying not to worry, trying to take care of the girls and Kent and keep it all together.<br />
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Meanwhile, the girls had to have a check up with their pediatrician and get updates on vaccines and such. I took them by myself that Monday, holding them as they cried through all their shots. Brooklyn had to get 4. We returned 2 days later for them to quickly check the girls arms from their TB skin test, only to have the nurse call the doctor in, and that doctor call in another doctor as they examined the two big red patches on Brooklyn and KJ's arms. Brooklyn, they thought, was definitely positive. KJ seemed to be just short of a positive. They immediately wanted Brooklyn to get blood work done and straight after, they wanted me to get her a chest X-ray to see if the infection was in her lungs.<br />
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As we waited on Brooklyn's blood work, waited on my appointment at the Cancer center, and waited to see how Kent's symptoms progressed, there was a lot of anxiety, internal stress and also loneliness in carrying it all by ourselves, isolated from everyone else. That was a very hard week for us. KJ's birthday was that Saturday and she wouldn't get to see the friends she'd so hoped to celebrate with. I made her a "COVID-TASTIC party schedule" with activities for the whole day to make it fun for her. She handled it amazingly well, after her initial shock and disappointment learning daddy had COVID-19 and she couldn't see her friends like she'd thought she would.<br />
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The following week, a close friend was going on vacation and allowed Kent's parents to move out of the hotel and into their house for another week for them to isolate from Kent. Thankfully, they didn't show any symptoms. The friend's house had a pool, so by God's grace, the girls and I had something to do every day, other than sit in the house. Brooklyn got her test back Monday saying her blood showed positive for TB but her X-ray was clear. So she has latent Tuberculosis, which is not contagious and needs 4 months of daily medication to clear up. While when I heard this, I was suspicious KJ might also be positive and wanted to double check. I asked the doc if we could come back and run her blood work, wishing they would have gone ahead and done hers the day we were getting Brooklyn's done. <div><br />
Friday morning, Kent and I both got tested at a 48-hour covid testing center to make sure we were both in the clear. He had finished up his symptoms on day 12 and now it was day 15, so according to the CDC, we figured he was probably over it. He was SO ready to reengage with people and get busy doing the things we needed to get done over our furlough. He was supposed to get a physical and vaccine update on Monday and needed that negative test before they'd let him in.</div><div><br />
Friday afternoon was also my appointment at West Cancer center. God had given me peace over the past week of crying, worrying, and then laying everything down before Him. I really did trust Him and held on tightly to his promises. Kent's mom volunteered to go with me, in case there was anything upsetting or unusual that another ear would hear better. We waited all afternoon, my appointment scheduled for 12:30 and got in to see the doctor at 3pm. He was very laid back and not at all shocked by my numbers. He said the high iron didn't really bother him, but if I had high ferritin levels in my blood, that would mean I had Hemochromatosis, a genetic blood disorder that required weekly blood letting the first year as treatment. So we ran the ferritin test and although I was supposed to find out hours later, in keeping with the theme of the summer, I waited a full week to find out the results.<br />
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Saturday afternoon I got an email from the COVID-19 testing center saying I was negative. I ran to see if Kent got that same email and he didn't get one. He called and they wouldn't get back to him. Discouraged, he waited til Sunday, hoping surely he would have the test results and could proceed with his appointment Monday. Nothing came Sunday, or Monday morning. Luckily, he had previously made a back-up apt at a 15 minute testing site, so he went Monday afternoon and got a negative test right away. PRAISE GOD! 18 days of isolating and he could finally safely see people. Yet we were scheduled to leave Thursday, only 3 days to get it all done. Tuesday morning, he got his physical. We all went to the shot nurse for further vaccines and Kent and I got our TB tests. I called about KJ's bloodwork results and they said it wasn't in yet, not til Thursday (the day we leave). I'm thinking this is cutting things really close. </div><div><br /></div><div>Not only that, but one of my teeth started hurting, where I'd had a crown put in over 10 years ago. It wasn't that bad and I didn't really have time to deal with it but something told me just to go get it checked out. I hate the dentist and was praying all the way that it was nothing. They did an x-ray and saw some concerning issues under the crown, guessing it to be infection in the root canal. The dentist said to get on a heavy dose of antibiotics for a week to nip the infection and hopefully it would be fine. If it recurs, he said there was a chance they'd have to pull the tooth and I'd get an implant. Great, so now another week of waiting and hoping the infection would go away. </div><div><br /></div><div>I came home that day to find Kent had already bumped our flight a week back. He didn't feel peace about leaving the next day, despite our scramble to get everything done in time and say goodbyes. I felt so relieved and yet we had already packed and now we'd live another week out of our carry-on suitcases. But now we would get to see Kent's grandparents, visit our sending church, relax a bit and see a few more friends. Plus take care of a few lingering health issues...</div><div><br /></div><div> KJ's results came back Thursday, positive for TB (latent) so we got her on the same medication as Brooklyn. I found out my Ferritin levels were within normal range, so I didn't even have hemochromatosis and would just have to check in with the hematologist whenever I'm back in the States (praise God). However, my tooth continued hurting even after the antibiotics. I had a dental friend take a look (the day before we were leaving Memphis), and he recommended we do not leave the country without taking care of the tooth. We rushed to an oral surgeon and prayed they would see me, though I had no appointment. By God's grace alone, he let me in for a consultation, and though it was the end of his work day, he did the procedure right then. He pulled my tooth, which was sadly, the best option. However, I will have to wait a few months (longer with COVID-19) to start the process of getting a tooth implant and will need to fly to Kenya or South Africa if travel ever becomes easier. God knows... We left the next morning on our flight to DC, and the next week we made it back to Addis.</div><div><br /></div><div>Needless to say, it was not the trip back we were hoping for. We still enjoyed visiting family and some of our friends, despite everything. I think we both aged a few years in those few weeks. But while all these issues were a pain to deal with, we were thankful to deal with them in the U.S. and not here in Ethiopia. God showed himself faithful and helped us each step of the way. <br />
<br /></div></div></div></div>Jenni Austellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10347411806243729132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-546033613264935019.post-83701972177870808342020-05-18T19:55:00.000-05:002020-05-18T19:55:00.442-05:00Quarantined on furlough<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hey guys! We are writing from a little airbnb house in Beaufort, SC where we have been quarantined for the past week. God provided money for a 2 week quarantine (thanks friends!) so we could make sure we weren't exposing our parents and family members to anything we may have picked up on our travels. </div>
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Our flight from Addis was pretty smooth, praise God, with no delays or cancellations. We had pretty full flights, surprisingly, but an empty seat between us and another person, which allowed the kids to spread out and sleep on the overnight flight from Addis to D.C. There was no power or entertainment on the 20 hour flight, so we tried to download a few movies on our computer and phones. But once our phone batteries died, that was that until we got to DC.</div>
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The empty DC airport was a bit of culture shock, already. First of all, DC was freezing and we could NOT get warm, even in the airport. Secondly, there were chargers every few steps, and of course a 110v plug, which immediately made everything so much simpler for us to charge our computers and phones. Phew! Also, free FAST internet! Before leaving, we tried to download 4 movies and a few shows and it took us 3 days. I downloaded a Netflix show on my phone in 2 minutes at the DC airport! </div>
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We had a 9 hour layover and our first American food was a Potbelly sandwich, the only place opened. But after not having lunch meat for 2.5 years, or bacon or pickles available, it tasted heavenly. Savy picked out a huge bag of bugles and ate it entirely. Brooklyn and KJ pick Gardettos. Sooo many snack choices! We ate, rested, watched movies, and finally the girls conked out, 20 minutes before boarding our 2 hour flight to Savannah, Ga. They slept that whole flight and almost all the way to our airbnb, which was an hour away. But honestly, we were all so tired from the travel that we got on American time really quickly with little jet lag. So that was another blessing. </div>
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It's the girls and my first time back in the States after 2.5 years in Ethiopia and even though we have mostly been in the house, we have had some funny observations so far.</div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px;">On our flight from Ethiopia Brooklyn kept saying “i can’t believe we are going to America! Feels like a dream." </span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12px;">Savy said, “is this plane taking us to nana and pappy’s? How do they know where they live?” We turned to get on the runway and Savy said “is this the way to Nana and pappys?”</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"> </span></span></div>
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We woke up the next morning and left our house to explore our yard. The girls enjoyed watching the squirrels! They're like the equivalent of African monkeys! Three ducks followed us around literally up to our front door. We fed them some Honeycomb and they pooped on our porch. </div>
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We saw a huge snake on our path, which scared us all to death and Savy began saying, "I want to go back home now!"</div>
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Our morning breakfast includes alllll the things! We have enjoyed breakfast sausage, bacon and eggs, bagels and cream cheese, so much cereal, greek yogurt with fresh berries, coffee with French vanilla creamer... We can't believe all the options!</div>
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The girls got to experience a Dairy Queen blizzard! On the drive there, KJ says, "Mom, this is so boring. I haven't seen one other human being. No donkeys or goats, and look at that truck; nothing is toppling over. America is way too secure." <br />
The kids also can't get enough of the crushed ice button on our fridge. (People don't drink cold drinks in Ethiopia or really use ice). And Savy says, "Mom, watch this!" and steps on the trash can pedal so the lid opens. Magic! And I am just enjoying not having to sweep up piles of ants after every meal!<br />
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Our house has a pool in the backyard, so the kids have been loving that! There is also a little beachfront 20 minutes away that we have taken the kids to a few times.<br />
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After our quarantine, we plan to drive to Alabama to spend a week with my sister and her family, then come back to South Carolina and stay with my parents for 2 weeks. We will then drive to Memphis and visit Kent's family for 3 weeks. He will have to head back to Ethiopia then, which currently has a 2 week government mandated quarantine in a hotel room. That will be fun. He wants to get there before next year's staff return to prepare for whatever this next school year will look like. We plan to follow him back 2 weeks later, but we will see what happens in country.<br />
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So it will be a short time overall, and we know there will be limited opportunities to do many of the things we'd hoped to, and even less opportunity to visit all our people, with Covid still limiting interactions. But we are so thankful for God's provision in each part of our time back so far. And we are trusting God with this summer, his plan for us and for the world during this time. <br />
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<br />Jenni Austellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10347411806243729132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-546033613264935019.post-79291161305817994572020-04-09T14:19:00.000-05:002020-04-09T14:34:22.587-05:00Life in Ethiopia during Corona<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
Sorry it’s been awhile. Everyone has been in the same foggy haze over the past month and it’s hard to put into words all that has gone on and what we’ve been feeling. But I’m documenting this so someday I can remember what we all went through when this crazy pandemic swept over the world. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Mar 13 was when the first case of Corona came to Ethiopia. The government shut down the schools for 2 weeks and Bingham took an early spring break with plans to do school online until April 20th. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Kent and I had been so looking forward to our 10 year anniversary trip this year and made a plan with 3 of our close friends to go to the beach in Kenya over spring break on march 19<sup>th</sup>. At the time, there were no CO-VID cases in Kenya and only a few in Ethiopia so we thought it <i>might</i> still be able to happen, even though travel was already cancelled to and from any level 3 countries. But the week before, things around Africa quickly shut down and travel restrictions and border closures ensued. Of course that was just one of the many losses felt around the world, trivial in comparison. Instead of Kenya, our family and another went 4 hours south to a lake called Langano where we stayed in a cabin. The kids swam in the lake (with hippos) for 6 glorious days, oblivious to what the rest of the world was dealing with. It was very needed for us to get out of Addis for a bit and try to regroup and take a breath.<o:p></o:p></div>
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However 2 days in, the situation in country and around the world changed again and the Embassy urged all American citizens to get back to the U.S. immediately or prepare to stay in their current country indefinitely. Other countries and mission agencies followed suit, calling their citizens back and saying that their flight options would quickly dwindle. What happened at Bingham was that many of our older staff members and any of those at risk, as well as those who were planning to go on furlough this summer anyway, quickly booked tickets and left within a matter of days. Some were leaving Bingham for good, a place they’d called home for over 10 years. It was a traumatic scattering of our community with over 55 goodbyes in a matter of days.<o:p></o:p></div>
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So currently, much of Ethiopia is on lockdown and roads going in and out of the city are closed. In Addis we can still go grocery shopping but all restaurants and such are closed. Very few taxis can be found and the roads are pretty empty, but people are still out and about walking to and fro, buying their daily fruit and veg, as all the souks are still open. We are bracing for things to get worse and praying for the people who already struggle so much day to day. We are trying to get some extra food to all our yetesfa girls and check on them. But people's view of foreigners isn't great right now and we don't want to hurt as we try to help.<br />
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Only 20 or so people remain here at Bingham, on a compound where 85 of us used to do life together. School was changed to online for the rest of the year and only a handful of teachers are at work in their offices here each day, planning lessons and posting videos while all the other staff work from home in their home countries. Thankfully, all 6 of us who meet Thursday nights for bible study are still here! So having that continuing is a huge blessing and encouragement. My kids have one family here that has a daughter their age (we are so thankful for the one friend they are still able to play with). <o:p></o:p></div>
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We are all grieving in our own ways, trying to process what’s happening in our home countries, what may happen in Ethiopia over the next few weeks, the community we have lost that will forever look different, and all the uncertainties hanging over us about what the next few months will hold. We had planned to take our first furlough this summer. I haven’t been back at all in 2.5 years and we were so looking forward to meeting new babies, spending time with family we hadn’t seen this whole time and doing all the things we haven’t been able to do since living here. But again, everyone’s plans have changed and we all have to surrender and let go of what we’d hoped for. God is our anchor, the one who sits on the throne and who doesn’t change when everything else seems to be spiraling. We are forced to surrender our plans, our futures, and our present lives and trust in the one who made us, loves us and has a plan for us. We are trying to honor God in this season and be faithful where he has us, but it sure is a humbling time.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The kids are doing amazingly well with having to say hard goodbyes, adjusting to school at home, not seeing their friends and teachers anymore, knowing a scary sickness is around the world, and not knowing if we will get to furlough or not. They are so resilient, it’s inspiring. But pray for strength for me to deal with 80% more sibling squabbles and whiney attitudes that emerge from being around each other all day. And for KJ and I working through her math angst each morning!<o:p></o:p></div>
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I was planning to take the kids back to the States, mid-May and spend extra time with my family, and Kent would join us mid-June when the school year ended. Now, we are holding loosely our plan to try and leave May 9 and self-quarantine somewhere for 2 weeks before joining my parents in South Carolina for a month. We don’t know if we will be allowed to travel much around the States and obviously don’t plan to see friends and visit our churches this summer if things are what they are. So, now we hope to fly into DC and then connect to a city near my parents to quarantine. <o:p></o:p><br />
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We are praying for you who support us and care for us. We thank God for you and pray he is sustaining and protecting you! We miss you and would love to hear an update on how you are doing and how you are coping! Sending our love.</div>
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Jenni Austellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10347411806243729132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-546033613264935019.post-71798318618696919532019-08-14T04:29:00.000-05:002019-08-14T04:29:49.680-05:00End of school year fun<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Hey friends. We have been without internet quite a bit here the last month. Power rations in Ethiopia mean they shut the power off for half of every day (which means no internet). Then there have also been problems in the country and they tend to shut down the internet then as well, this time texting was off too. It was strange to feel so without the ability to communicate with the outside world.</div>
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We sent out a newsletter with how the end of the school year finished for us. (Let me know if you want receive those.) But I wanted to share about the trip we took in June with the graduating class of 2019. We were so excited to be asked to chaperone these 22 graduates on their trip to Zanzibar, an island off of Tanzania just a quick 3 hour direct flight away. We really just got to hang out with them and give them freedom to explore the island, try some new things and really make some memories before they all head off to different countries and universities. </div>
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We stayed in Stone Town for the first 2 nights and loved shopping and exploring the beautiful buildings and scenery of this town. We ate street food at this big park where 50 or so vendors sold chicken kabobs, seafood, samosas, and chapati. We enjoyed the beach, the historical tour of the African slave trade post, the castle, the culture, and the people. On our way to Nungwi up north, we did a spice farm tour and loved seeing all the things they grow and export on this island.</div>
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In Nungwi, we stayed at a great hotel on the beach where we could go on morning runs and do some shopping along the coast. We took the kids snorkeling and we all learned to scuba dive (some of us got sea sick out there in the choppy ocean that day). We cooked sea food, jet skied, tubed, wake boarded and relaxed. It was such a treat to cap off a busy school year and Kent and I really enjoyed the break from daily life in Addis and even from our kids. We had amazing servant-hearted teachers who stayed with them the week we were gone and the kids had such a blast getting spoiled by them and doing fun things each day. It was a win-win for our end of school wrap up.</div>
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Say a prayer for these amazing students as they spread out and pursue God's calling on their lives. So much transition, many now living in a different country from their parents or from where they grew up. They will have a huge learning curve, not just in their classes but the culture and people they are now surrounded by, being much different from the life they've been living in Addis Ababa at Bingham Academy. Pray for God to lead and guide them and be their anchor in this new year.<br />
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As for Kent and I, the rest of the 'summer' was mostly spent in Addis, enjoying more family time and Amharic study. His brothers came to visit us in July.<br />
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We were so blessed by their visit and it made our second rainy season in Addis go by much more quickly. This year, Kent will have a few professional trips to take for our building campaign, but the girls and I will be here in Addis until we furlough back to the States in May! Pray for this school year start up to go smoothly, for the new teachers and new students especially to adjust quickly and for God to do amazing things this year!Jenni Austellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10347411806243729132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-546033613264935019.post-21127145035441228202019-06-01T01:33:00.000-05:002019-06-01T01:33:19.201-05:00An Ode to my Childhood<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
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I watched a movie over the weekend that really got me thinking. It was strange, a guy had the ability to go back in time in his life and redo moments that didn’t go as he’d hoped. When his dad passed away of cancer, he could go back in time and hangout with him, but only until his children were born, then he had to stop going back or it would change things and he would have a different child. So, he went back one last time to be with his dad before the birth of his first child. Then, he had to move on with life, enjoy every moment and hang on to the memories. (It was called About Time).<o:p></o:p></div>
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Although I was overly emotional watching it, thinking about my own dad, it just made me stop and appreciate the people in my life, even if they are there for a short season. I’ve had such great friendships at different phases of life, such sweet family memories and amazing opportunities that I just want to acknowledge and be grateful for. Life keeps moving forward at 100mph and then suddenly it will be gone. This won’t be a reflection on my whole life (maybe a part 1 of 4), but if anything, it’s so I can have a record of some meaningful memories before I forget them! <o:p></o:p></div>
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I grew up in a northwest suburb of Chicago called Buffalo Grove. It had the BEST pizza, the best bagels, and the BEST neighborhood called Mill Creek Cove. We had wonderful families all around our block with kids our own age to play with. Our neighborhood picnics and cookouts were epic! At our 4<sup>th</sup>of July parade, I remember having mounds of food, prizes and game stations that grown ups and kids could participate in (like sack races, 3 legged races, bubble gum blowing, balloon pop, egg on a spoon race, water balloon toss). We’d practice beforehand, make signs, face paint, and cheer everyone else on. We decorated our bikes and dressed in red, white and blue as we proudly road around in a line. Sometimes we had a firetruck come and shoot us with the hose. I have a million memories for those first 10 years of life. <span style="background-color: white;">We picked raspberries from the neighbor’s yard, played Sardines, cops and robbers, SPUD and poison car. We climbed trees, had a secret clubhouse, rolled down hills and played in the rain. We could hop on our bikes and ride to the community center park a few blocks away or the elementary school to hangout. We played outside all day until the street lights turned on and it was time for dinner. My parents would blow a whistle 3 times to signal us to come inside. Everything was an adventure with friends and it was truly the best. Jami, Jill, Elyssa, Heidi, Meghan, and Amy, Mr. Flatebo, Sharon, Mrs. Brown… thanks for the amazing childhood memories. Nothing could ever compare.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">My family was pretty awesome too. Every Saturday morning my sister, dad and I would ride our bikes to the best Bagel & Bialy shop in town. I have never had a better bagel since. My dad would come home from work before dinner, change clothes and spread a blanket in the front yard so we would do “tricks” with him. He’d flip us, throw us, and balance us on his legs like we were circus performers. The neighbor kids would come over just to do tricks with us or watch. He took us to every park in the city to see which had the biggest slide. He would pretend to be a troll under the rickety bridge as we pretended to be the 3 billy goats gruff trying to cross without getting caught. In the winter, he built us a snow fort with a little wooden door in our front yard and took us to the biggest sledding hills. After dinner sometimes we would sit on the front porch eating our freeze pops and try to guess which color car was coming next. Everything was a game. After we’d order dinner at a restaurant he always had a notepad and pen to play hangman or the dot game for when we had to wait a million years for our food to come. He was ready with a few pieces of candy in his pocket to help us sit through the sermon at church on Sundays. My dad made everything more fun. He made booklets for my sister and I with a bunch of date night ideas and every other week we could pick which one and cash it in and have a date night with dad. Sometimes we’d go to Chuck. E. Cheese and play skee-ball. Sometimes we would go play mini- golf. But our favorite was when we’d stop at the grocery store and pick out our favorite snacks, then hit up Blockbuster and get a movie. He sure knew how to make us feel special. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">And of course mom was there holding down the fort, getting us out the door so we wouldn’t miss the school bus, breaking up fights between my sister and I, fixing our boo-boos, making us healthy meals, trying to get us to eat our dinner every night before going back out to play. We had to drink a glass of milk every night at dinner and I would hold my nose and gulp it down because I did NOT like milk. One time she made Quiche, which was NOT my favorite (I was a super picky eater). She said I couldn’t’ go outside til I’d finished. I sat there for what seemed like an hour, long after everyone had left the table. Finally when she had her back turned to wash the dishes, I stuffed the quiche in my napkin, rumpled it up, declared I was done, threw it in the trash and ran out the door. It wasn’t long before that whistle blew and I knew was BUSTED. She was always a step ahead of me, a very wise mom. My mom was a preschool teacher for many years and was so great with young kids. She was always preparing crafts and activities for us to do, making dance parties out of pre-school singalong records (YES RECORDS!) and knew <i>just </i>the right presents that we would love on Christmas and birthdays. And she was the BEST party planner. She made these incredible cakes for me each year; a Grover cake, Barbie, my little pony, Care Bears...and she always came up with fun party games and decorations. My mom made a lot with a little, and always made things special.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Friday nights were our family nights, though occasionally we would invite a guest to join in (who would mention for years to come, how much they enjoyed our family night). Charades was our classic go-to game, my dad the and getting to eat dinner and junk food in the family room was magical. We’d have dance parties and my sister and I would put on shows. We'd ask crazy questions and watch movies.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">At school, I loved my elementary teachers and still remember things about them to this day. </span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">Mrs. Jordan my 1st grade teacher was pregnant that year and we got to throw her a baby shower, eat cake and watch her open cute presents </span><i style="background-color: white; font-family: calibri, sans-serif;">in class</i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">. I don't know why, but that was like the greatest thing. In second grade Mrs. Henderson let us make story books and gingerbread houses. I had a crush on a boy named Tim and chased him and the other boys at recess. I would do back handsprings on the field, fly-aways on the bar and walk on top of the monkey bars (I loved gymnastics and always freaked everyone out with my tricks. I was a dare-devil. And a show-off). My 3rd grade year, my neighbor Mrs. Kruger was my teacher. She drove a baby blue Volkswagen bug. A boy named Sean chased me around the classroom trying to kiss me. He had freckles and red hair and I was terrified of being kissed. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">We played 4-square and traded stickers on the playground every day. I could beat every boy in my class in a race. I had play dates with my friend Kauti On and we got to eat fruit snacks at her house, which my mom never bought. Those few years at </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">Riley Elementary School were good to me! I was devastated to say goodbye to this time period of my life as we made the “big” move to another city (10 minutes away). I had to start over in a new neighborhood at a new school and I knew I would never have as great of friends. Starting 4</span><sup style="background-color: white; font-family: calibri, sans-serif;">th</sup><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">grade seemed terrifying (plus I had a male teacher!) and I was suddenly concerned about what other people thought. But I’ll save those memories for another day. </span></span></div>
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Life flies by, no one can stop it. Kids grow up, people move, sickness and accidents happen and you just have to take in each moment and delight in the many gifts God gives! Here’s to being a kid!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Jenni Austellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10347411806243729132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-546033613264935019.post-25776248749440416052019-02-15T13:39:00.000-06:002019-02-15T13:39:27.988-06:00Our new normal<br />
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<o:p> </o:p>I don’t even know where to start when I have waited so long in between posts. We have been in Addis for over a year now and in some ways it feels like it has been forever. I feel so far away from the U.S., from the city and home I once lived in. Even if I went home today, I feel like so much has changed that it wouldn’t feel like home anymore. The people have changed, gotten married, had babies, moved away, made new friends. Our church has a huge addition to where it doesn’t look like the same church we once went to. And I have changed, in ways I don’t even realize and ways I can’t quite put into words. </div>
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Of course, the most obvious changes I <i>can </i>try to describe for you, like changes in our daily routine. Before moving here, I couldn’t <i>imagine </i>getting used to any of these things. Like having a seratanya walk into our house without knocking every morning while Savy and I are still in our pjs and just start doing our dishes (she’s like a fairy!). I don’t think twice about bringing my washed clothes up to the attic of our apartment to string them up on a line to dry every week, or bringing our huge bucket of compost down the hill and around the elementary building to dump into the compost heap each week. Sweeping the kitchen after every meal is routine to avoid the piles of ants that detect every crumb inevitably left behind by my little ones. Sorting all our fruits and veggies into bowls and filling them with soapy water, clean water and a touch of bleach, rotating them all every 20 minutes and rinsing them a final time takes me an hour after I get home from the grocery store. It’s still a pain but it’s just what we do. Sending my kids off to school means watching them walk across the parking lot with our neighbor's kids to their classrooms, and car line pick up happens in our front yard, Hopping over tortoises on my weekly runs and hearing the muslim and orthodox calls to worship multiple times a day doesn't phase me anymore. Every day we have to fill up our water jugs with drinking water from the Bingham supply. Don't look at me strange when I stock up on 10 canisters of crackers at the grocery store. We never know when our favorite snack item will be gone for months at a time, or for good. (When we first got here, they had little packages of PRETZELS! They disappeared a month later and haven't come back again). Connecting to the internet (that drops every few minutes) takes quite a while, to connect first to the internet, then the firewall that our school has, then my VPN which allows me to use non-Ethiopian apps on my phone like facebook and Instagram or to check my email. It is quite a process. Of course, when the power goes out, the internet goes out, and often the internet has its own problems day to day.<br />
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I'm resigned to the fact that I pretty much stay at the Bingham compound every day of the week and hardly drive anywhere if I can help it, only going out Friday mornings (if I have the energy) and on the weekend for church and grocery shopping. I’ve come to accept it, (although I still hate it) because driving anywhere in Addis stresses me out. To plug in our American blender, I have to find the gato box and plug that in, find a plug converter for it and run it all through the gato box to make a smoothie. Or charge our phones. We keep flashlights by our beds for middle of the night power outages and I wake up the second it happens, as all our sound machines go off. I quickly run into the kids' room with my iPhone to turn on my sound app before they all wake. I also carry my coffee pot into the gym, which has a generator to make my morning coffee when the power is still out and have a huge bucket full or rain water outside my porch to use for washing dishes and flushing toilets when the water goes out.<br />
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But as I look at the enormous number of people and even families laying under a tarp along the street at night, I am so thankful. I am so blessed. It is so much easier to keep perspective here when all around you, people have next to nothing. We went over to a family’s for lunch one afternoon, to their one room apartment, and they had a basket of toys for their kids. They were all broken. And the kids were so happy to show them off to my kids and offer to share. You guys, we have so much, too much to appreciate. We have running water. Most people in Ethiopia don’t have this luxury. You'll often see old ladies carrying jugs of water up mountains! Who knows how far they have to go to get water every day. We have a shower! We have an actual toilet. Even nicer restaurants here may just have a squatty potty (hole) for a bathroom. Hardly anyone has their own car. Here at Bingham we have over 10 cars that we can check out when we need to go somewhere. We are so blessed! It’s all in your perspective.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Speaking of perspective, I posted in my facebook group about a corner of our neighborhood where a community of 350 people lived, squished together in tarp-like shanties, struggling to feed their families on a daily basis. A fire was set to their corner of the street and they lost completely everything. Some of the kids from this community are a part of our Ytesfa program at Bingham. Well these 5 kids that now have even less than nothing, have shown up to Ytesfa on Mondays with a smile on their faces. Their entire community has been displaced, and is currently shoved into 3 rooms inside a nearby building. (I almost think it will be hard for them to leave despite the cramped conditions because at least they have a real roof and walls. But also, where can they go? There is no place for them! They were squatting illegally on the sidewalk near a church. Now what? These stories are all over Ethiopia, but knowing a few of these kiddos makes it so much more real and again reminds me that their only hope is Jesus. Their broken families and status in life are hard to change, however their eternal home, their hope, their identity, their security, can all be found if they meet Jesus. If any of you have a heart to pray for one of these 25 girls, we’d love prayer sponsors to cover each of them in prayer weekly and just see what God will do. Let me know. My girl is one of the ones who lost everything to the fire. Lord Jesus…please show yourself to her, your safety, your provision, your love! Rebuild her life on you, our only constant foundation!<o:p></o:p></div>
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On a lighter note, another strange thing about our life now is getting used to the differences that word meanings have here at Bingham. Let me catch you up to speed on my crash course of cross cultural living. Of course football here means soccer. If you teach math, you don’t. You teach ‘Maths’. Yep. I’ll never get used to saying “how did maths class go today?” We don’t have a talk with someone, we have a chat (or according to my Scottish neighbor, a wee chat). In normal conversation you will hear people say, “I reckon,” or “it does my head in”. In America, we never think twice about asking kindergarteners to line up if they have on blue pants. Well, here you may just find the kids checking what color panties they have on before lining up, as pants means underwear. If you tell someone they have on a nice vest, that may turn red with embarrassment, as a vest is apparently an undershirt. And a “jumper” isn’t a one-piece outfit or someone who jumps off a building, it’s a sweater. My gosh, and talking about shoes is super confusing. KJ’s PE teacher tells them to bring their trainers to school and we have no clue what she is asking. Trainers, apparently are like sneakers, tennis shoes or gym shoes (we do have a lot of names for them). If someone tells you they like your thongs, don’t freak out and slap them across the cheek. Thongs means sandals in some countries, people! And if ‘rubbers’ is on your school supply list, it’s not for understanding sex ed. It’s just an eraser. A plaster is a bandaid, chips are french fries, a biscuit means a cookie, and a trolley is a shopping cart. If you say, “I’m so pissed”, they may think you’re drunk, instead of angry. And don’t ever, ever mention that you are going to bring your fanny pack on a hike. Yikes, so much to remember and that is just among the internationals. The amount of faux pas you can make among the Ethiopians is for a whole other blog post!<o:p></o:p></div>
Jenni Austellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10347411806243729132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-546033613264935019.post-50774179385746986032018-10-22T13:19:00.005-05:002018-10-22T13:19:55.746-05:00"Fall" in Ethiopia<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
Well, we made to the end of term 1. Praise. The. Lord. What a term! Of course the beginning of the school year for <i>any</i> teacher is always crazy busy, especially a first year teacher (or director). Throw in some political unrest, violence, fear, staff displacement and school lock downs; new teachers jumping into life and teaching in a new culture, changes in our Ethiopia mission board here (of which Kent is on the transition team), and continued language learning and you can understand why this fall break is such a blessing. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The teachers have done an incredible job kicking off the school year. Even being a bit short-staffed and stretched thin, the Lord has been gracious.<o:p></o:p></div>
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My kids have loved school! They are so excited to go every day and learning a million new things at an amazing pace. Their teachers are incredible as well. Brooklyn’s teacher is from the UK so all the songs Brooklyn comes home and sings are in a British accent. My favorite was when she came home and told me, “Mom, my teacher says our class is SO cleva. We are SO cleva, mom!” The only negative is that Savy is sister-less for most of her day. Right when Brooklyn gets done with preK 4 (we call it KG-1) at lunch time, Savy is ready for her nap. But when they all reunite at 3:30, it is a sweet time. I sure do love my girls. KJ is exploding in her reading and writing skills and LOVES to read books (sassy Junie B Jones is her current favorite). She is reading early in the morning and late at night by the light of the cracked closet door. She makes up stories, loves to write notes and letters to people, and reads her bible alongside her daddy every morning. She also started an Amharic notebook of all the new words she is learning in her Amharic class. Brooklyn is now writing all her numbers and letters and learning their sounds. Both girls are doing an 8 week ballet class on Saturday mornings which has been a blessing, as there isn’t much for them to be involved in here. <o:p></o:p><br />
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Me? I am doing pretty good, depending on the day you ask me. Somedays I love living here, living at Bingham and the community that comes with it. I love the students I get to meet and the ministry opportunities in this city. I had been teaching 5 classes a week as a sub the first couple months of school but now I just have one small PE class of Seniors on Thursdays. I get to lead a small group for 9<sup>th</sup>grade Bingham girls on Tuesdays and am really excited about that. Mondays they have a ministry called Ytessfa (hope) after school where local girls from the neighborhood come to Bingham to hangout, do a Bible lesson, English lesson and craft. </div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">We get to help provide these girls an education and assist them with other needs that come up. They are awesome, precious, and fun (and really stretch my Amharic speaking). I'm excited to get to know them better, hear their stories and love on them. Wednesday mornings and Thursdays after school I am helping a bit with the track and field program so I get to help kids workout, which you know I love. Then I have Amharic classes a couple times a week, which feels super slow to progress but I’m so glad I’m still working on it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">There are days I'm still in disbelief that this is our life. Some days are heavy. Some days are frustrating and exhausting. But truly, I am grateful to be here and </span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">grateful for all the support from friends and family back home that allow us to be here.</span></div>
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So the last two months has been full of experiences. On September 11th, we got to usher in the New Year (2011!) at 2 of our Ethiopian friends’ houses. One of the ladies that works in the office at Bingham invited us to join their family. The kids got to wear their traditional dresses that we got at the market and we loved being a part of their celebration.</div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">Then we went to Fikre Addis’s house (our house helper) for another big Ethiopian meal (you can imagine how we were feeling as we drove home that evening!). It was our first time to her house and to meet all of her family. Her house is at the bottom of a hill, with connecting houses leading down to hers, most of which belonged to her extended family members. Lots of kids filled the narrow pathway and we were given stools to sit on outside her home.</span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">They brought out one dish after another, piling our plates high with doro wat, injera, and other foods I was unfamiliar with. Although our conversations are still brief and often filled with confusion over our awkward language barrier, we love Fikre Addis dearly and loved being a part of her world. We ended the evening with some dancing, which the kids loved.</span><br />
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Shortly after New Years, the country got pretty heated over some ethnic disagreements and things were stressful and scary. I won't get into all the details, but many workers at Bingham lost loved ones and had to flee their houses and find safety. It was a heart breaking time. </div>
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My parents came to visit at the end of September. We weren’t able to do a whole lot because of the ethnic unrest going on at the time, but it was so nice to have them join us in our daily life here. The kids soaked in all the love and attention and the time went all too quickly.<o:p></o:p></div>
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In October, Fikre Addis’s kids had a birthday celebration that we joined. It was another fun occasion to learn the culture and get to know her family better.</div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;">This past week we had a week off school for fall break. Lots of the staff traveled around Ethiopia or went out of the country. Some stayed and explored Addis. We did a bit of both. One day we hiked our favorite path up a little mountain nearby with some friends, getting fresh air and enjoying the view. We spent two nights at a nearby lake where we saw hyenas and a plague of frogs!</span></div>
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We swam, played games, relaxed, and relaxed! Although we may miss our pumpkin spice lattes and the leaves changing colors, we are enjoying this season of life and all the new things we are getting to experience.</div>
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<br />Jenni Austellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10347411806243729132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-546033613264935019.post-21312529324891782362018-07-27T12:38:00.001-05:002018-07-27T13:28:04.074-05:00Random thoughts<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
We have almost made it through our summer break. It has flown by! The teachers come back to Bingham in one week, and school will start the week after! Here are some random thoughts about how life is going so far.<br />
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A weird thing about living here has been marking seasons and holidays. I'm in this strange time warp where I hardly know what month it is. The seasons here are so different, being cold and rainy in the summer and hot during the winter. There is obviously zero commercialism for American holidays and much fewer Americans to share them with, so I definitely forgot the 4th of July. It makes me feel already SUCH a separation between my home country and even my family and friends, missing out on all the traditional holiday gatherings. But we get to make new friends who become family, and celebrate NEW holidays here to add to our traditions.<img height="16" id="ki08apauzt8d" src="data:image/gif;base64,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" width="16" /><br />
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I’m making peace with the ants, for those who have been wondering. Kent and I say goodnight to them as they crawl on the wall behind our heads and snuggle up on our comforter with us. I’m at a point now where if they are crawling in my water cup, I just scoop them out and drink up. I brush them off my pots and pans before using them, perhaps missing a few that will just burn up in the over and add more protein to our meal. I may leave a pile of them as they feast on some crumb under the table and just hope they dissipate when they are finished. Are you hesitant to come over for dinner yet? I tell myself it's better than having mice or cock roaches, right? Right??<br />
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Speaking of dinner, I still haven't quite figured out how to appreciate the Ethiopian grocery store selection. If you come and stay with us awhile, you will understand a bit better. My kids constantly want snacks which they don't exactly have here; cooked barley and seeds called kolo, non salted peanuts, homemade bendy chips and popcorn are about our choices. I try to make a lot of things from scratch like peanut butter no bake granola bars, baked oatmeal, hot pretzels and bagels, but even these get old. And especially for my 2 year old, her picky food preferences include only the few items we get from the U.S., including smoothies with chocolate protein powder, almonds, certain granola bars, pepperoni and cheddar cheese. Seriously, Savannah? She won't even eat the amazing fresh fruit salad we enjoy most days! The kids favorite,Taco or spaghetti night are lost on her. How she still has that baby chub, I don't know. I guess she does eat bread, which is plentiful here, but nothing healthy or substantial so that is a huge struggle and prayer request. <br />
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Also, we definitely take for granted the availability and insane amount of choices we have for food items in America, and I'm sure it will feel overwhelming (and glorious) when we return! But for now we have savored the care packages sent and are also trying to be creative and grateful for the options we have, especially when we can clearly see all around us those who do not have enough to eat! Lord help our pickiness and ingratitude! In other news, my two oldest have started to like injera and shiro! God is a God of miracles! Now we order Ethiopian food from the hotel restaurant across the street every week. If only Savy would join in!</div>
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So I'll share one of the hardest things about being here for me. I think it's the difficulty of getting around the city. Driving anywhere takes so long and with little kids in your car, it is never fun. Sometimes it takes 30 minutes just to get out of our neighborhood. Taking KJ and Brooklyn to VBS at our church each morning a couple weeks ago was almost a one hour drive there and back, and then again for picking them up. There are not too many activities my kids can even do around here, but just getting out to pick up anything or even go to a coffee shop is a bit daunting to me, which is pretty discouraging some days as I think about putting some roots down. But I'm trusting God's sufficiency each day and He has been faithful.</div>
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The exciting news is that I have a garden. I’ve ALWAYS wanted a garden as well as apple trees like my grandfather used to have. Apples are my favorite and I always felt we could survive anything if we could walk outside and have apples available. Alas, apple trees will not happen here, but I am trying out my hand (or thumb) at growing some fruits, vegetables and herbs. If this is your passion, message me with tips please! We are attempting carrots, cucumbers, lettuce, snap peas, tomatoes, cilantro, basil, parsley and strawberries. Although a HUGE tree just got uprooted and tipped over (slowly, because all the rain softened the soil around the roots!) landing on my sad tomato garden and I don't know if I can redeem the toppled plants. But we are thankful it wasn't on our apartment!<br />
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These months have been some of the most challenging for me as a mom, despite the fact that my girls have done pretty amazing dealing with all the changes of moving here. (In fact, we started a gratitude journal this summer where each morning at breakfast we all go around and share something we are thankful for. Yesterday KJ said, “I’m grateful God made us move to Ethiopia!” Brooklyn who was sad about leaving her friends said, “I’m thankful God gave us new friends!” How much more could I ask for? They seem to really like it here.) But as a parent of 3 littles, I have lost my cool more often than even before we arrived. Living overseas, especially, I think, in Addis, is a lot more stressful than back home and my daily life is heavier and harder than life before. Somedays, the smallest things can make me snap. And I take it out on the ones I love most.<br />
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Brooklyn is still struggling with accidents, during the day and nighttime, every single day. KJ has this sudden attitude and anger, and struggles to help out with anything around the house and recently-turned-2-Savy now has strong opinions about a lot of things. I could really use prayer for gentleness, kindness, patience and goodness with my kids; for each day to be a spirit filled day. I do LOVE these little years and get teary thinking of my youngest already turning 2 and forming sentences. I know my evenings of holding her and singing to her before bedtime are short lived. I love the snuggles and desire to be held, even by my 6 year old, the arguing over who gets to sit by me at dinner, which will definitely fade away in the near future, and their constant dependence on me for so much, knowing soon that they won't want my help with anything. I do not wish these years away. But I sure need God's grace to make it through each day without regretting some reaction of anger, frustration, impatience, or annoyance.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Another reminder for me, as a stay at home mom especially, is the struggle to not make my role as a mom my identity or an idol; how well our kids are doing or how well <i>we </i>are doing at parenting can define how we view ourselves and how successful or satisfied we feel. It is SO easy to compare ourselves to other amazing super-moms and feel defeated, or boast in our parenting when our kids happen to be the ones behaving. We end up on a roller coaster ride of guilt and discouragement or pride. The truth is, motherhood is such a great calling, but it is not the greatest calling. Our greatest calling is to glorify God and enjoy him forever. I will always fail at parenting, I will continually be reminded of my shortcomings and need for a Savior through parenting. Abiding in Christ each day and finding my identity in him is the best thing I can do for my kids. And finding who I am in what His word says about me will keep me stable and grounded despite my roller coaster parenting performance. I am desperately reminded of my need for a Savior, my need for help from above, and for his word to wash over me and renew my heart and mind. This parenting thing is no joke! But may I keep my eyes on Christ and not my kids or my failures with them! <o:p></o:p><br />
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All in all, I have really enjoyed rainy season. It has been a time for us to be together more, slow down, and process life. We have settled in some more, appreciated the quieter campus, and gotten closer to a few people who have stayed here as well. For all the hype about how awful rainy season can be, I am thankful for it and don't even mind the cold and rain! God has drawn me closer to himself and has been filling me up in places that were empty. I had been praying that in the season of rain, he would rain down his Spirit on me til it overflowed. Keep praying that for us as a new year begins and life gets a bit more crazy. We need the rain for our souls! </div>
Jenni Austellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10347411806243729132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-546033613264935019.post-30415369124736932792018-07-01T12:37:00.001-05:002018-07-01T12:37:32.160-05:006 months in Ethiopia! I can't believe it.<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br />So we have been here almost 6 months now and I don’t even know how to sum up our time for you. After we finished our first 8 weeks of cultural training and language school, Kent fell into his role at Bingham more and more every day and I got into a routine with my youngest two, as KJ joined the kindergarten class shortly after our arrival. </div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">We love that Kent can join us for breakfast every morning and just walk over to his office across the driveway when school is starting. Brooklyn thinks daddy’s whole job is meetings and I guess it is partly true, but he is enjoying it so far and excited about his role. KJ walks to school with our neighbor Autumn and loves that she no longer has to wear a school uniform. There are lots of fun activities going on during the week like sports events, art shows, school plays or talent shows around here.</span><br />
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On Thursday mornings I take the kids to a compound about 15 minutes away where some of the other SIM missionaries live. There are at least 5 other young mamas so we have a big playdate and let the kids run around outside while we have tea and share life. This small group of amazing women has been a great encouragement to me and a fun break in our week. Most of their kids attend Bingham and God is using them in amazing ministries around the city. Fridays is another time of encouragement as a group of expat women meet at a house to do a bible study and fellowship together. They are from all different countries and are here for various reasons, many of them missions related but some work for their embassy, an NGO or an airline. Most of us have young preschool age kids so we just let them play in the back yard and our saratanyas watch them. It’s a great time. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Our language tutor comes twice a week for 2 hour sessions, with me from 2-4 on Mondays and Thursdays and then with Kent after. The language has been super slow progress and with as many words as we now know, we are still struggling like a one-year old to put a sentence together. Saturdays we will sometimes go on a short hike up the mountain, go to a Bazaar or just hang out with friends. A group of guys play basketball at Bingham Saturday afternoons, so Kent has enjoyed that. We don’t go out often at night. The traffic is bad, the kids still go to bed early and it’s just harder to try and do anything that isn’t here at Bingham in the evenings. We have used a few of the high schoolers on campus to babysit a few nights and have taken visitors out to eat. The church we attend Sundays is called International Evangelical Church which was started by SIM many years ago. There is a handful of Bingham families that attend there but it is mostly Africans with a scattering of other nationalities. We get done pretty early and do all our grocery shopping for the week which involves 3 different stops. There is hardly any traffic Sundays, which is a real treat, so I love to shop when I have Kent with me and we can get around the city pretty quickly. We come home for lunch and a restful afternoon with some productivity thrown in there in preparation for the coming week. Studying Amharic is always hanging over our heads as something we should be doing, but we do get Netflix here when the internet is good and will just crash some nights. Kent also started back his seminary work online so that keeps him busy too. He has become a reading machine but has actually enjoyed his church history class.<o:p></o:p></div>
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We had a week off for spring break and decided to explore the country a little. We drove 3 hours south to Lake Ziway and stayed at a hotel near a lake with hippos! Although the power, water, and internet went out at our hotel, we enjoyed seeing the beautiful country and getting out of the city for a bit.</div>
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Brooklyn turned 4 on April 18<sup>th</sup>so she brought a friend and we spent the afternoon at this amazing hotel pool. We came back and had pizza and cake with some of our Bingham neighbors. We also got a couple packages that very day with some fun treats and a few presents for her and for the other kids’ upcoming birthdays. These are the best! <o:p></o:p></div>
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In May, we celebrated our 8<sup>th</sup>anniversary, Mother’s Day, and my birthday by going to a little retreat place an hour away, just Kent and I. Some amazing sweet Bingham teachers watched our kids and we really appreciated the time away from all the noise and busyness to just be together and rest. On my birthday, my neighbor Theresa made a beautiful cake which was sweet, and the girls made me cards. </div>
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We also had 2 young ladies from our home church fly in the day before for a vision trip to see what God is doing in Ethiopia. They stayed a week in a guest apartment at Bingham and had some opportunities to participate in ministries going on around the city as well as join in on some things happening at Bingham. It was a blessing to have them here and see their young hearts eager to serve the broken and lost around the world. They also brought us a few goodies from home, which we so appreciated! The next day, Kent left for Kenya for a week of professional development and missed Savy turning 2 on June 8<sup>th.</sup> We just pretended her birthday was on the 10<sup>th</sup> when daddy got home. She loved the new doll we brought for her from the States, the new flip flops and clothes from her grandparents and of course the funfetti cake that was also brought special and again shared with our neighbor and her little one. Holidays sure are different here and make us really miss our friends and family back home.</div>
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The following week, my aunt and uncle arrived for a short visit! They planned a 3 week trip to Africa to see us, their son and daughter in law in Uganda, and a missionary family friend in Kenya. They soaked in as much of Ethiopia as possible in their 6 days of being here, doing a city tour of the museums, churches and monuments their second day, a 2 day trip up north to Lalibela (you have to fly here) next, and a cultural dance restaurant with us for the 45<sup>th</sup>wedding anniversary, church, some souvenir shops, and grocery shops and another nice restaurant for Father’s day. What a whirlwind but some very sweet, encouraging time with this godly couple who lives on mission, loves God’s world, and invests in what is eternal. They were such a blessing! (I don't have pictures, but their travel blog from their time here is <a href="http://hrecollections.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">here</a> .)</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There was an 80's party to farewell our previous interim director! I'm in my element!</td></tr>
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That same week was Bingham’s last week of school. There was a talent show, art show, final chapel, and class party. Kennedy had an awards ceremony where she got the ‘Kindness counts’ award. I loved knowing her friendliness and sweetness were displayed to her teacher and classmates this semester. She really did incredible this semester adjusting to a new school, friends, house, language and country! I’m so thankful she is my easy one at making new friends! She really does seem to love it here (most days). On June 14<sup>th, </sup>the last day of school, there was a beautiful closing chapel. Reflecting on all God has done in and through this place, how he has used the teachers here, how He has met the students, how He has provided and shown his faithfulness in tough situations was so great to reflect on. We attended the high school graduation ( of 23 kids) and their graduation banquet following (while Bruce and Lucy watched our kids). I have never been a part of a school this small but it is a beautiful thing to see how close everyone becomes and all they experience together in this community.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Well, I’ll wrap this up by saying it’s rainy season now and most of the international faculty leaves to go to their home country. Only a few of us are left on campus. I have actually loved the month of June because I have gotten more time with my kids, we have all slowed down a bit, and although it does rain every day, the sun comes out and we can still get outside. It’s chillier and I like that as well, sleeping under 4 blankets at night and wearing warm clothes and slippers in the house because of course there is no heat. We hear July will be steady rainy the whole day, so that may be a little harder but we are making it, and summer will fly by since we end so late in June and staff comes back early August! </div>
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More personal thoughts about life here in my next post.<o:p></o:p></div>
Jenni Austellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10347411806243729132noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-546033613264935019.post-31218651196307298862018-04-04T06:24:00.002-05:002018-06-01T07:02:51.799-05:00City Life<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I’ve never actually lived in a big city before, so that in itself has been a
huge adjustment for me. I grew up in the suburbs of Chicago and moved to a smaller town in Arkansas and then to the suburbs of Memphis! Addis Ababa is a city of 3.5 million people. We live
in a busy area of town called Kolfe. I’m still trying to get used to all the noise. An elementary school is next to ours and there are so many students in each classroom that the overflow kids hang out the balcony and windows laughing, talking, and yelling. The school blares music for some reason throughout the whole day from a megaphone. The Kolfe Kalehewit church is in our backyard and those people know how to get their praise on! They have all-day and all-night services almost weekly and they like to keep their windows open. The muslim and orthodox churches nearby have calls to prayer starting at 4:30 am and also use a megaphone so others in the city are reminded to pray. The wild dogs bark routinely after midnight and there is always some sort of construction going on throughout the neighborhood. We also live on the bottom floor of an apartment so we hear every footstep and toilet flush of the family above us. Our front yard is a school parking lot so besides pick up and drop off times being busy and noisy, the school bell rings every hour as well and there are after school activities. But...praise God, Savannah is learning to nap through it all and we brought our sound machines! All the praise hands! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Another new thing for me in city life is all the people
walking everywhere.</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span> Fr</span>om early morning to late at night, people are out walking somewhere. Few people own cars, so there are taxis and mini buses everywhere. There are no traffic rules really and people go where they want when they want, even if it means going the wrong way down a one way street or making your own lane. Chiger Yellum! No problem! Fit as many people into a taxi as you can and the police won’t stop you. Only the driver needs to wear their seat belt. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There are also souks/stores lining every bit of street with people selling selling bread, used clothing, blankets, shoes, fruits and veggies, tea and
coffee, you name it! People are selling stuff all the time, everywhere, all day
long.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">KJ said our neighborhood is like the biggest outdoor mall in the world. It seems
like the majority of people in this city sell something. Besides the constant
flow of people, there are wild cats and dogs, donkeys, sheep, goats, and horses pulling
carts. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We also see beggars, disabled, and homeless people along the road, even people sleeping in the
middle of busy streets, wrapped in a tarp. It’s really really heart breaking.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQi-ZEQU_x0r6g03iuiOoybBGpiybU3CtGlZ5X9JraNWrFZh_WSUZEQ1bZDlycCVx9mYdW2rrKSVdtcGp67O9oq9tmS_UjBDAaxGlOf7p55IyP-TSnKrBeUytLOOdALi68y6RrylJub4A/s1600/IMG_5869.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQi-ZEQU_x0r6g03iuiOoybBGpiybU3CtGlZ5X9JraNWrFZh_WSUZEQ1bZDlycCVx9mYdW2rrKSVdtcGp67O9oq9tmS_UjBDAaxGlOf7p55IyP-TSnKrBeUytLOOdALi68y6RrylJub4A/s320/IMG_5869.JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Its raining, but can you see the 'houses' of tarps and cardboard?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVQctwaDqTulu3jTf8pF8Qn3JUX2ydkxsz3ZZ8P5aguvUEOaY74Za0PMMzaEhuw_izvOXDPJvlnvGWBgq9sFmJPH9lKmCTcjdiyyez3zMatOXbx36xQzWlyT1fta86xY6u17oT62XNALM/s1600/IMG_7149.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVQctwaDqTulu3jTf8pF8Qn3JUX2ydkxsz3ZZ8P5aguvUEOaY74Za0PMMzaEhuw_izvOXDPJvlnvGWBgq9sFmJPH9lKmCTcjdiyyez3zMatOXbx36xQzWlyT1fta86xY6u17oT62XNALM/s320/IMG_7149.JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can you see the sleeping man on the median?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwjh-4nD6t9DxBc4f7zkGVfcD3QYAtfS1C5E6l15G4Pq3GWQsUjxylnJia5-nP1g07XiINQYs9kTfYzyqAB1zUjZ5NPfNC2B7BwqKzRG7xjAUcGBhz4034VdvY7NfjKvHiUBmMGVoVSdI/s1600/IMG_7825.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwjh-4nD6t9DxBc4f7zkGVfcD3QYAtfS1C5E6l15G4Pq3GWQsUjxylnJia5-nP1g07XiINQYs9kTfYzyqAB1zUjZ5NPfNC2B7BwqKzRG7xjAUcGBhz4034VdvY7NfjKvHiUBmMGVoVSdI/s320/IMG_7825.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It also feels dirty quite often because so much of the city is made of dirt. The wind blows and you just feel a little coated in it after walking around a bit. People burn their trash also so there are smoky fires blazing quite frequently and the dust, smoke and pollution are plentiful. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The sights, smells, and noises of everyday life are a lot to
take in. We decided every other week</span>end we will need to get out of the city for a day. Just 20 minutes up the mountain from our compound is a nice walking area called the Botanical Gardens (there are really no gardens, just brick roads to walk on. Still it's empty, pretty, and away from the city!) </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> bit further than that is a hotel with a free playground, a big dirt track, a cheap (cold) pool, a restaurant and horses the kids can ride on for $1. We've gone twice already and it is a great escape. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-9e90k-WIM-mANvSLQ4Z5A994cGfYmKP1ViQe3pWWKncaDb7IsZOrII2ThyphenhyphentLNE2gGnTSSI5kTAte2yhyphenhyphenz2km4QmnoW2K9AvIsVMD6Ox3I7RsIU2X32rRnUWJFix0UGP0PlD7KtvYl5M/s1600/IMG_0788.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-9e90k-WIM-mANvSLQ4Z5A994cGfYmKP1ViQe3pWWKncaDb7IsZOrII2ThyphenhyphentLNE2gGnTSSI5kTAte2yhyphenhyphenz2km4QmnoW2K9AvIsVMD6Ox3I7RsIU2X32rRnUWJFix0UGP0PlD7KtvYl5M/s320/IMG_0788.JPG" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-9e90k-WIM-mANvSLQ4Z5A994cGfYmKP1ViQe3pWWKncaDb7IsZOrII2ThyphenhyphentLNE2gGnTSSI5kTAte2yhyphenhyphenz2km4QmnoW2K9AvIsVMD6Ox3I7RsIU2X32rRnUWJFix0UGP0PlD7KtvYl5M/s1600/IMG_0788.JPG" imageanchor="1"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfYtoqQoAzvBf3DgJg-b-j5AZ0pcHyKjm2QXlC_8WTuG6ETPbRqAOiVuUV9t-Cg_CwJ6u599MUCVy7L2ANPv4a7ELj7VWEEmrEkAFvRwhdIN6UX7iGA3KKA87lRADMeiVUcfoLd9Rk2qg/s1600/IMG_0923.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfYtoqQoAzvBf3DgJg-b-j5AZ0pcHyKjm2QXlC_8WTuG6ETPbRqAOiVuUV9t-Cg_CwJ6u599MUCVy7L2ANPv4a7ELj7VWEEmrEkAFvRwhdIN6UX7iGA3KKA87lRADMeiVUcfoLd9Rk2qg/s320/IMG_0923.JPG" width="240" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But in all of this busyness and noise, there is such beauty here if you stop and notice it. You know the saying "Bloom where you are planted"? That is what I really hope to do, </span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">to appreciate the beauty of this place and these people</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">. So here we go. First of all, it is sunny and 75 degrees for nine months of the year here. (P.S. Did you know Ethiopia actually has 13 months? All of them are 30 days but the last month has 5-7 days. Also, their first month of the year is September!) Anyway, warmth and sun are my love languages so this is just incredible weather for me. I've lived in the freezing north or the hot and HUMID south but Addis Ababa has no humidity and is just perfect besides the 3 summer months of rain. Everything seems to grow here if you can find some space to make a garden. The flowers are gorgeous (and super cheap to buy) and it is relatively easy to plant almost anything. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-indent: 0.5in;"> I mentioned before that Ethiopians prioritize relationships and people are
committed and loyal to one another. Once you become a friend or a part of a
community, you have people looking out for you, helping you, sharing their
lives and belongings with you. For example, the school here in Kolfe has done some outreach events with the boys and girls in the neighborhood and built relationships with the kids. One mom, picking up her daughters from Bingham, had her cell phone stolen from out of the car window on her way. We asked the neighborhood boys if they could help find the stolen phone and they were quick to help because of the relationship they have with the people at Bingham. (And It was not a member of the community who stole the phone.) When I mentioned to an Ethiopian friend before coming here that I was worried about raising my kids without any family nearby, she explained that whatever neighborhood we lived in would look after my kids as if they were their own. If they saw one get hurt, they would immediately take care of them or send someone to run and get the nearest doctor. She told me raising my kids here would be way easier than raising them in the states because everyone around me would help. The community aspect is a very beautiful thing,
especially coming from a more individualistic society. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Because this is a 'hot climate
culture', people are not in a rush to get anywhere. They will stop
and greet one another and ask about each other’s lives, and this is more
important than getting to work on time. Growing up
in Chicago where most of the year is cold, (and I HATE being cold), people
bundle up and rush about trying to get where they need to as fast as possible,
hardly looking up to greet anyone. Efficiency rules, and tasks are valued over
people. I love the idea of time not being the controlling factor. They say here
that time is a gift that comes to you and isn’t something that is taken from
you. In my home country, time is the enemy and we never have enough. Here, people
feel that time is plentiful and doesn’t run out. I mentioned this again because it is something I hope will really change me for the better.</span><br />
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<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">People here stop often for tea or coffee. It is a time to fellowship and take a break from work. Here below is a coffee ceremony often seen along the streets throughout the day. You roast the coffee beans over a tiny fire, smash them out and pour hot water over them. Popcorn often accompanies it, which of course is my kids' favorite part.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is Fikre Addis, our amazing seratanya who helps us with<br />
household chores and cooking! I couldn't make it without her! Here she is roasting coffee beans for a coffee ceremony we had on campus.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ethiopia is considered one of the
most religious countries in the world, being almost half Muslim and half Christian
Orthodox. Everywhere you look, you see people dressed in their religious clothes
and devoutly living out their beliefs. Christian Orthodox members will stop and "greet" the church whenever they see one, even from their taxi cab or down the block. Different butcher shops and souks may be marked with a muslim or christian orthodox symbol which would distinguish how the animal was killed. Amazingly, there seems to be great
respect for one another and there is freedom to worship and practice one's religion
how they wish. Religion runs so deeply here that common phrases and greetings
include the name of God and it is very rare that someone here does not worship
God in some way. Religion is a part of life here and it defines who you are and which people you belong to. The </span>religious<span style="font-family: inherit;"> history of this country is incredibly rich </span>and<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span>there are many beautiful mosques and churches everywhere. </span><br />
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I could go on, but this is lengthy enough. I just wanted to write down my observations about this city that is our new home and take in the great things around me! There is no place I'd rather be!</span><br />
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Jenni Austellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10347411806243729132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-546033613264935019.post-93526771795096702018-02-13T11:42:00.001-06:002018-02-13T11:43:08.753-06:00Honeymoon Phase<br />
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So we have been in Addis for a month now! Partly due to your prayers and God's grace, and partly due to the normal "honeymoon phase", it has been relatively easy so far. I say that because I had expectations of everything being <i>so</i>overwhelming and difficult. Now we <i>do</i> have those moments, but overall everything is still new and exciting and the change and differences are expected, so we have just been soaking it all in. I know culture shock will hit in a couple months and the hard things and different things will be <i>super</i> frustrating (like driving anywhere or dealing with the internet!) and homesickness will set in. But for now we are totally making it!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Also, because I have been on a number of mission trips to different countries since I was in high school, I feel like the sights, smells and sounds are a little familiar to what I've experienced before. On my first mission trip to Jamaica when I was in high school, I remember taking a million pictures and journaling everything I saw and experienced because it was all soooo new. Every chicken and goat wandering around the road, every car carrying 3 times the number of people, every kid running barefoot in the street playing with a tin can, smiling and yelling "Gringo" as we passed by; it was all so different and overwhelming that first time. I try to remember that for my kids who are so new to all of this. Just driving down the street among the traffic, pot holes, and people, seeing all the souks, tin roof houses, beggars, animals grazing, fires burning; walking into the grocery store where they are getting stares, laughs, kisses, being touched and held by strangers, it is a lot for them to take in day in and day out. But for me, nothing about living in Addis so far has been surprising.<br /><br />We started cross cultural training this week and learned a few of the most important things in Ethiopian culture. Ethiopians are all about relationships and prioritize that above anything else. They know they need each other to survive and so invest deeply in friendships and try to keep the peace with everyone. They may be late for a meeting because they stopped to talk with a friend from their neighborhood and that is more valued than work. They show respect for people by greeting everyone in the room or everyone they see, especially first thing in the morning, and if you don't do this, it is offensive. Greetings are the most important thing, and it's not just a wave hello. It's a handshake, hug, good morning, how are you, how is your family, are you well discussion. For me, being more shy and introverted AND insecure in my Amharic this is tough! I don't necessarily want to be noticed or talk to strangers if I can help it. But I desperately want to build relationships with the Ethiopians here, so pray for me! Also, I can get task-focused pretty easily and value getting something done over over visiting with people. These things will be an adjustment for me. Also, I am all about efficiency and nothing is efficient here! And people don't care that it's not!<br /><br />A few other things we learned; Ethiopians do not express their feelings if there is any tension, problem, or conflict. They will act like everything is fine but then tell someone else they were offended. It will never be directly talked about. Now I am definitely not good at faking that everything is fine or hiding the fact that there is a problem, and I feel like it will be a challenge to build deep relationships with people when it isn't clear why they may be upset or hurt by you. I may have already offended someone here and wouldn't even know it! I'm sure I failed to greet some of the staff here at one point or another.<br />Another difference is their sense of time... let's not even talk about the fact that 6am is really their 12:00 and our noon is their 6:00. Our 6pm is their midnight! But what I mean here is that they value the thing going on, not how long it lasts or what time it happens. If there is an event like a wedding, the important thing is that the wedding happens, every part of it, not that it was 3 hours late to begin or went 4 hours too long. They are not controlled by the clock. We see this in the Kalahewet church in our backyard. When they have a worship service, there isn't an ending time. It's all about the worship. I think this is inspiring. And also challenging for time obsessed people like myself.<br /><br />Well, that's all for now. I'm currently typing this on my bed in my bedroom, hearing the rustling sound of our friend (or friends) who lives in our closet pipe. Someday I will have the chance to let you know what he looks like. I hope that day isn't soon!</div>
Jenni Austellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10347411806243729132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-546033613264935019.post-76148366876902038972018-02-08T11:43:00.000-06:002018-02-13T11:44:17.888-06:00What's for dinner?<div class="post-body entry-content float-container" id="post-body-5598649449892383781" style="color: #757575; font-family: Roboto, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; font-stretch: normal; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 1.5em 0px 2em;">
So people have asked what we eat here.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The fruit in season is pineapple, mango, plums, bananas, avocados, watermelons, and oranges. You can find imported apples and strawberries for a price. We are happy with the selection of veggies-potatoes, onions, carrots, zucchini, cucumber, broccoli, green beans, tomato and squash. These items we can get on the side of almost any street, as vendors set up shop everywhere and sell their goods. There are also souks selling shoes, shirts, balls, drinks, bread, and every other random item in between. You can get a few grocery bags full of fruit and it will costs $7! KJ says our whole neighborhood is like the biggest mall she's ever seen! (Different sections of the city are known for selling different things. Our block is the shoe block, apparently, and there are all kinds of fake Nikes and Adidas shoes available for a big price.)<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br /> Our first two weeks here, some Bingham families invited us over for dinner each night, and this gave us an idea of the various meals that can be made here. People made us lasagna, spaghetti, chicken fajitas, tacos (homemade salsa, homemade tortillas!), hamburgers, chicken with mashed potatoes and green beans, salad, rice, soup and sandwiches. One family took us out to a Korean restaurant! We also went to an American owned restaurant with good brunch items for about $8 a person.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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There are a couple grocery stores you need to go to if you want to find your normal weekly goods. It's typical to stop at 2-3 places. Sometimes items run out and don't come back to the stores for months. The imported items can cost you an arm and a leg. A box of Kellogs Corn Flakes is around $12! The cereal is crazy expensive. Chicken and beef are easy to find. Whole chickens are very cheap, but chicken breasts/legs/thighs are more pricey. (Worth it to me to not have to pull out any innards!) Of course it all tastes a bit different than back home, and finding all the ingredients you need is tricky and will take several trips to different places. So right now we are stocking up on the basics and keeping things pretty simple.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="padding: 0px;">This was my first grocery store trip. I was happy to find powdered sugar, olive oil, vinegar, foil and white raisins. </td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEu6uNugaC_YALYfH3jTr-NVpjmgu6-zzft6hd8s5kTcPV38oHOtmYYpgdE1e_K6C66HHEoWiXbUiJlgAC-FObHIgrszAHrH0pif-0ak5YoMaWTm2xemqtIyoUE7IJruAbW0YLIIbU7H7n/s1600/IMG_0164.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="color: #2196f3; display: inline-block; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEu6uNugaC_YALYfH3jTr-NVpjmgu6-zzft6hd8s5kTcPV38oHOtmYYpgdE1e_K6C66HHEoWiXbUiJlgAC-FObHIgrszAHrH0pif-0ak5YoMaWTm2xemqtIyoUE7IJruAbW0YLIIbU7H7n/s320/IMG_0164.JPG" style="border: 0px; height: inherit; max-width: 100%;" width="179" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjimDr2_rloLy-lDssFKoATZHs0Muka3sE7R4xAlzY_jPVlMKrPL3A1b3ONXJ3YWtvRz3Fm488bdqsyPEMrsfnwzaVcZ0AbYtqZqBXyn5reiNCwj_ZT9-TnCa1mZUJoBK6uUHRILh-aLJyH/s1600/IMG_0180.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="color: #2196f3; display: inline-block; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="750" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjimDr2_rloLy-lDssFKoATZHs0Muka3sE7R4xAlzY_jPVlMKrPL3A1b3ONXJ3YWtvRz3Fm488bdqsyPEMrsfnwzaVcZ0AbYtqZqBXyn5reiNCwj_ZT9-TnCa1mZUJoBK6uUHRILh-aLJyH/s320/IMG_0180.JPG" style="border: 0px; height: inherit; max-width: 100%;" width="179" /></a></div>
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I've started my normal weekly baking day again, making mango oat bars, carrot oatmeal (chocolate chip) cookies, bagels, and granola. Since Kent can't binge on cereal anymore, I need some more breakfast options in my house!</div>
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There is one store that sells "deli lunch meat" if you want to pay $20 a pound. Looks like we will need an alternative to our normal turkey sandwiches for lunch. The main cheeses you can get here are gouda and the provolone which tastes like nothing really. But it shreds and melts so at least its something. The milk here is found in a bag! See the first picture above! It tastes very strange and not very good, in our opinion. Not to drink straight, anyway, but to use in smoothies or even cereal, it's bearable. There is peanut butter here so if you are used to the stir kind with no sugar added, you may like the kind they make here. I'm thankful they have peanut butter! The yogurt is pretty sour and thin, like the drinkable kind at home. I've added oats to thicken it and mixed a fruit one with the plain to get some flavor but not have it be so sour. If you get Ethiopian eggs, they are small and taste different, but you can get "foreigner eggs" from some souks that taste more normal.<br />If you want to live like an Ethiopian, you don't buy much from these stores. All you need for everyday life is found at the fruit and veggie souks and the Butcher shop- teff flour for injera, spices, lentils, and beef or vegetables. Our neighbor had her house helper cook up some traditional Ethiopian food and we actually really liked it! Way better than in the states!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPToazULGc2o9MT4J0dtUmUKKQwrMFmicsBt8rEgq48o_6P_LKFMf_rhupRDM1RcZrxZS66EON3Godfk5ADWY9I5ehLxWQeOd16Kj25b3_TYyZFtSBbbflX8c1VSQhH6kweHJ42W1KS5gc/s1600/IMG_0091+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="color: #2196f3; display: inline-block; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPToazULGc2o9MT4J0dtUmUKKQwrMFmicsBt8rEgq48o_6P_LKFMf_rhupRDM1RcZrxZS66EON3Godfk5ADWY9I5ehLxWQeOd16Kj25b3_TYyZFtSBbbflX8c1VSQhH6kweHJ42W1KS5gc/s320/IMG_0091+2.JPG" style="border: 0px; height: inherit; max-width: 100%;" width="240" /></a></div>
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Our staples so far are Mexican (we brought some taco and fajita seasoning from home) because we can make homemade tortillas, salsa and guacamole for super cheap, and Italian because again, homemade spaghetti sauce (aka tomatoes) is cheap and so is pasta. We are looking for a good and easy homemade pizza crust recipe and wish we had brought pepperoni (and bacon) from the states! I did bring an insta-pot but have not gotten the hang of it yet. Hopefully someday I'll be raving about how easy it now is to cook meals. But as of now, it really takes 5 times as long to prepare things and I could not survive here without my precious house helper, Fikkre Addis! She is a young mom to 2 kids and has helped me so much ward off the ants in my house, keep our dishes under control, bleach, grate, dice, peel and chop our fruits and veggies, hang our laundry to dry and refill our clean drinking water each day. I would feel so overwhelmed doing all these tasks and watching my two littles every day that I don't think I'd make it very long here! More about other adjustments, our community, the school, and the people here in posts to come!<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="padding: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiUercSCxF_1i3tXPXF6t9Kc6t1Ux7tS0qWUqKhEi5M5-BZoXKsCEi0A3wFJTSZSvPh21aqKYk4w5QhQe14rO60wAG7uJG80ZU-qvaKYMGsSN1B3fV9U-iNyrQtsBzEsZEZhSM2h1L_i7W/s1600/IMG_0068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="color: #2196f3; display: inline-block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiUercSCxF_1i3tXPXF6t9Kc6t1Ux7tS0qWUqKhEi5M5-BZoXKsCEi0A3wFJTSZSvPh21aqKYk4w5QhQe14rO60wAG7uJG80ZU-qvaKYMGsSN1B3fV9U-iNyrQtsBzEsZEZhSM2h1L_i7W/s320/IMG_0068.JPG" style="border: 0px; height: inherit; max-width: 100%;" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="padding: 0px;">This is Ambo, sparkling mineral water, my FAVORITE drink!<br /></td></tr>
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Jenni Austellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10347411806243729132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-546033613264935019.post-82091678626491154922018-01-20T11:45:00.000-06:002018-02-13T11:46:30.256-06:00Our New home in Ethiopia<br />
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(Here is a <a href="http://mailchi.mp/4bf859ae5733/we-made-it-351479" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #2196f3; text-decoration: none;">link</a> to our newsletter which talks about our first week as well.)<br /><br />We have been in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia for one week now and have just gotten over jet lag. We are dealing with some altitude sickness, being some 8500 ft above sea level- intense headaches, body aches and fatigue, but are settling into our new home pretty well, thanks to all the hospitality and friendliness of the Bingham and SIM staff here.<br /><br />We have sure felt the prayers of all of you throughout this huge transition. The goodbyes were so hard and so hard. We were blessed to see some familiar faces at the airport helping us bring in all of our luggage to check and seeing us off. (We were unaware Brooklyn chose to wear her pink cowgirl boots to the airport until she was going through security check! Oops! Glad we brought all the essential things like those boots!) We felt God’s grace the whole way here and the flights went relatively smooth. The girls slept a bit which was a huge praise over the 26 hours of travel! We got all 20 bags through customs without a problem and have felt a strange peace since we walked into our apartment.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkVhRsj_9MgbxaDfdXBdGlsAhbauqGpD-ngO2tuq57xuJTXvfP2ZbQPhs3t1mqaHev5K3tOJwXqo5l69Dolo1yHc4TqW2FBWfN4mgIpOE3L6zlCGouMrfJpa-IqY-X6Jo8elwYTB8f1Ssc/s1600/IMG_9695.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #2196f3; display: inline-block; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkVhRsj_9MgbxaDfdXBdGlsAhbauqGpD-ngO2tuq57xuJTXvfP2ZbQPhs3t1mqaHev5K3tOJwXqo5l69Dolo1yHc4TqW2FBWfN4mgIpOE3L6zlCGouMrfJpa-IqY-X6Jo8elwYTB8f1Ssc/s320/IMG_9695.JPG" style="border: 0px; height: inherit; max-width: 100%;" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: start;">They say Ethiopia has the most hospitable culture and I agree. We have had goodies, fresh bread, flowers, notes, and meals dropped at our house constantly. We have had dinners lined up every day last week and the next til we learn to shop and cook! Lots of women here have offered to take me shopping and have checked on me multiple times to see if I needed anything. </span></div>
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Here are some pics of the Bingham Academy compound we live on.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="padding: 0px; text-align: center;">This is the main office where Kent will work, it's 20 steps away from our apartment building!</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_opz7LT8k9SZJgL8zweOp9Gt8oloOs_18Q7kj2LIxzbdtQQlhagymo-aObs1e7xIVxDfZhRcrMjx3b7WkzwI2XBzzwHO1p6yNIA4DoEGCkhCAF32E954GnXjUcvWOcyJsKJ-1yHLSX6Nh/s1600/IMG_0652.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #2196f3; display: inline-block; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_opz7LT8k9SZJgL8zweOp9Gt8oloOs_18Q7kj2LIxzbdtQQlhagymo-aObs1e7xIVxDfZhRcrMjx3b7WkzwI2XBzzwHO1p6yNIA4DoEGCkhCAF32E954GnXjUcvWOcyJsKJ-1yHLSX6Nh/s320/IMG_0652.JPG" style="border: 0px; height: inherit; max-width: 100%;" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvTspLhZh7Gb4tVCkezZTg_awHsDwPx9hkN96-L7zhomOEXYpsf9gObr_MDG8GLk22ytERVngzrBL9UomWtqBITvWCIZnUc18qyh3IXf0xaJo6ipiV8iqiUEhJ-roi5yLbFrbSocR9Goez/s1600/IMG_9731.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #2196f3; display: inline-block; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvTspLhZh7Gb4tVCkezZTg_awHsDwPx9hkN96-L7zhomOEXYpsf9gObr_MDG8GLk22ytERVngzrBL9UomWtqBITvWCIZnUc18qyh3IXf0xaJo6ipiV8iqiUEhJ-roi5yLbFrbSocR9Goez/s320/IMG_9731.JPG" style="border: 0px; height: inherit; max-width: 100%;" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwwZHJ6XZMZ2PjhT64X1uI8PGIKTxsntOEC5fNbCAHr-raGLCPMiBtdWHBcycR_NmaEXqLbaZYydbvlqBmtOodErUMcsXVDUKr_wIAaQ7r7Tf-gLEJmffARjGMqVCemIvPzryP3JT9IX7d/s1600/IMG_4501.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #2196f3; display: inline-block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwwZHJ6XZMZ2PjhT64X1uI8PGIKTxsntOEC5fNbCAHr-raGLCPMiBtdWHBcycR_NmaEXqLbaZYydbvlqBmtOodErUMcsXVDUKr_wIAaQ7r7Tf-gLEJmffARjGMqVCemIvPzryP3JT9IX7d/s320/IMG_4501.JPG" style="border: 0px; height: inherit; max-width: 100%;" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="padding: 0px; text-align: center;">There is a little room above the gymnasium with a new treadmill and some free weights! Hurray! There is also a 1K running loop around the campus that we've enjoyed. You know we gotta find our workout outlet!</td></tr>
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It's very beautiful and a great place for kids to run around. They can go to the playgrounds, run on the soccer field, play in the gym or hang at friends houses. With Brooklyn and KJ on campus now, that makes a cohort of 5-6 little girls here for them to play with. Savy also has a 16 month old little girl to play with who lives next door!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJE4QX7OdXZBFF1mjpwbYLKo1t_TqBtwgnNXhWT3NPthf45x-P6mrlHRKCYZn6e1AezErcmkuqZ9HsXU7ruZbxELLucFN5di-Ucl4lSL8tsrLfjEHqKkgr0eivIqhtIiEBebG-8RvtdF1A/s1600/IMG_9791.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #2196f3; display: inline-block; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJE4QX7OdXZBFF1mjpwbYLKo1t_TqBtwgnNXhWT3NPthf45x-P6mrlHRKCYZn6e1AezErcmkuqZ9HsXU7ruZbxELLucFN5di-Ucl4lSL8tsrLfjEHqKkgr0eivIqhtIiEBebG-8RvtdF1A/s320/IMG_9791.jpg" style="border: 0px; height: inherit; max-width: 100%;" width="240" /></a></div>
KJ is all about meeting friends. Brooklyn was anxious and a bit clingy this week but seems to be more joyful and comfortable here now. Savy just was grumpy because of lack of sleep. We were all awake most of the night the first 4-5 days but are now feeling back on track. Jet lag, especially with kids, is no joke. We are 8 hours ahead here. On Monday KJ started school and we put her in a junior kindergarten class with 4-5 year olds to start, because she had been the youngest in her kindergarten class last semester and this curriculum is a bit harder. But after half a day, the KG1 teacher could tell she needed to bump up to Kindergarten with the 5-6 year olds. She was sad she wouldn't be with the two sweet friends she'd made who live on campus too but she will see them often and we just pray she will really get to know the kids in her class quickly. The girls are happy to see wild cats around campus, as well as 5 or so giant tortoises and a little one who lives in our backyard.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTyo5P9Xyh568X8Bf1LV_AEEAuEMWtY0mJ0rxFRb_1iWWSvyptWNQRp-hWBhTYda3Fxp9UaI-7hPQdktrKXlwI-b3xrV3IR_JQ9tPdJ0OTz3tvAkO0jbyMtlDuDVu7m__RlU4nHR7XUo-F/s1600/IMG_1127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; clear: left; color: #2196f3; display: inline-block; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTyo5P9Xyh568X8Bf1LV_AEEAuEMWtY0mJ0rxFRb_1iWWSvyptWNQRp-hWBhTYda3Fxp9UaI-7hPQdktrKXlwI-b3xrV3IR_JQ9tPdJ0OTz3tvAkO0jbyMtlDuDVu7m__RlU4nHR7XUo-F/s320/IMG_1127.JPG" style="border: 0px; height: inherit; max-width: 100%;" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeueQ115Fah4yM5_mK3xGSHkMQza9Oxi1GWG8gs2gaWvPAr9lI2NfpdCE69xUjEYWsimNDEq2wI_-d5CXKGFrRS9lLJaKrgnxzr5CsAEx82RHwXSNIVLoAUs4YLB8BqpqqKw9Slzr2wLeB/s1600/IMG_4798.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #2196f3; display: inline-block; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeueQ115Fah4yM5_mK3xGSHkMQza9Oxi1GWG8gs2gaWvPAr9lI2NfpdCE69xUjEYWsimNDEq2wI_-d5CXKGFrRS9lLJaKrgnxzr5CsAEx82RHwXSNIVLoAUs4YLB8BqpqqKw9Slzr2wLeB/s320/IMG_4798.JPG" style="border: 0px; height: inherit; max-width: 100%;" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ6H65g4lMstlJBiOI3fqnkQce-RFoaEKRgRj7lMzPSVEcvsriDOqUtSKZgAEQcQRJlmYM7OUPHE_tnIY_M9msNjNXArVdZj_gxJkWcrIfNp5jseL8uzxDF54ViAOz-JwpFczKqyAbKDGu/s1600/IMG_5202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #2196f3; display: inline-block; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ6H65g4lMstlJBiOI3fqnkQce-RFoaEKRgRj7lMzPSVEcvsriDOqUtSKZgAEQcQRJlmYM7OUPHE_tnIY_M9msNjNXArVdZj_gxJkWcrIfNp5jseL8uzxDF54ViAOz-JwpFczKqyAbKDGu/s320/IMG_5202.JPG" style="border: 0px; height: inherit; max-width: 100%;" width="320" /></a></div>
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Here is a glimpse of our apartment. It is really great and we like the layout a lot. The dining room opens to a fireplace and living room area, so it is nice for hosting and the kids have space to play. Our bedrooms are comfortable and we brought bedding, pillows, and towels from home. We bought a couple rugs from missionary families moving so that is nice because the floors here are freezing. It's 75 degrees and sunny during the day but gets to 40 degrees at night which means our house is about 50 degrees. We all brought warm PJs and slippers and got a space heater for the kids rooms. We just need to buy some decor as we go out shopping and make it more homey. We have a major ant problem and battle them every day but its better than dealing with rats or something else! Every place in Addis will have its own little quirks and we will just try and make the best of it.</div>
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<tr><td style="padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Egs2cSWwQ_v6MX1Xmh5sD8iNOOIyv2XNoksEfTGTf_5Zg3jqfvCL2ENvSooyMG50jlUPkRsSK9cbHLMPJq8R4q63xG36ywxMa5-AMxZf_kl1npkXuMMbianBy98saHn6O0B7zpTwzFqN/s1600/IMG_8909.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #2196f3; display: inline-block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Egs2cSWwQ_v6MX1Xmh5sD8iNOOIyv2XNoksEfTGTf_5Zg3jqfvCL2ENvSooyMG50jlUPkRsSK9cbHLMPJq8R4q63xG36ywxMa5-AMxZf_kl1npkXuMMbianBy98saHn6O0B7zpTwzFqN/s320/IMG_8909.JPG" style="border: 0px; height: inherit; max-width: 100%;" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="padding: 0px; text-align: center;">Kitchen-lots of shelves and cabinet space</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo2udRc0bOh423o9E8UfGmTejtmdK3roOha2O8ZEJelL-mW4jo_mMoDwXLzHY0LmKO5KYDYxuS8ItwtAjwJweCaL8bTWkF6OEt5j3B7T5vcyjAZuRgzd8c1pkMhtpThCAnV-5Z2NPypABH/s1600/IMG_6440.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #2196f3; display: inline-block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo2udRc0bOh423o9E8UfGmTejtmdK3roOha2O8ZEJelL-mW4jo_mMoDwXLzHY0LmKO5KYDYxuS8ItwtAjwJweCaL8bTWkF6OEt5j3B7T5vcyjAZuRgzd8c1pkMhtpThCAnV-5Z2NPypABH/s320/IMG_6440.jpg" style="border: 0px; height: inherit; max-width: 100%;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="padding: 0px; text-align: center;">We have a nice open living room area connecting to the dining room and kitchen </td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcpSAkRvWEiFHYFAdid4H0EKGXl1vsWGpKrpFDhykKTkWVWrd36bSnrVHPztHaDIFoyKZtEPtRvvgFV8A0CXxfILPkYmy8_vXPsk0nh5fU708nQmYZkh9cAhRoi-KcGrnI67JpfRaSJJpA/s1600/dining+room.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #2196f3; display: inline-block; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcpSAkRvWEiFHYFAdid4H0EKGXl1vsWGpKrpFDhykKTkWVWrd36bSnrVHPztHaDIFoyKZtEPtRvvgFV8A0CXxfILPkYmy8_vXPsk0nh5fU708nQmYZkh9cAhRoi-KcGrnI67JpfRaSJJpA/s320/dining+room.jpg" style="border: 0px; height: inherit; max-width: 100%;" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLOnyApLq3rbDebdyc-p17vGe6phva67b62sYAN41z18xeFy7IT3qlRXRNr0X0GBlAIKG9FWR0wRub5d1CdHZG_Vv0WCk1yD-oeftciNV9_0r4QirGAHjIDoZVGsU1EWRPYyrb8SEQINOR/s1600/IMG_5194.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #2196f3; display: inline-block; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLOnyApLq3rbDebdyc-p17vGe6phva67b62sYAN41z18xeFy7IT3qlRXRNr0X0GBlAIKG9FWR0wRub5d1CdHZG_Vv0WCk1yD-oeftciNV9_0r4QirGAHjIDoZVGsU1EWRPYyrb8SEQINOR/s320/IMG_5194.JPG" style="border: 0px; height: inherit; max-width: 100%;" width="320" /></a></div>
Our room<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqsGPn4urKJ3MxBzO-nc2Zz4UySPjYJiLiuGvLbPa2YeeL12QXsNGONCLfY7JWrED0Vi6GZtGa0SibYWvErLxoWtcDxfl7EsGVOGkkpqLydC8ac3PZbezOsnQI3PMvKskq_lcEpaR0k_HG/s1600/IMG_5195.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #2196f3; display: inline-block; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqsGPn4urKJ3MxBzO-nc2Zz4UySPjYJiLiuGvLbPa2YeeL12QXsNGONCLfY7JWrED0Vi6GZtGa0SibYWvErLxoWtcDxfl7EsGVOGkkpqLydC8ac3PZbezOsnQI3PMvKskq_lcEpaR0k_HG/s320/IMG_5195.JPG" style="border: 0px; height: inherit; max-width: 100%;" width="320" /></a></div>
The girls room<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRqGnK42dTxC7nKiXXKB-SqNyr8drH16kttggXVk-uBc7eyhVFOYZh_Z1qf3Fya9Zr6Ejd744qbjJCTpt1vL1nKRF9Opih1sxVsPY1A2Nd3j4-5ZfCvPpcFXmkjbsGHSzr1WlrJ4QWBIZj/s1600/IMG_5188.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #2196f3; display: inline-block; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRqGnK42dTxC7nKiXXKB-SqNyr8drH16kttggXVk-uBc7eyhVFOYZh_Z1qf3Fya9Zr6Ejd744qbjJCTpt1vL1nKRF9Opih1sxVsPY1A2Nd3j4-5ZfCvPpcFXmkjbsGHSzr1WlrJ4QWBIZj/s320/IMG_5188.JPG" style="border: 0px; height: inherit; max-width: 100%;" width="320" /></a></div>
Kent even has a little office<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVN4pL-sKGG9glRAtpF0X1S_SXcRIhBk1FLM-el_bBOUsTKCAOSopiMmhLmC1LboMsB-70jh6OfG7uHtuDO-WMhIAboqKTCvNwGRA2vY-e8LpDTSuZz2SdvTDs35_N_FjvsEplJ-q3Datl/s1600/IMG_5193.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #2196f3; display: inline-block; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVN4pL-sKGG9glRAtpF0X1S_SXcRIhBk1FLM-el_bBOUsTKCAOSopiMmhLmC1LboMsB-70jh6OfG7uHtuDO-WMhIAboqKTCvNwGRA2vY-e8LpDTSuZz2SdvTDs35_N_FjvsEplJ-q3Datl/s320/IMG_5193.JPG" style="border: 0px; height: inherit; max-width: 100%;" width="320" /></a></div>
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Look at our back patio!</div>
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<tr><td style="padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF3LOZsDQZHMUb32_EPCY9mdWS8KLNlaAfDqDzi6dtDQD8lbBHb2eCMIs1Fn6D6U-O5gTzu1e9qIG_C4Z_TTV-VW5QdkZHzNQCpoex40TrzuPXwV6HOqP87tgu0Ja0RSCtUxZOPllvAbXI/s1600/IMG_4952.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #2196f3; display: inline-block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF3LOZsDQZHMUb32_EPCY9mdWS8KLNlaAfDqDzi6dtDQD8lbBHb2eCMIs1Fn6D6U-O5gTzu1e9qIG_C4Z_TTV-VW5QdkZHzNQCpoex40TrzuPXwV6HOqP87tgu0Ja0RSCtUxZOPllvAbXI/s320/IMG_4952.JPG" style="border: 0px; height: inherit; max-width: 100%;" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="padding: 0px; text-align: center;">We went out and about to get our Ethiopian drivers license which involved lots of steps in various places around the city. Two days and 12 hours later we got them! But the actual driving...I may wait awhile.</td></tr>
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<br /> We got to experience the Ethiopian Orthodox holiday, Timkat on Thursday, where they celebrate the baptism of Jesus. The streets were marked with Ethiopian flags and the Orthodox Church members were dressed in white as they marched down the road singing and playing music.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />We have a lot to learn about just doing life in Ethiopia, from cooking, cleaning, driving, shopping and conversing, it is all new and will take months to feel routine. We are getting down the process for bleaching our fruits and veggies, filling our jugs of clean water every day, hanging our laundry up to dry in the attic, and cleaning up our kitchen spic and span each night before an ant invasion comes. Kent has walked down the street to get our phone cards, some bread from the bakery and fruits from the little souks lining our street. Our house helper started working for us a couple hours a day and that has been so helpful in doing some of these things that can take extra long and make daily life harder.<br /><br />This next month will be Bingham orientation and cross cultural training. Next, we will focus on language school, and then Kent will begin his job as the Bingham Academy director.<br /><br />Continue to pray for transition for us all, for friendships to develop with those around us and those in Addis, for a church home and for consistency in our walk with the Lord. Pray for quick language learning as we so desire to communicate with the Ethiopians in the city as we do life and on campus. God has been so gracious as we just made the biggest transition of our lives. We feel your prayers and love!</div>
Jenni Austellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10347411806243729132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-546033613264935019.post-70729208611895373812017-10-08T13:48:00.002-05:002017-11-01T13:09:19.576-05:00Our summer adventures<div style="color: #454545; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 17pt;">Well, a lot has happened since our last blog post which shared our news of this big adventure God is calling us to. Its been a whirlwind the past few months, to say the least, but God has been faithful! I'll try to summarize for those we haven't talked to lately.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #454545; font-family: ".sfuitext"; font-size: 17pt;">We put our house on the market in June, right before heading out to Italy to visit my sister and her family who moved there for the Air Force just over a year ago. Can you believe the Austells got to go to ITALY? </span><span style="color: #454545;"><span style="font-size: 22.66666603088379px;"> For a family who never travels, this was the kids first time on an airplane and it was a 12 hour overnight flight! </span></span><span style="color: #454545; font-size: medium;">We had been planning this trip way before we knew anything about Ethiopia and could not wait to spend time with family. My kids got 9 days with their 4 cousins and we got to see some beautiful, historical, unbelievable things that we will never forget it! God used it as a small step in our preparation for moving overseas. The long plane ride, the jet lag, the new country, language and food, sleeping in strange places, being surrounded by different cultures...all of it was a great learning experience for the kids. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 17pt;"> After that, we came back for a couple weeks and left again to enjoy our first ever vacation with Kent's parents and siblings. It was also our kids first time to the beach. We rented a place in Florida with his parents, 3 brothers, sister, sister's husband and their baby. God really ordained these two family trips this summer, as we planned them before we knew about our move and now it will be the last time for a long while that we will all get quality time together. Praise God!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 17pt;">So that brought us to August and the start of another school year. KJ started kindergarten and Brooklyn, PK-3 </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 17pt;">Kent had 2 months left working at Briarcrest to help transition in the new student ministry director. It was VERY hard to say goodbye to our Briarcrest Family! We are so grateful our kids can finish the semester there and have some consistency during a crazy transition season.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 17pt;">On August 14th, we headed to Charlotte, North Carolina where we interviewed with SIM and officially became a member of their mission organization. This allowed us to begin raising up a support team! We sent out our first <a href="http://us16.campaign-archive.com/?u=3a16d1eae22ea7b87088d54b1&id=6eee454ed8" target="_blank">newsletter</a> to friends and family asking for prayer that our house would sell, and THE NEXT DAY we got an offer and a contract! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #454545; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 17pt;">We closed on the house September 26th, sold </span><span style="font-size: 22.66666603088379px;">most of our stuff, </span><span style="font-size: 17pt;">moved into the in-laws, and left for our second SIM training October 1st.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2uA7eRD3e6hiYUHeRFkaQcyjRyWyHB48TFsQ5HnMNm19UQWhwf4IvAswtk_f-jLVlHJPqjCUXKbXLCkhf2MnyFFyse9VRfer9s8kSf0oayJtqM9wgDKqOVV7jDEDM_zgce6yoicueAHs/s1600/IMG_8033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2uA7eRD3e6hiYUHeRFkaQcyjRyWyHB48TFsQ5HnMNm19UQWhwf4IvAswtk_f-jLVlHJPqjCUXKbXLCkhf2MnyFFyse9VRfer9s8kSf0oayJtqM9wgDKqOVV7jDEDM_zgce6yoicueAHs/s320/IMG_8033.JPG" width="240" /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9KKhyWXYKQ3a8svotiAcUokT8xGT8qI-LK_mEGOykzkpZEQIA4VXbQeF3vApCm_FOELRKLCC3aYaI5Ci3vam_Qpyri8zRi9qJX1PjTcMvwDzAi9UWF93B8f27dtvO5QKxCklMb_hCUSY/s1600/IMG_6887.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9KKhyWXYKQ3a8svotiAcUokT8xGT8qI-LK_mEGOykzkpZEQIA4VXbQeF3vApCm_FOELRKLCC3aYaI5Ci3vam_Qpyri8zRi9qJX1PjTcMvwDzAi9UWF93B8f27dtvO5QKxCklMb_hCUSY/s320/IMG_6887.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #454545;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 17pt;">So here are are now, staying at the SIM guest house where we finished our week of training yesterday and have another week of training starting next Sunday. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #454545; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWF453wAYSbNLOVuauyfcZ5AytNDOk2XCfFGw4VFjWEARxSsN2jR87-fk9U-Y4s5_HotRXcJSmOUMNYQxnjMpBWmXjkzUhy_fVzstJ7rOZww6rPPby-F_Rs2hxrLgxPQlPZvSWFVFPFfI/s1600/IMG_8060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWF453wAYSbNLOVuauyfcZ5AytNDOk2XCfFGw4VFjWEARxSsN2jR87-fk9U-Y4s5_HotRXcJSmOUMNYQxnjMpBWmXjkzUhy_fVzstJ7rOZww6rPPby-F_Rs2hxrLgxPQlPZvSWFVFPFfI/s320/IMG_8060.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="color: #454545; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">SIM has been incredible and we could talk forever about the people on staff here, all we have learned, and how thankful we are to be a part of this SIM family. Last week's training was with 13 other adults and 13 other kids. We had many many sessions dealing with a broad range of topics, like our identity in Christ, spiritual warfare, how to deal with transition, working on a multicultural team, the theology of risk and suffering, our <span style="font-size: 22.66666603088379px;">health</span></span><span style="font-size: 22.66666603088379px;"> care plan, and women living in a foreign culture. It was emotional at times, scary, overwhelming, encouraging, affirming, and everything in between. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ZCci1N8NJNLaft-idcLVkIyVkx-2Eh9RV589LCH-hmiSmdamMiT-pOz9AQsFpgsZjZbqsuwNq-bFk-EUIidlCok-I4NSYOXpkEfjAip3gnI83gHucwrHrSiozryHwUztaVYz5bQq1iw/s1600/IMG_8062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="686" data-original-width="1028" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ZCci1N8NJNLaft-idcLVkIyVkx-2Eh9RV589LCH-hmiSmdamMiT-pOz9AQsFpgsZjZbqsuwNq-bFk-EUIidlCok-I4NSYOXpkEfjAip3gnI83gHucwrHrSiozryHwUztaVYz5bQq1iw/s320/IMG_8062.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">SIM staff praying over our family</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ending the week with a commissioning service and foot washing</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #454545;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 22.66666603088379px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCbjCMiV7ZsJV6Q_mSfiie6ltDVDQrvvQH1YezLQuIp6TYjUan1EDxlX0IdWHLzqKioE4k9SysInALZwxaXpczqk4fmtuqCMXYD3sekIxyb1__8QOSMpMiQ1GA3Hp7bdO78WnX5Pv8grQ/s1600/IMG_8041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1278" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCbjCMiV7ZsJV6Q_mSfiie6ltDVDQrvvQH1YezLQuIp6TYjUan1EDxlX0IdWHLzqKioE4k9SysInALZwxaXpczqk4fmtuqCMXYD3sekIxyb1__8QOSMpMiQ1GA3Hp7bdO78WnX5Pv8grQ/s320/IMG_8041.JPG" width="180" /></a></span></span></div>
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We ended the week listening to stories from veteran missionaries who have lived all over the world. Although they each endured much hardship, they all said they'd trade places with us again in a heart beat. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7_IDlYTI7fmCxfXZAIydT1K8npsuAohCaa7UZJbAj8klvf3N-EGpGjNURlr8nw0pgVeZi2QUcPmPtIkHF6R5fgSjFySR9iDv30yCXZCp4P5SZXn6fKSDLGrmTQs0oWBMH-rEC0aG1Sgc/s1600/IMG_8053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7_IDlYTI7fmCxfXZAIydT1K8npsuAohCaa7UZJbAj8klvf3N-EGpGjNURlr8nw0pgVeZi2QUcPmPtIkHF6R5fgSjFySR9iDv30yCXZCp4P5SZXn6fKSDLGrmTQs0oWBMH-rEC0aG1Sgc/s320/IMG_8053.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #454545;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 22.66666603088379px;">So for the joy set before us, we press on!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 17pt;">We are staying here in Charlotte for the week in between so we can visit some of Kent's family here and not have to drive 20 hours in between training weeks. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 17pt;">I just want to share with you some of the funny ways God has used our 1st week here to <b>prepare us and stretch us in <i>unexpected</i> ways.</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #454545; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">-New Schedule: We woke up at 4:15am last Sunday to drive the 10 hours to Charlotte to be here by 4pm that afternoon. We thought surely our kids would fall back asleep in the dark as we drove for the first few hours (at least Savannah!) but we were wrong. They were up the whole drive and have been thrown off their normal schedules ever since. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #454545; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">-New Food: We have a cook preparing our meals here (which is a nice break for me and he is amazing!) but my picky eaters haven't had at least one thing they like to eat at each meal like they do at home, so they have had to be stretched or go hungry each day. Savy is especially picky so it's been tough trying to make sure she eats something besides crackers each day.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #454545; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">-Lack of sleep: Savannah doesn't seem to love her new bedroom situation (pack and play set up in our bathroom) and has strangely been waking in the middle of the night for HOURS almost every single night we have been here. She never does this and is always one of our best sleepers, so Kent and I are just exhausted. I have also had to be away from her all day from 8:15-5pm. That has been tough for both of us, and may be similar when we get to Ethiopia if I enroll in language school. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #454545; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">-Stomach issues: I have felt sick to my stomach mysteriously this whole week. Not throwing up or anything but very uncomfortable for no apparent reason. I know this is just a foretaste of what we will probably each experience within the first couple months of us being in Addis.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #454545;">-Unwelcome critters: Another funny situation was in the middle of the night, as I was trying to get Savy back to sleep, my feet were itching and I tried to figure out why. I noticed the floor was 'moving.' I turned my phone flashlight on to discover ants were everywhere on our bedroom floor. Not just ants but fire ants. (Thanks to my kids snacking in our room the night before). As they started biting my feet, Kent woke up to my panicking and he began spraying windex on them, as we had no ant killer or anything else available. 3 days later and my stinging feet are still reminding me of yet another preparation for whatever critters we may encounter in our new apartment in Addis (please no rats!). </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #454545; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">-Traffic: Lastly, I'll mention how yesterday after our last session, we were excited to venture off the SIM compound and drive 45 minutes away to meet up with a dear friend I hadn't seen in ages. 15 minutes into our drive, there was a horrible accident about 1/2 mile in front of us. We watched over 8 ambulances pull onto the scene and waited for over 2 hours for them to deal with the injured. Then a clean up crew arrived and we waited another 30 minutes with our whiney crying kiddos before having to cancel with my friend and try and find a place to pee and grab some food before heading home. Of course we have heard the traffic in Addis Ababa is pretty insane and there is a ton of traffic, accidents, waiting, canceling of plans and having to surrender to the situation. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #454545; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">-God's blessings: After we finally got off the highway, we all tumbled into the nearest restaurant (Pizza Hut). I was holding 2 emotional, worn out girls on my lap who were fighting over much needed mama time, and Kent was wrangling an overtired baby who was trying to get into everything as we waited for our pizza to cook. As we left Pizza Hut, the waitress said that a couple sitting near us felt like God wanted them to pay our bill! Such a sweet sweet reminder that God is with us, he sees us, and he cares.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #454545; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 22.66666603088379px;">All that to say, we appreciate you guys journeying with us as we share our life with you! We are so humbled by how many of you have committed to pray for our family or be on our financial support team. We have felt your prayers! We will send out prayer </span><a href="http://us16.campaign-archive.com/?u=3a16d1eae22ea7b87088d54b1&id=6eee454ed8" style="font-size: 22.66666603088379px;" target="_blank">newsletters</a><span style="font-size: 22.66666603088379px;"> and </span><a href="http://mailchi.mp/7a45283b46b9/prayers-answered-keep-em-coming" style="font-size: 22.66666603088379px;" target="_blank">updates</a><span style="font-size: 22.66666603088379px;"> every few weeks (click subscribe on the link) but I hope to blog along the way with more personal stories and pictures for you to keep up with us as well.</span></span></div>
Jenni Austellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10347411806243729132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-546033613264935019.post-51650487568413137352017-05-28T20:11:00.001-05:002017-05-28T20:13:54.237-05:00Kent's StoryKent's Version of Our Call to Ethiopia (To hear Jen's version, click <a href="http://jennifermarielivingthelife.blogspot.com/2017/05/so-backstory-begins-last-february-when.html" target="_blank">here</a>.)<br />
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A few weeks ago, I accepted the Director position at Bingham
Academy in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
will be moving in January and stay for at least four years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you had told me two years ago that we
would be moving to Africa, I would have never believed you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Over the past year and a half, God has moved
mightily in my life and heart to prepare me for this opportunity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The following is a brief overview of the
journey God has taken me on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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In November 2015, the men in our community group were going
through a marriage study called <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">You and
Me Forever</i> by Francis Chan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There
was a particular chapter in this marriage study that God used to convict me of
my lack intentionality in living on mission for Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I distinctly remember confessing to the men
sitting in my living room, “Guys, this might be the most convicted I have ever
been in my entire life.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This conviction
extended much farther than a specific job or location in the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a change in my thinking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Was all of my time, talents, and treasures
clearly focused on God’s mission?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m
not sure I will ever be able to fully say yes. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, I wanted to make sure that my life’s trajectory
is one that is being more aligned with God’s mission. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Three months later, I took a trip with one of my mentors to
Ethiopia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We spent several days meeting
with Ethiopian church leaders as well as speak at an international high school basketball
tournament held at Bingham Academy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Though
I have been on numerous short term mission trips, this one was different.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First of all, this trip completely destroyed
my stereotypes of Africa and my misunderstandings of what God was doing there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was amazed at the vibrancy of the Ethiopian
Church. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was blown away by the
incredibly gifted, Spirit-filled leaders of the Church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was challenged by their devotion to the
Lord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was humbled by their hunger to
be trained in Biblical truth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was
overjoyed by the fruitfulness of ministry that was happening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Matthew 9:37 kept repeating in my mind when
Jesus told his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Secondly, I left the trip with a renewed
sense of personal purpose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had been in
season of life where I was struggling with clarity of what I should be doing. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I returned to the U.S. with an affirmation of
my pastoral heart and desire to help equip the body of Christ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
couldn’t help but feel compelled that my time, talents, and treasures needed to
align with what God was already doing in Ethiopia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thought this probably meant two or three
trips a year to Africa, but little did I know what God had in store. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I got home and shared with Jenni (my wife)
about what God was teaching me, we began to pray daily for God show us where He
might be leading us.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I immediately restarted my seminary courses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the most impactful courses was
Introduction to Missiology (aka Missions).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was during this class that I realized that what I was experiencing
was actually a missionary call.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t
have a “burning bush” moment or hear an audible voice from God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t feel like some elite,
super-Christian like I expected to feel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Though I had a new passion for Africa (Ethiopia in particular), it was
different than I had expected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My
professor described the missionary call as “an awareness of the needs and
commands, a passionate concern for the lost, a commitment to God, the Spirit’s
gifting, your church’s affirmation/blessing/commissioning and an indescribable
yearning that motivates beyond all understanding.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This summarized what God had slowly been
doing in my life.<o:p></o:p></div>
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In January 2017 I heard about the Director position at
Bingham Academy opening up. Over the course of the next few months of prayers,
emails, applications, and Skype interviews, both Jenni and I have been blown
away by the God moments throughout this journey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here are some of the moments:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->As I was told of the job opportunity, I spent
the morning with the Lord to see if this was something I should pursue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During this time, I made a list of five
questions I had in regards to the position. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I asked God if this is something I should
pursue, I needed a majority of those questions to be answered with a yes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Over the next couple of weeks, four and a
half were answered with a yes!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->As I received the job description, I was amazed
by the alignment of the job and my gifting and experiences.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was like the last six years had been
purposefully designed to help prepare me for this opportunity.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->The similarities between Bingham and Briarcrest
(my current school) are eerie at moments.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->During my last 20 minutes in Ethiopia before
heading to the airport, I “happened” to run into the SIM Director of Ethiopia
who I will now ultimately report to.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->During my trip to Ethiopia, I had spent three
days on Bingham’s campus, meeting many of the faculty, staff, and students.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Incredible undeserved favor in the eyes of the
many decision-makers who God used to choose me for this position.<o:p></o:p></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Immense affirmation from many key American and
Ethiopian friends when hearing of this opportunity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Being Director of Bingham Academy will allow me to utilize
my educational leadership experience while strategically placing us in a
geographical position that fits in line with the calling I feel I have.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Please pray for us right now as we prepare
for the next four years of our life!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
particular, please pray for the following:<o:p></o:p></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->That our journey would not be glorifying
ourselves, but totally point to the Lord.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Our ability to process, communicate, and handle
all the emotions that we are experiencing.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Our preparation and selling of our home and
possessions would happen in a timely manner.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->That we could raise the necessary funds needed
as we are on the field.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->That God would provide both housing and finances
for the next six months during the transition to Ethiopia.<o:p></o:p></div>
Jenni Austellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10347411806243729132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-546033613264935019.post-65968774978805498672017-05-15T05:35:00.001-05:002017-05-28T20:17:27.163-05:00Words I Never Thought I'd Say...<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">So the backstory begins last February when Kent went on a trip to Addis Ethiopia with a great friend and our former pastor, Ernie. Ernie and his family had lived there for 2 years and started a discipleship ministry there. They have since have moved to Houston, Tx, but Ernie takes frequent trips back and wanted to bring Kent with him. So Kent took a week off work, flew by himself to Addis where he met Ernie and joined him in ministry. He got to speak at a sports tournament at the international christian school in Addis, sit in on some meetings with christian pastors and leaders, and see how God is moving in that country. He left feeling stirred towards the people there but unsure of what it really meant. He also was taking a seminary class at the time-missiology (study of missions) which was also shaping him and messing with him about God's heart for the nations. At this time, I'm just thinking, "Oh great, Kent is going to want to move overseas. God, you had better REALLY work on me because I do not want to move to another country!" I was definitely hoping this new passion in Kent would diminish and life would go back to normal. But it didn't.</span><br />
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br />The next few months we committed to pray that if God wanted our family to move somewhere, that He would make it clear and that we would be willing. God was really purifying my heart in this time, testing me and checking me to see what worldly things I was holding too tightly and if I'd be willing to give up my comforts and follow Him where he leads. It was a good test of faith and I hoped that was all it was, a time to fix my eyes back on Christ and stop turning to other things to seek satisfaction or comfort, a time to humble myself before him and see if I really do believe He is enough, and that his kingdom is the most important thing.<br /><br />In February, Ernie called Kent and let him know that there was a position opening at the international school in Addis. We both thought this was a little crazy. The school is very similar to Briarcrest and Kent has a great job already at Briarcrest, so why move us across the world to do the same job in a third world country? But we prayed about it and said that when they posted the position, we would see what it entailed and if it seemed to really fit him. When we saw the job description, we both could not believe how well it described Kent. Not only his skills and giftings but his passions and experiences made him a perfect fit. He spent some significant time with the Lord and felt God gave him a big vision for how he might be used there. His excitement grew and he filled out the application with great anticipation. There were 3 phases of interviews starting that February. On April 24th, we got an email saying that he was their top candidate and after presenting him to the school board May 11th, we got an email saying they wanted him for the job! They had also felt God clearly leading Kent to this position and shared our excitement for how God was at work in it all.<br /><br />So needless to say...we will be moving to Addis, Ethiopia!<br /><a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Addis_Ababa">https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Addis_Ababa</a></span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br />Lots of tears and good conversations have happened through this process. We are both torn up to leave this place we have called home for the last 6 years and of course this country that we love. God has provided us a wonderful church, sweet community, great job and school for the kids and the chance to live near our parents. I have been challenged to praise God in the sadness, because it means he has truly blessed us with so many people and things we love. We love the house that he provided for us 6 years ago. From newly weds to a family of 5, the noise, mess, and love in this house has tripled. But God's faithfulness these past 6 years only strengthens my confidence that he will be faithful to us in the next 6. He goes above and beyond all we could ask or imagine. Won't he do it? (Shout out, KV!)<br /><br />When we told our kids, my picky 3 year old said, "Is the food good?" Yikes, she is in for a rude awakening. </span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">My 4 year old said, "Well if God is telling us to go, we have to obey because if we don't obey Him, we don't know Him." Wow. Preach, sister! Her precious heart is excited for the chance to share Jesus' love and forgiveness with people who haven't heard the good news.<br /><br />So what's the plan? Well, here's all we know right now. The school is run by a mission organization called SIM. Everyone who works at the school is a missionary, most are SIM missionaries. So we are starting the process of missionary training. We have lots of paperwork, interviews and trainings in North Carolina to attend between August and October. We will figure out what to do with our house, cars and stuff in the meantime, probably moving out sometime this summer. We will start fundraising and tying up loose ends and leave in the beginning of January 2018. I am so grateful we have this time to process, prepare, and transition into this new adventure. I am not very good with change and don't handle stress well, so God knows it has to be a gradual process for me. He will take care of each step along the way and we are leaning into him as he is guiding us on this journey! And I am so thankful to marry a man who is led be the Lord and is sensitive to the Holy Spirit. It gives me great peace as he leads our family.<br /><br />We would love for you to follow us along the way (you can subscribe to this blog or follow my instagram at jenniaustell) and join us in praying for all God wants to do.</span><br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">To hear Kent's version of the story, click <a href="http://jennifermarielivingthelife.blogspot.com/2017/05/kents-story.html" target="_blank">here</a>.<br /><br />Feel free email Kent at tkaustell@gmail.com if you want to receive email updates. Thank you for loving us and caring for us! More to come!</span></div>
Jenni Austellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10347411806243729132noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-546033613264935019.post-73571465224135837632017-03-14T15:27:00.000-05:002017-03-14T15:27:05.953-05:00Celebrating Savannah's milestones!TOTAL 3rd kid problems! I have not kept up with blogging AT ALL and have not recorded Savannah month by month as I have the other 2. (LOVE YOU Savannah!) So here's my quick update!<br />
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In September, she turned 3 months old. The big kids were getting into the swing of school and Savannah started becoming MUCH more aware of what was going on around her. She had a hard time napping, not wanting to miss out on anything. She mastered rolling over but didn't want to be put down much at all.</div>
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In October, we celebrated her turning 4 months old, as well as her first Halloween. We put together some last minute costumes from the dress up box, and she wore her silly monster hat and onesie as we trick or treated with church friends.<br />
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At 5 months old, we celebrated Thanksgiving at Aunt Joy's, as usual. It was so wonderful spending the whole day with beloved family and although she did NOT nap, you made it through the long day like a champ. Since about 3 months old, she has not been good at sleeping in other places. </div>
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She got time with her cousin Ty, who is a week younger! </div>
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She also fought through some rough nights as her two bottom teeth started to pop through!</div>
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As she figured out how to sit up better, we thought we'd test out the swings at the park one day. She loved it! (It has been the strangest winter in Memphis, mostly super mild.)</div>
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At 6 months, we tried to start you on baby food, of which you did NOT like. We still didn't have you on a schedule, since I am usually out and about all morning. You stopped falling asleep in your car seat like you always had before, but started taking better crib naps. You can say mama and dada.<br />
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At her 6 month appointment: growing well, long and lean like her daddy!</div>
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This month we flew to Chicago for a quick weekend so I could catch up with some of my childhood friends and they could meet Savannah. She did great on the flights and my heart was encouraged and refreshed from sweet time with friends. (On the plane she actually slept ON ME in the ergo! This never happens anymore!)<br />
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Saw best friend Kara and her kids</div>
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Saw best friend Kendra and her twins</div>
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We had a wonderful Christmas this year with our crew. It is so magical having little ones take in the holidays with so much wonder and joy! This year was triple the fun! The big kids got roller skates (favorite present even though they basically walk in them). KJ saw her first real movie with me, Trolls, and is mildly obsessed. She got a huge troll doll from uncle drew.<br />
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In January of 2017, Savannah turned 7 months old. She sleeps 6:30pm-6:30am. I'll feed her (still EBF) and she will go back down for another hour or so. She wakes in the night on occasion, and I just feed her and she goes back down. I figure she could use the extra calories. She mastered crawling although she doesn't like to play independently for more than a couple minutes. She wants me to sit right down with her and fusses if I try to go do anything else. (Very attention needy!) I basically have to hold her all day in my left hand and do stuff with my right hand, or wear her in the backpack. She takes 2 naps if I am actually home in the morning to put her down around 10. Otherwise it's one nap around noon after I pick up the big kids from school.</div>
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8 months Old (February) and pulling up on everything! Starting to love food, mostly when she can feed herself. Still nursing 5 times a day. We are hoping to make it till 12 months old. She rarely does a bottle, I wish I had done it a little more with her, especially since I am going away for a weekend in March. We had fun celebrating Valentines day with the girls and they thought it was so special that we wrote them a heart every day that said one thing we loved about them. They couldn't wait for their heart each night and stuck it on the door for decoration.<br />
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We started track season this month and mine and Kent's mom watches the girls every day. I have enjoyed that time with the Briarcrest kids and love being out on that track, but with my other two in school in the mornings, I'm a little sadder to leave them in the afternoons. But I am SO thankful they get time each week with their amazing grandmothers! My parents also left for Italy for 2 weeks to visit my sister this month!<br />
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And now she is up to date! 9 months old on March 8th. She is cruising and wants to walk! She is into everything, putting everything in her mouth, playing with plugs and outlets, tupperware, everything that is not a toy. I have yet to take her to the doctor because I totally forgot she needs a 9 month appointment. We are on spring break right now, so it is AMAZING that Kent is home more (and I can actually write this blog haha!). We did our taxes, fixed some house projects, spent some family time together and just relaxed. Once school starts up on Monday, we hit the ground running with track meets and the rest of the year FLIES by!<br />
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That's all for now! Hopefully I'll have another update before 9 months goes by again!</div>
Jenni Austellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10347411806243729132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-546033613264935019.post-49885683614673044772016-07-25T22:23:00.001-05:002016-07-25T22:23:39.900-05:00Baby #3, the birth story of Savannah Faith<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmAOYwPKa_B8ytPEzEsXG7UkbJ6oN0oTUdsjrsU02zNp3htYQoEjvGNiZgjrN1kWafmhFhVpjU50ySvIkFpMo1liDGLkL0yIEIlGxv_uXA9IPEM3To-det6fkWcVk0V5Nl2RFEQiwEEpU/s640/blogger-image--1451005026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmAOYwPKa_B8ytPEzEsXG7UkbJ6oN0oTUdsjrsU02zNp3htYQoEjvGNiZgjrN1kWafmhFhVpjU50ySvIkFpMo1liDGLkL0yIEIlGxv_uXA9IPEM3To-det6fkWcVk0V5Nl2RFEQiwEEpU/s640/blogger-image--1451005026.jpg"></a></div>Of course this pregnancy seemed to go much quicker than the first 2. Life seems crazy with 2 busy toddlers. I felt horrible first trimester, as usual, but even worse than I did with the other two. This alone is why I do NOT want to get pregnant again and go through those first 7 weeks of nausea and migraines. (But then I look at my sweet little preshy and think, "HOW can this be my last one?!" So who knows!). I did have a few good weeks during second trimester and into the spring. I felt SUPER tired 3rd trimester and was coaching track every day with long track meets in the hot sun, sometimes 3 days/week. But I kept active and was able to run & lift with my track girls & on my own up until she was born. <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">My body was achy more and more as I got bigger. I gained about 20lbs, a bit more than my other 2 pregnancies and definitely felt that she was a bigger baby, although the doctor insisted she was only going to be 7.5lbs. Nope! 8.13lbs! (You always feel good when people ask "are you sure you aren't having twins?" #whatnottosaytoapregnantwoman</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEuHvv60xUIXtrS22bQxjZEpnxKUyzF6BVojttE4JgtPXkfZOrRaBQfxnC2Flo9XVUokvv6GM1SQz57uPUKiRXTkyJ9fu4r2GTzzTglcAo1VLHn_JnV25M9VM3_pvx51bdfDr5SKPwy4g/s640/blogger-image--1415335001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEuHvv60xUIXtrS22bQxjZEpnxKUyzF6BVojttE4JgtPXkfZOrRaBQfxnC2Flo9XVUokvv6GM1SQz57uPUKiRXTkyJ9fu4r2GTzzTglcAo1VLHn_JnV25M9VM3_pvx51bdfDr5SKPwy4g/s640/blogger-image--1415335001.jpg"></a></div><div>). My sweet husband gave me foot rubs often and I didn't have as many calf cramps at night as in the past. Sleeping is always tough for me during pregnancy. And God sure makes you SO ready to deliver that baby. The discomfort supersedes the fears you may have of the actual delivery. <div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYjuDt30RCj2SUJeB2MDAwUg1yXAX6l19XME3K-JlpGU6kLNyZF6MuCqZVIJ2hHRqiCjkzx3w3t4eb17qMHa2YXbSW8KH8jNqBIEjuxdqHkHh5kNsQXQ9_wV4jWeDUDd3iPjHqfYhfzjs/s640/blogger-image--1420142418.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYjuDt30RCj2SUJeB2MDAwUg1yXAX6l19XME3K-JlpGU6kLNyZF6MuCqZVIJ2hHRqiCjkzx3w3t4eb17qMHa2YXbSW8KH8jNqBIEjuxdqHkHh5kNsQXQ9_wV4jWeDUDd3iPjHqfYhfzjs/s640/blogger-image--1420142418.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>I was naturally the least anxious going in to the delivery this time around. I was scheduled to be induced a few days before her due date and only felt minor contractions leading up to that day. My doctor said I was pretty effaced and about 1.5cm dilated the week leading up to this. I now know what they mean by experiencing "lightening". This was the first time I felt like she might fall out of me; the pressure was so great. But we woke up at 5:00am on Wednesday June 8th to head to Germantown Methodist hospital and meet our 3rd baby girl. They started Pitocin around 6:30am and the doctor came in at 9:00 to break my water. I knew better this time than to wait til contractions got bad so we quickly got the epidural after my water broke. Contractions came on quick after that and I was so thankful to be able to rest and feel relaxed for the first time in 9 months. I slept off and on while Kent studied and worked on seminary. About 12pm I was checked and at 7cm. They guessed it would be 3 more hours til I could push, but an hour later, I started to feel strong contractions. I could feel my legs again and knew the epidural was wearing off. I started feeling SUPER nauseous (which I typically do after an epidural) and asked for some nausea medicine. The nurse came in to check me and said I was a 9.5 but The doctor was delivering a baby next door and didn't know how long it would take. They sent the anesthesiologist back in, who gave me a huge dose of epidural meds and that knocked me out completely. I could hardly form words, I felt so drugged. Just then, the doctor came in and said, time to push! We were all frustrated that he re-dosed me and gave me SO much when I was so close to pushing. At this point I said, "I'm too tired." And closed my eyes. I just wanted to sleep. They convinced me to try pushing, though I could feel absolutely nothing. And by God's grace I pushed that baby out. Savannah Faith was born quickly after, around 1:00, 8.1 lbs and 21" long. </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCjbxhDCfUUoUWdqqsqTtkO5GTGdEidNkYQq6A0VPmDcqB6hLkdaiVfybUasthRjlKW88fw1WwgU90oKwhV-IV7hXw_tMdm9Ujgf7SxmEWIm4rwlfquhHrf2sJEz7FEtm9Mq89-awJZ_M/s640/blogger-image-1456834663.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCjbxhDCfUUoUWdqqsqTtkO5GTGdEidNkYQq6A0VPmDcqB6hLkdaiVfybUasthRjlKW88fw1WwgU90oKwhV-IV7hXw_tMdm9Ujgf7SxmEWIm4rwlfquhHrf2sJEz7FEtm9Mq89-awJZ_M/s640/blogger-image-1456834663.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOn0Cpr04Kc8d33xhyphenhypheniwhucHndvqWZ2uUnEtXENSFXL1YGsRp-vxLjHO5SVB7e5xHTfFjGEsnW0TtTzgwMZUxnKcOi8U8A6N6LF1K_y24yMtsshrNNnoIFRo98MmEmzrdxecUTF3B9ltY/s640/blogger-image--658064057.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOn0Cpr04Kc8d33xhyphenhypheniwhucHndvqWZ2uUnEtXENSFXL1YGsRp-vxLjHO5SVB7e5xHTfFjGEsnW0TtTzgwMZUxnKcOi8U8A6N6LF1K_y24yMtsshrNNnoIFRo98MmEmzrdxecUTF3B9ltY/s640/blogger-image--658064057.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm98SVdSqEYjAnZukhFkLt5f4XHbaDEr9bj16Xe1A07fB8U5g3O6rlFnj3vaPloKqR5EbyALUds90Mhzq2Tec05aha0Do8nH_7lOiFW1m4D8-icMd-wqLkiF4DRz7TjYe35p70r_EgEQE/s640/blogger-image--226966656.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm98SVdSqEYjAnZukhFkLt5f4XHbaDEr9bj16Xe1A07fB8U5g3O6rlFnj3vaPloKqR5EbyALUds90Mhzq2Tec05aha0Do8nH_7lOiFW1m4D8-icMd-wqLkiF4DRz7TjYe35p70r_EgEQE/s640/blogger-image--226966656.jpg"></a></div><br></div><br></div><div>She was perfect! I was so thankful to hear her little cry. I tried to hold her but was still so out of it I could barely sit up. They cleaned her up as I closed my eyes to rest and let the epidural wear off again. It wasn't until 5:00 that I started to feel normal again and could really bond with her, and shortly after we let all our family in to meet her. It wasn't the greatest way I wanted to meet my baby, super drugged and sleepy, but the labor was pretty short & painless, minus a short spurt of extreme contractions, and I didn't tear at alll, even though she was such a big baby. So we were praising God and really enjoyed our evening and the next day of bonding with our 3rd little princess. What a sweet sweet gift and I cannot get over how perfect she is. </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGfcH_ag_J0i3lU3O8kSr_dJLhNeiq7CmVCzkR3SR4L0lknOfr2Kcfj7Cnf9iCFVUkUkobfvlKMkp5HXLGAmJP0O0Dl3BZ6QQMNd_P7cKG1y0uTIkmRDYmP7sJq0LniIYRl-IXMLcb3xQ/s640/blogger-image--946350686.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGfcH_ag_J0i3lU3O8kSr_dJLhNeiq7CmVCzkR3SR4L0lknOfr2Kcfj7Cnf9iCFVUkUkobfvlKMkp5HXLGAmJP0O0Dl3BZ6QQMNd_P7cKG1y0uTIkmRDYmP7sJq0LniIYRl-IXMLcb3xQ/s640/blogger-image--946350686.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>We left the hospital the next day and enjoyed reuniting with our girls. I was going on long morning walks starting the day after and I always feel like this helps me recover quickly. I stopped bleeding mostly after 2 weeks and started running again at 3 weeks (just a few miles easy) because I felt so good. I always have a weak back after giving birth and last pregnancy my back went out a few weeks after. Kent warned me to be careful picking things (and babies up)?and I have tried to be...But today, leaning over to click the car seat into the van, my back went out again. It's a nerve deal, I'm pretty sure, but is pretty painful for at least a few days. So here I lay in bed, unable to pick up anything let alone bend over. hoping for a quick healing (pray for my hubby who now has to take care of 4 girls on his weekend off work!). </div><div><br></div><div>At 3 days old, we had a newborn photographer come to the house, Angela Watson. She was so sweet and started photography just as a mom of 2 newborn who couldn't afford to pay for a photographer. So she is super reasonable and very talented. We loved our pictures. I didn't do this with my other 2 (which I regret!) but knew baby #3 wouldn't get near as many baby pics as the other 2, so I figured we would do this to make up for it (#3rdkidprobs). Here are some of the photos she took. </div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoGDnk4nfWfe9fiHIjgia4eZQZvMSM50SrwUkURQvp_zYry8EyiKEHWgXZc5fcxaG-rwlKfogE24nYH05oAixc0NJ97wzQalYi7iCBU1ibQBwCiBKqyzPNwVVY6loHlRWFYtAM151X7J4/s640/blogger-image-316000721.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoGDnk4nfWfe9fiHIjgia4eZQZvMSM50SrwUkURQvp_zYry8EyiKEHWgXZc5fcxaG-rwlKfogE24nYH05oAixc0NJ97wzQalYi7iCBU1ibQBwCiBKqyzPNwVVY6loHlRWFYtAM151X7J4/s640/blogger-image-316000721.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi4ZDSaNw4jaI5h9XLWexYomYilZb_TIX9CoZXVZp1BSSHJhLK0zLoXbhw9dDxhUhevqbUpt3B-HuHnlqNmDhWOsXp7r6EKi8UJ4WxCJL6IqF1F2xahm0uJyjS3jR8desiiljDZh8hBfo/s640/blogger-image--943509265.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi4ZDSaNw4jaI5h9XLWexYomYilZb_TIX9CoZXVZp1BSSHJhLK0zLoXbhw9dDxhUhevqbUpt3B-HuHnlqNmDhWOsXp7r6EKi8UJ4WxCJL6IqF1F2xahm0uJyjS3jR8desiiljDZh8hBfo/s640/blogger-image--943509265.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvFuHkyHxsG2MdFOq1Cs683w37w4qhYbp6O011GtAA9_B6FsSHKSG1jvwTKbmmTfT5MfoQWRXTKuunbvK_A9Z3c5Zdxr4rI2g4MTEDCdCA-JNz-XSi7HFN59PgW4zoECmUunaJvLnFAkQ/s640/blogger-image-1495649864.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvFuHkyHxsG2MdFOq1Cs683w37w4qhYbp6O011GtAA9_B6FsSHKSG1jvwTKbmmTfT5MfoQWRXTKuunbvK_A9Z3c5Zdxr4rI2g4MTEDCdCA-JNz-XSi7HFN59PgW4zoECmUunaJvLnFAkQ/s640/blogger-image-1495649864.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu2ZYsIxC8pQ7m0kPl3YcxJhUspPSiKxmUwXw33bdvY8wLsDhJlHr2ryaeVw7B-41Tge2bo-L5GvV291JElUcw60NvvQ-X2G5GzIhxyF0OgoUcL91BGl6U4qrOuA6UFdR5CVmgyZXx57c/s640/blogger-image-1301290394.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu2ZYsIxC8pQ7m0kPl3YcxJhUspPSiKxmUwXw33bdvY8wLsDhJlHr2ryaeVw7B-41Tge2bo-L5GvV291JElUcw60NvvQ-X2G5GzIhxyF0OgoUcL91BGl6U4qrOuA6UFdR5CVmgyZXx57c/s640/blogger-image-1301290394.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUmVEir-CA2Nqma1SrZ8crF2haxxws-vZfR7YN-PnoJ_Zpamld_vaskXnO6fr-bLRiWLvimkGJNm2S_Ub-YTdalWfTsrQ5_fX_nk89zvtIpw3E52QO0zw9gEighhGe6qCdyfMu7gWRw2w/s640/blogger-image--1867981098.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUmVEir-CA2Nqma1SrZ8crF2haxxws-vZfR7YN-PnoJ_Zpamld_vaskXnO6fr-bLRiWLvimkGJNm2S_Ub-YTdalWfTsrQ5_fX_nk89zvtIpw3E52QO0zw9gEighhGe6qCdyfMu7gWRw2w/s640/blogger-image--1867981098.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiuAPt83xc_ujre1v7iSxQhgdUMvljMyVCCjcyFyQ2sOSkCUyHmdzBztqBp67cV2SFeLqf49XPOsPRLyXheYdJ6pUgcqWlvmj7zu72iJTbjqmKnLNrA6DpzEZdP8lyB_jwghDOv65Pg3E/s640/blogger-image-1311959768.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiuAPt83xc_ujre1v7iSxQhgdUMvljMyVCCjcyFyQ2sOSkCUyHmdzBztqBp67cV2SFeLqf49XPOsPRLyXheYdJ6pUgcqWlvmj7zu72iJTbjqmKnLNrA6DpzEZdP8lyB_jwghDOv65Pg3E/s640/blogger-image-1311959768.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>At 6 weeks now, Savannah still sleeps most of the day; she is especially out til around noon, then she will doze on and off. She doesn't love to be laid down on her back. She wants to be held if she isn't asleep, which is quite hard to do with 2 toddlers (is a 4 year old still a toddler? I can't believe Kennedy just turned 4!). My poor 3rd baby gets held so much less than my other two, and is so often laying in her swing or car seat for hours. But for the most part, she is pretty content (again, she still sleeps so much it's hard to know). And the older two are sweet big sisters and will love entertaining her when she starts waking up more. </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXXpGtDOmEvI5fL6N5eYGtezKqAganK9csnazyCW0i1bD83JEcsgL1RKcBp0bONPOur4rzAW8bI6yd7wIT3H8MzBkRFWZE76J2ylxyaTOElNFiaWn6NS9B9B_U_CkeuxfRSqwGhQl4SKQ/s640/blogger-image-15919342.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXXpGtDOmEvI5fL6N5eYGtezKqAganK9csnazyCW0i1bD83JEcsgL1RKcBp0bONPOur4rzAW8bI6yd7wIT3H8MzBkRFWZE76J2ylxyaTOElNFiaWn6NS9B9B_U_CkeuxfRSqwGhQl4SKQ/s640/blogger-image-15919342.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>She eats every 2.5-3 hours and nurses like a pro. We have had no problems nursing and I'm super thankful. She gained 1.5lbs at her 2 week appointment and at 2 months, I'll get to see how well she is gaining. Her biggest awake time happens to be when Kent and I are ready to crash, from about 9-11:30pm. She is a bit high maintenance at that point, fussy and agitated. We think her stomach is upset (or its colic. Like my other 2!). But when we finally get her down around 11:30/12, she sleeps almost through the night. A number of times she didn't wake till 6 or 7am. </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfm7odYNSyFV9BDanCtInY55Wm1nfKTLiZ8mqtDc27NPGUa8UOrdgQYU0cvEJ5E5vg-PQxkq5wUjUQtzKuIWvj2mO1pYAFNDMK0M5nIXk9gGdiwUKKYK3BLpXA-WDW9iRMxFL9O7V29Hs/s640/blogger-image-1938962450.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfm7odYNSyFV9BDanCtInY55Wm1nfKTLiZ8mqtDc27NPGUa8UOrdgQYU0cvEJ5E5vg-PQxkq5wUjUQtzKuIWvj2mO1pYAFNDMK0M5nIXk9gGdiwUKKYK3BLpXA-WDW9iRMxFL9O7V29Hs/s640/blogger-image-1938962450.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>She loves to sleep on her side in bed with us (my other 2 kids NEVER slept in bed with us!) I let her nap with me like that and also let her fall asleep like that at night til she is finally really asleep and I can move her to her rock & play. She likes to hold her paci between her hands & I know she is truly asleep when it falls out and she doesn't fuss for it. I'll be so thankful when her bedtime bumps up to 8:00!</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji5xV-_I-HF9ATpDhxPiXDb0b_KQjITXd-t5LveGNsj3dcFexyl60Il34AdG6bfwArggC6WV8Ze__bkZHrk-eSsdvNc-Rs4d5zIwC5WBqrmlJ1PdTpAzoA0HMHMZz5rl8JtrV2BKQWPvw/s640/blogger-image--874670791.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji5xV-_I-HF9ATpDhxPiXDb0b_KQjITXd-t5LveGNsj3dcFexyl60Il34AdG6bfwArggC6WV8Ze__bkZHrk-eSsdvNc-Rs4d5zIwC5WBqrmlJ1PdTpAzoA0HMHMZz5rl8JtrV2BKQWPvw/s640/blogger-image--874670791.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>She started smiling about a week ago and of course it melts my heart! I think she may have curly hair; it is too short to really tell but the ends seem to curl up a bit. I don't know if her eyes will be blue. They are a dark grayish color right now. I thought I may finally have a non-spitter but I was wrong. A week ago, she started really spitting up more, but not as bad as my other two who lost half their meal every time I burped them. </div><div><br></div><div>But, we are making it as a family of 5! There are super stressful moments of course and I lose my patience a lot quicker than before, being more tired </div><div>and worn thin. But God is gracious and my heart is so full! Love the family God has blessed me with!</div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYo3X-zA1oTX7S6V3zGfg1g0GsOmPu4UaBCrL9135IHgVnhyrnVsA7nLkzgaNp7Unb-aymX9JcF3Ps6JtMbVInacKtV7S2PH4alxCCD6-hPxAzQZuCvCIpmFL7XRmM2HPl0-9V_Zm5KsY/s640/blogger-image--1264771377.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYo3X-zA1oTX7S6V3zGfg1g0GsOmPu4UaBCrL9135IHgVnhyrnVsA7nLkzgaNp7Unb-aymX9JcF3Ps6JtMbVInacKtV7S2PH4alxCCD6-hPxAzQZuCvCIpmFL7XRmM2HPl0-9V_Zm5KsY/s640/blogger-image--1264771377.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYXlDK9thMq4rW1GaTmJHRHmf4SfdmwWXdgUrBa6CW-fu1ZsW7ZivM0xAHKoVsmf-eKuLsAdsPGUo4usmlL7GAfJiD3L-Y19smtWnF3AFqXahSIpltF_-yZso7htSv7h9sT3Gr-UzdIUw/s640/blogger-image-1785518997.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYXlDK9thMq4rW1GaTmJHRHmf4SfdmwWXdgUrBa6CW-fu1ZsW7ZivM0xAHKoVsmf-eKuLsAdsPGUo4usmlL7GAfJiD3L-Y19smtWnF3AFqXahSIpltF_-yZso7htSv7h9sT3Gr-UzdIUw/s640/blogger-image-1785518997.jpg"></a></div><br></div><br></div>Jenni Austellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10347411806243729132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-546033613264935019.post-75352447519269312622016-07-22T16:13:00.001-05:002016-07-25T22:25:44.781-05:00Brooklyn is TWO!So I feel horrible I haven't been keeping up with this blog for my babies. I really do want to record glimpses of their baby/toddler/growing up years so i (and they) can look back and remember. It goes SO FAST. (I am already grieving my newest little leaving the newborn stage, let alone my middle becoming 2!) but my laptop is maybe 12 years old and about to completely die out, so my blogging (or lack thereof) takes place on my iPhone these days. Plus, of course the more kids you have, the harder it is to keep up what you started when you just had one. At this point, I'm striving to keep everyone alone!<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguhkQeabb2rZUiSi8Pzz51tMG4ArF8c7J_wr388C0nkWGJ8BEClULavxqdtCfv3SoCk1B_6BgXTSOQjHS1rZeMU_5gT0AKGN2QiTfSm7NWU6SOLouwkuip6-K_8LRNK1kGPQ8uagBFhvw/s640/blogger-image-479295866.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguhkQeabb2rZUiSi8Pzz51tMG4ArF8c7J_wr388C0nkWGJ8BEClULavxqdtCfv3SoCk1B_6BgXTSOQjHS1rZeMU_5gT0AKGN2QiTfSm7NWU6SOLouwkuip6-K_8LRNK1kGPQ8uagBFhvw/s640/blogger-image-479295866.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqMJITrVNIQp72U7yWabltrvc3oN1iIxyigtm9zQJv2Nh10A4TYqRHY0ubFOz1z1FV1vGA5ew55lQyom0CTlfMwwxpO36Xl3go_De7GNSkNwzKJMV_ecsK0k_SLACZ47VCG6dhcnbk6MQ/s640/blogger-image-320603040.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqMJITrVNIQp72U7yWabltrvc3oN1iIxyigtm9zQJv2Nh10A4TYqRHY0ubFOz1z1FV1vGA5ew55lQyom0CTlfMwwxpO36Xl3go_De7GNSkNwzKJMV_ecsK0k_SLACZ47VCG6dhcnbk6MQ/s640/blogger-image-320603040.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div>That being said, I want to try to capture my Brookie at 2 years old. </div><div><br></div><div>Brooklyn Grace, you are hilarious. You act shy and bashful around new people and give strangers such a grumpy face. But at home, you are such a goofball.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTQOynDJ1P0b2iQA48InvEpaNkws7rGqUyZql_agxX9WAwXUCmE0QsJqB6aOyNP_-5zGkR6_BfP5UrP6i5ddjfoiUVASCntJAxEVkHkY7G1q-wGNzaCHhsbzl2s9hszltutvaNkrxA7LY/s640/blogger-image--719259972.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTQOynDJ1P0b2iQA48InvEpaNkws7rGqUyZql_agxX9WAwXUCmE0QsJqB6aOyNP_-5zGkR6_BfP5UrP6i5ddjfoiUVASCntJAxEVkHkY7G1q-wGNzaCHhsbzl2s9hszltutvaNkrxA7LY/s640/blogger-image--719259972.jpg"></a></div> <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">You and KJ are so silly together and we love hearing you guys laugh & play. That has made the transition from 2 to 3 kids so much easier than 1 to 2 was. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwEOBYoYVRDbu7-IS1JbThbKl4SvpGfJDN3EqjX82qtOAE1UD2Mn6HrYbRdq73-dlSjugq9yaXTXVmgobmz1IuidCrUEXQZHMTr1DHXeXJM-G7o7ChKtH5E8eSil95EoFNvXk2sV7c6TY/s640/blogger-image--1803614121.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwEOBYoYVRDbu7-IS1JbThbKl4SvpGfJDN3EqjX82qtOAE1UD2Mn6HrYbRdq73-dlSjugq9yaXTXVmgobmz1IuidCrUEXQZHMTr1DHXeXJM-G7o7ChKtH5E8eSil95EoFNvXk2sV7c6TY/s640/blogger-image--1803614121.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">You imitate everything Kennedy says and does and are just as talkative and loud as she is, even louder, I think. Since you guys have been in the same room, you stay up late and keep KJ awake because of your constant talking. You also get out of bed repeatedly, despite multiple spankings. Nights have become a bit stressful and although I love the idea of you and KJ sharing a room, I would not have moved you together until later, had we not needed the crib for baby #3. Since KJ rarely naps anymore and you still need one, I put you back in the baby room in your crib and you will nap 3 hours! It is a huge blessing because mama can rest with the baby as KJ has her room time. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgniuMAXZqU19r-5LnJMiJXwCVUl3fIUIcLyyLtXopAZmi7uxM1A1dw8zHBj-8eo7ia-_-I0agSZf0MferURx3ZNbeId9XMN_QAzh5ymPImGM8T6ByOfQvb1_ZaBGzwdbUm3qcoI8AMgxo/s640/blogger-image-142867538.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgniuMAXZqU19r-5LnJMiJXwCVUl3fIUIcLyyLtXopAZmi7uxM1A1dw8zHBj-8eo7ia-_-I0agSZf0MferURx3ZNbeId9XMN_QAzh5ymPImGM8T6ByOfQvb1_ZaBGzwdbUm3qcoI8AMgxo/s640/blogger-image-142867538.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIMgQU8L71yUbqscve6Kw-uFeJiYFl7w6FX28R_rHsy0cmwNMS0S4WZwICP-I1WRL0gec49j6NJ9on9XWC_t7glDue1AYlPbl3junOy-Mlum9JQMagd9Mwd06EdLAc2vGas0hlwEr5TFU/s640/blogger-image--861070032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIMgQU8L71yUbqscve6Kw-uFeJiYFl7w6FX28R_rHsy0cmwNMS0S4WZwICP-I1WRL0gec49j6NJ9on9XWC_t7glDue1AYlPbl3junOy-Mlum9JQMagd9Mwd06EdLAc2vGas0hlwEr5TFU/s640/blogger-image--861070032.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">You love to dress up & accessorize like your sister and insist on wearing dresses as much as possible. Only 2 pairs of shoes fit your chubby feet, but you will clomp around in fake high heels all day long. You put all your random toys in separate bags and purses or in your shopping cart and walk around the house, leaving a trail of things everywere. But I will say, you are a pretty good helper most of the time, happy to set the table, empty the dishwasher or clean up toys, when the mood hits you. You also help us get diapers and wipes for Savannah and often ask to help hold her and burp her. </span></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPtrnK8St7z1U346Bnx5im_inQokAXkAbLqaR4CCQMh8Bi6Mv59W-yMxJD3Bl05V3miCFuZbXaN68RW7t7VQ9vSKUTmXcZLmd2wCqZlmhuJN0u13M5HMtIB30XNYlkYJo2rSVGr7axhcE/s640/blogger-image--527521478.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPtrnK8St7z1U346Bnx5im_inQokAXkAbLqaR4CCQMh8Bi6Mv59W-yMxJD3Bl05V3miCFuZbXaN68RW7t7VQ9vSKUTmXcZLmd2wCqZlmhuJN0u13M5HMtIB30XNYlkYJo2rSVGr7axhcE/s640/blogger-image--527521478.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">You love to rough-house with us, tackling your older sister, sitting on anyone who is laying on the ground, jumping on couches, climbing on everything and everyone. You never say your sorry when you hurt someone. Even if it was an accident, you will NOT say it. This is an example of your extreme stubbornness. You want to do everything by yourself (which at times drives me crazy; when we are running late or on a tight schedule and you take twenty minutes to dress yourself or put on your shoes, ultimately asking for help anyway or proudly wearing your shirt on backwards.) </span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">You have responded well lately to time outs for pouting and whining, and it has diminished the fits quite a bit. But You often hesitate when we ask you to do things and get spankings frequently for delayed obeying or disobeying. I </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">pray God uses that stubbornness to be a bold leader, strong in your convictions and not easily persuaded to follow the wrong crowd. I do pray God gives you a tender submissive heart to repentance of sin and obedience to Him. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir8lnlbdOPT7mIjM39HWXVOli3EppEhewENq-XX2J9rJ7sob3-_u5WMeGo3fFSmqJJpZ44MvdWkuWhe3y6RcA7OD_NnAaScTvP-ok7-xsRoYZhfuRJ5vxrzKwMxcfQfJvotxE02WQpACw/s640/blogger-image-1565361398.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir8lnlbdOPT7mIjM39HWXVOli3EppEhewENq-XX2J9rJ7sob3-_u5WMeGo3fFSmqJJpZ44MvdWkuWhe3y6RcA7OD_NnAaScTvP-ok7-xsRoYZhfuRJ5vxrzKwMxcfQfJvotxE02WQpACw/s640/blogger-image-1565361398.jpg"></a></div><br></span></div><div>I have been happily surprised to see a gentler side of you when it comes to your baby sister. You have never been rough with her or jealous of her for one second. You really love her and kiss and hold her often. You play with your baby dolls a lot too, rocking them and changing them and sweetly putting them to bed. <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">You love music and singing, and your little voice and mispronounciation of words is my favorite thing right now. </span></div><div>You won't pay attention to us reading books very often but will sit and pretend to read them yourself. You suddenly love to pray; over meals, boo boo's or before bedtime. It is the sweetest. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirNUFxboQYVtu3QzcneZKFmsp3_rQNWkiTy-oEedeefOHQEzW-qvrfhn3Zi8V3QFkyXEy8A1ESRMjmp48d1LUw2-assMDDJZnuG4oj9z6qCQLd-yDOHLQKHfU_pE9yPDAES0G5eRUnya0/s640/blogger-image--934139346.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirNUFxboQYVtu3QzcneZKFmsp3_rQNWkiTy-oEedeefOHQEzW-qvrfhn3Zi8V3QFkyXEy8A1ESRMjmp48d1LUw2-assMDDJZnuG4oj9z6qCQLd-yDOHLQKHfU_pE9yPDAES0G5eRUnya0/s640/blogger-image--934139346.jpg"></a></div></div></div><div>I look at you and just thank God for the blessing you are. I love your huge curls, often messy face, mismatched outfits and chubby thighs. I love your hugs and kisses, your big blue eyes, your laugh and silly "cheese" face when taking pictures. You are my little helper, my strong ox, a sweet big sis and daddy's girl. We sure love you!!! </div>Jenni Austellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10347411806243729132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-546033613264935019.post-3625987546241500842015-11-24T12:31:00.001-06:002015-12-21T21:26:16.549-06:00Holidays & life happeningsMuch needed/overdue family update:<div><br></div><div>Brooklyn is 1.5 years old! She is silly, loving, snuggly, wiggly, stubborn, and ambitious. She is shy whenever she enters a new place or meets new people but warms up after a bit. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8rQO0gvl-Zp_ePv_mnNO4vxm__QXxCglBeQsp2CubGx-FtGw4QB8Pp3_1QUlR8O4CWfjqyM9dB3k2GXwYwiF3r5iA5llQU6gHHgGNIQSGs5J0g73bV2TF-h0dTb0XWGTJbPumV-stNw0/s640/blogger-image-1008700541.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8rQO0gvl-Zp_ePv_mnNO4vxm__QXxCglBeQsp2CubGx-FtGw4QB8Pp3_1QUlR8O4CWfjqyM9dB3k2GXwYwiF3r5iA5llQU6gHHgGNIQSGs5J0g73bV2TF-h0dTb0XWGTJbPumV-stNw0/s640/blogger-image-1008700541.jpg"></a></div>She LOVES her sister, and they play so well together most of the time. She hugs KJ 1,500 times a day and when she wakes up from her nap around 12:30 she is so anxious to go pick up sister from school. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyGUybibALlZFDHyxSfsT5QW3LumJpT2pznDZftu5knzC4LfsrxZebBSrJt4Putpm5KzvvYhMNqb0ydfDtfmyjm6y76xN73QrQTeKxi87LV-oBCMTJnLj_z_W_N-097vyMVMQd2mHWLQw/s640/blogger-image-338297138.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyGUybibALlZFDHyxSfsT5QW3LumJpT2pznDZftu5knzC4LfsrxZebBSrJt4Putpm5KzvvYhMNqb0ydfDtfmyjm6y76xN73QrQTeKxi87LV-oBCMTJnLj_z_W_N-097vyMVMQd2mHWLQw/s640/blogger-image-338297138.jpg"></a></div><br></div>Kennedy climbs into her crib in the mornings and they snuggle and giggle. I am SO grateful to see their love for each other. Brooklyn is talking more and more. At times I hear her say a full sentence as clear as day, and other times I understand 1-2 words of her babbling, but really it gets better each day. it is so much fun to hear her thoughts and opinions. She understands WAY more than I give her credit for and I am amazed at her ability to follow directions. She has occasional meltdowns when I try to take away her paci, lovey, or her food. She hates when I try and wipe her face or her nose and is usually too squirmy to sit and read more than 2 pages of a book with me. Before nap time or bed time, though, she will sit and rock with me as I sing to her. I LOVE that time together. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT1tovq6-j_gRuUFDuegnFFfJAw_FKcXGLVjJ4yN8eevPZc8YTLzFox0fRusCEd1Cn90TJmePFB_Vz0tHwVTtRLIIEy_lWkuGP27zdhysKCjCcqcnxa0lP3hMGaA90PdOtB_52Y7rNIqk/s640/blogger-image--2027229373.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT1tovq6-j_gRuUFDuegnFFfJAw_FKcXGLVjJ4yN8eevPZc8YTLzFox0fRusCEd1Cn90TJmePFB_Vz0tHwVTtRLIIEy_lWkuGP27zdhysKCjCcqcnxa0lP3hMGaA90PdOtB_52Y7rNIqk/s640/blogger-image--2027229373.jpg"></a></div>She takes one 2-hour nap around 10:30/11 and sleeps 7pm-7am. She is obviously a great eater! We are planning to move her upstairs to share a room with her sister in a few months, considering we will be needing her crib for the baby come June! It's funny because we put KJ in her own room in a twin bed with a railing at 18 months.<br>Brooklyn is 19 months and I just can't imagine putting her in her own bed right now. She is still my baby! But KJ is dying to share a room with her.<br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEvVWuK_DjeGfndhdEH-fpGYr_D3JwTTtV-u7ATu7V9gGJOxxH8ibL6HTP5hZwLdsCcpB4AB5s4CFj3sy4kVY_H3nWsPJ3W1fOeemB6HTGj1S0UnkD9hZLHiSL4lL7aA-80Hi9ov4buSQ/s640/blogger-image--1388480466.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEvVWuK_DjeGfndhdEH-fpGYr_D3JwTTtV-u7ATu7V9gGJOxxH8ibL6HTP5hZwLdsCcpB4AB5s4CFj3sy4kVY_H3nWsPJ3W1fOeemB6HTGj1S0UnkD9hZLHiSL4lL7aA-80Hi9ov4buSQ/s640/blogger-image--1388480466.jpg"></a></div><br>
Speaking of KJ, she is 3.5 years old right now and still SUCH a sweetie. She never stops talking, always wants to be around people, and NEVER wants to sleep! She literally cries when we leave her room at night saying, "I'm LONELY! Please sleep in here with me." Such a drama queen. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUli5rxQNnRHWJ3I8HEsKQG-vkVA_4SpEKMx7kLi-dXrdKwcnj7qfd9YzVL3CiHiXjcDdvIb9hjFfgDqhCeoG_Pg_QHVO8NnC6034lWql3yLdxqna_ww8smsoBwNO60mTXedQd6QvIzmg/s640/blogger-image--792041194.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUli5rxQNnRHWJ3I8HEsKQG-vkVA_4SpEKMx7kLi-dXrdKwcnj7qfd9YzVL3CiHiXjcDdvIb9hjFfgDqhCeoG_Pg_QHVO8NnC6034lWql3yLdxqna_ww8smsoBwNO60mTXedQd6QvIzmg/s640/blogger-image--792041194.jpg"></a></div>I'm a little afraid that when I put Brooklyn in her room that she will just keep her awake at night or wake up early and just start talking. She HAS been having a hard time sleeping lately and it I have no idea what's going on. But she wakes up multiple times a night, and gets up every morning around 5:45 and starts playing in her room. She hasn't napped since turning 3 (maybe 4 times) and I don't know how she keeps going with that much energy.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1nOU3xKaXZeBSOIOmI1nzPCCV-zniOkJspWxxImfE-VZrlBcU6e-Pr2HZROndtvsMWsIqLkKiYOQj_2IJ9AX0xnwiOtid4aMIRkeV9-UOogwba_bQHCw5o_BhfoLQSwZRBolhV29_oKk/s640/blogger-image--1429820226.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1nOU3xKaXZeBSOIOmI1nzPCCV-zniOkJspWxxImfE-VZrlBcU6e-Pr2HZROndtvsMWsIqLkKiYOQj_2IJ9AX0xnwiOtid4aMIRkeV9-UOogwba_bQHCw5o_BhfoLQSwZRBolhV29_oKk/s640/blogger-image--1429820226.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div> She loves going to school 3 days a week and is learning her letters and numbers. She loves to come home and 'play school'. She calls everyone her best friend after playing with them for like, 5 minutes, but I love that she loves so easily. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqUxEFQIunU-6BLofCk-U82YXUX2Qja9HmaII9JBghwQYlo8o8SN9t68D95K_0Xf6Hx07P1M5rck-chzEN_QKOtgIBDO4nxYly1ToCX772rh9XUzmL14hNxo5PtoMICtKPc2Ctcj-G6eU/s640/blogger-image-1032423099.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqUxEFQIunU-6BLofCk-U82YXUX2Qja9HmaII9JBghwQYlo8o8SN9t68D95K_0Xf6Hx07P1M5rck-chzEN_QKOtgIBDO4nxYly1ToCX772rh9XUzmL14hNxo5PtoMICtKPc2Ctcj-G6eU/s640/blogger-image-1032423099.jpg"></a></div>She adores her older girl cousins who she gets to see at holidays, and loved getting to spend fall break in Kansas with my sister's 3 boys, who are joined us for Thanksgiving. She was SO EXCITED that they were staying the night at our house!</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsXIVAGfCGuxiXOb0SqAsl75PFmzBuNqSOl2F3hwvrm17cvBWQTr9a7dWkANfmtBrZdgwkg0qqNz927z43yVYjaLGYA4_DgmaqJLGNbXH6YP0gZlXeO0-jibcrDmUNbsYQtYAf298Zi6U/s640/blogger-image-1887141928.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsXIVAGfCGuxiXOb0SqAsl75PFmzBuNqSOl2F3hwvrm17cvBWQTr9a7dWkANfmtBrZdgwkg0qqNz927z43yVYjaLGYA4_DgmaqJLGNbXH6YP0gZlXeO0-jibcrDmUNbsYQtYAf298Zi6U/s640/blogger-image-1887141928.jpg"></a></div> I love her enthusiasm for life. She is a very grateful kid, and makes it really fun to buy things for her or surprise her. I can't wait for Christmas with my two sweeties! I WILL say the past 2 months I have seen a side of her that has sent me over the edge. Flat out rude, sassy, and disobedient, which she really wasn't before. She drew on her bedroom wall yesterday, and on her new bed. She will tear out pages of books and make a complete mess when she should be going to bed. I have lost my temper more than ever and daily need God's help with patience and self control! I love my girls so much and want to be firm, calm and consistent In discipline yet full of grace!<br>
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Kent and I are doing well. I have been super sick the past 3 months and definitely did the bare minimum to survive. I think I'm on the upswing being through the first trimester, but we have also all had continual colds and sickness that have worn us out. Kent has been super busy with work and training sports teams, lots of meetings and church things. How he handles the stress of all the things on his plate is beyond me, but he does such a great job and it's neat to see how God is using all his gifts and passions. We just bought a mini-van to prepare for baby #3 and although I cringe looking at it and miss my beautiful black ford edge, it is a great car that we are so grateful to have for our growing family. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjQnfaI1zvPx44BISwtPiE320rZRF1xAp7SGFzThn_iM_VIuIoSFxCiYjraGeHUmNvqOYFd39U_MaeUCTDhrzO6g1DoWwHxfty_0j9pXB9ZJDIQlhIIL2RWg8STvsJwZBf4t-RRFxzxlk/s640/blogger-image--316413843.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjQnfaI1zvPx44BISwtPiE320rZRF1xAp7SGFzThn_iM_VIuIoSFxCiYjraGeHUmNvqOYFd39U_MaeUCTDhrzO6g1DoWwHxfty_0j9pXB9ZJDIQlhIIL2RWg8STvsJwZBf4t-RRFxzxlk/s640/blogger-image--316413843.jpg"></a></div>We are all looking forward to two weeks off work for Christmas break! (Best perk of teaching!) Hope you all have a wonderful Christmas!</div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><br></div>Jenni Austellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10347411806243729132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-546033613264935019.post-84319329973666713462015-08-06T20:34:00.001-05:002015-08-06T20:34:11.326-05:00Sister love<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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It has definitely been awhile since I've taken the time to write. I feel like I have been in a weird fog the past couple months where any down time I get (when both girls are actually sleeping or preoccupied) I am trying to rest and recover to make it through the day. The days have been LOOONG this summer and yet I cannot believe it's August and time for another school year!<br />
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Kent has been renovating our master bathroom (he has never done anything like this before and is figuring it out as he goes. It looks AMAZING. I had no idea he could do something like this! I'll post pics in a couple weeks!), so whenever he is not training kids at school, he is working on that. I've been trying to keep the girls busy, but this Memphis heat just seems to suck the life out of me! We have been to the zoo a lot, hanging with friends, going to the pool at Lifetime or our backyard, or just running errands to get out of the house.<br />
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Brooklyn is now 15 mo and Kennedy just turned 3! And I am more tired now then I have ever been! (And no, I am not pregnant!)<br />
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So let's talk about having a 3 year old. WHAT just happened? At 2 years old, I still felt like I had 2 babies. KJ was still mispronouncing all kinds of words, asking to be held, needing mom for security in new situations and was pretty obedient, if not repentant after being naughty. She wanted to be held. She was a great sleeper, she didn't question my instructions, and she let me choose her clothes! Suddenly, my little drama queen is miss independent, using vocabulary I didn't know she had, questioning everything, understand way too much, pushing the limits and testing my patience at all times! Nothing is simple or easy. It's a production and a process. She asks 'why' 1,9856 times a day. She suddenly refuses to nap. She wants to stay up late (will NOT stay in bed) and then still gets up at 6:30 every morning. And for this really impatient, efficient, sleep loving mama who needs alone time to recharge, I have been tested every waking moment. Most days I completely fail at patiently correcting, encouraging, and showing her Christ.<br />
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And yet, my now-3-year old is also a real friend. She is so attentive to people's feelings and emotions. She is quick to say sorry and ask for forgiveness. She is quick to forgive me when I overreact. She wants to be a helper and wants to learn to do things for herself. She gives Brooklyn 'sister love', snuggling with her and making her laugh constantly. She tries to share (almost) everything she has with someone else (unless it's her sister). She loves to pretend and use her imagination (we are in an obsessive princess stage and she won't stop talking about going to the Disney castle to see them even though I have never mentioned this actually happening. She daily asks "Should I wear this to the castle? Will Elsa like this sticker when I give it to her at the castle? I will show Belle this picture I colored when we go to the castle. Will the beast be at the castle, because he's scary..." This is sporadic conversation throughout every single day these days!). She makes up her own words for things, 'If you do that, I will CLOAK you!' ?? She loves to be silly and goofy, loves to dress up, and is becoming much more brave (she took swim lessons for a week this summer and is finally ok with going underwater!) KJ remembers to pray for people she heard were sick or sad and asks how they are doing repeatedly. She compliments every person who walks in our door about...something. "I like your....socks. They are very white!". She is a lover of people, and I LOVE this about her. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My 94 year old grandmother lives here in memphis now every other month staying with my parents! What a blessing!</td></tr>
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Not only that, but she actually understands the gospel (as much as a 3 year old can!)- that Jesus is God's son sent to earth to save us; that he lived and died on the cross to take away our sins, paying the punishment we deserved; and that only those who confess their sins and trust in him can go heaven.<br />
For the last few months there have been lots of questions about our sins, about getting to heaven, about who will be in heaven and what happens after we die. She was literally giddy when it clicked in her mind that our sins can be taken away if we ask Jesus, that He took our punishment and now God won't punish us for our sins. I mean, her excitement about that was SO precious, I will NEVER forget it. "He took away my sins!?? So I can go to heaven?!" I know she could care less about God, reading the Bible and praying at times. Our nightly family devotions have been a flop this summer and I have failed at being consistent with our nightly routine. But seeds are being planted and I pray that she will grow up experiencing the realness of God for herself, and knowing the JOY of her salvation!<br />
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Kennedy wanted a mermaid party this year, so we did an 'under the sea' theme and had a Saturday mid-morning party at our house with little swimming pools, slides, sprinklers, and bubbles out in our backyard. She had a blast of course with all her friends at our house and it was really a fun party.<br />
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She will start up school again August 18th in a pre-K class at BCS 3 days a week. I think she will absolutely love the social aspect and am so thankful for a great place for her to go to learn new things and interact with others! SO thankful.<br />
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And then there is my little 15 month old, who has definitely chunked up and grown up since her birthday a few months ago. Brooklyn is learning new words almost daily and we are starting to understand much more of her once-foreign language. She says, "hiiiiii!" "want food", "I hungry""I seeeee" (I want to see), "shooooes", sock, cheese, mama, da da, play, sleep, puppy, sissy, hi, bubbye, night night, excuse me, thank you, and up. She repeats words she hears KJ say and they will talk back and forth in their car seats when we are driving around. She still won't sit through reading a book with me but wants to join KJ and I whenever we are reading. She loves my phone and pretending to talk to people. Whenever I am on it, she tries to grab it and says, "I seeeeee". She loves her dolls, changing their diapers, laying them down to sleep and pushing them in the stroller. She loves to accessorize with her necklaces, hats, and purses. She tries to put on her own shoes or socks and brush her teeth. She loves to sit in her own little chair or climb on things. She is most excited when we go in to get her in the morning and then again when she greets her sister. She gives sweet kisses to her family and high fives to our friends.<br />
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Her personality is still a little shy and observant when we are in a new place or around new people. She will cling to mommy for the first 10 minutes, then start to explore and interact with others. (She is okay when I drop her at the gym nursery, especially when sister is with her, but sometimes gets really upset when I drop her at the church nursery.) If she doesn't know you, she seems grumpy and withdrawn. She has an awesome stink face.<br />
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Once she is used to you, she loves to play with you and is very smiley. She loves music and is always bobbing along to whatever song she hears. She loves to sing the alphabet song and Jesus loves me. She loves to eat and the only time she will get really upset with me is if I take her food away or tell her she can't eat something. She eats almost everything but meat and certain vegetables and loves to experiment with a spoon, trying to feed herself. (Kent cannot handle watching her get super messy, he has to walk away haha!). She grabs her changing mat and a clean diaper when she has pooped and brings it to me to change her!<br />
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She takes 2 great naps a day, around 9am and 12:30/1pm and is ready for bed by 7pm every night. She still sleeps with a paci and sound machine and goes RIGHT down for naps and bed. (Thankful I have ONE great sleeper right now!) I'm thinking we will try making it one nap next month when KJ starts school, but I hate to cut short a good thing. She does have some stubbornness to her and I have already had to spank her for disobeying and be the referee between her and Kennedy over toys. But she is such a sweet heart, she's my little snuggler and is such an easy baby (now that we are past the year mark!).<br />
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Kent and I love our sweet girls and are so so thankful to be their parents. It is so fun to see these two sisters grow up and become friends!<br />
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Jenni Austellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10347411806243729132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-546033613264935019.post-56488927758986158672015-07-02T10:09:00.001-05:002015-12-19T05:06:48.850-06:00Training sucksSo much is going through my head regarding the news in our nation lately. I am not going to talk about that at the moment but what God has been teaching me right now. Hope it encourages you and refocuses your heart and mind as well.<br>
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I started reading through the T books lately just for a change...I and II Thessalonians, I and II Timothy and Titus. I started noticing a theme stemming from a single verse. The theme is godliness.<br>
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I Timothy 4:7 says "Have nothing to do with godless myths...rather TRAIN YOURSELF TO BE GODLY."<br>
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Because training is a serious thing that requires much thought, effort and devotion, I just sat in this verse and meditated on it a bit. After digging deeper, I wanted to share what I found (more for my own sake than for your yours).<br>
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It was encouraging to me in a new way that godliness isn't something we are just expected to have when we give our lives to Christ. It isn't just naturally the new way we now live when we become Christians. The bible says we have to TRAIN ourselves to be godly; meaning that unless we do this, we will live in an ungodly way. Unless we are committed to it and diligent in it, it won't happen. When I was in Junior High, I remember a big thing was the symbol of the Christian fish, the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ichthys" target="_blank">ichthys</a>. I didn't understand all it meant but remember a T-shirt that showed a school of fish going the same direction, and the ichthys fish going the opposite way. It said, "Go against the Flow".<br>
Swimming upstream is hard work. Being counter-cultural is really hard. It can feel lonely and exhausting. It is so much easier to give up, to just accept the standards of our culture, to stop trying to live according to God's word. But being godly isn't supposed to be easy (glad it's not just me!)<br>
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I don't like discipline. I don't like rules and being forced to do things or say no to things I like. But as I read this scripture, I was reminded the benefits of it. I remembered that all training is REALLY hard but produces something so great! To put it short, it sucks, but it's worth it! Especially at the beginning, training is awful and painful. But after it becomes your daily habit, your body starts to crave it. We realize that we need discipline. We need training. We need self control.<br>
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Hebrews 12:11 says it best. "No discipline is pleasant at the time, but painful. <i>But</i> it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it."<br>
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Our society doesn't have much to say for godliness these days. People are much more concerned with not offending others than being a godly person. They are more concerned about being happy than being godly. It seems to be the end goal in life. That's why I felt like I really needed to remind myself of the truth, of my purpose and 'end goal'. It's not happiness. It's not following my own passions and desires. It's godliness, Christ-likeness. Instead of me being all worked up over things I can't control going on around me, I needed to fill my mind with truth of what I <i>should</i> be pursuing.<br>
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I read so much about godliness as I continued reading through I and II Timothy and I and II Thessalonians. Even in Titus! You should start noticing the word <i>godliness</i> as you read through scripture, because although it isn't easy, it's of such great worth! Here are a few things I learned regarding the topic of godliness in these couple books.<br>
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1. (First I found that I Timothy 3:16 says that "Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great..." So if it's a bit of a mystery to you, you aren't alone.)<br>
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2. Next we see the incredible <i>value</i> of it! I Tim 4:8 "godliness has value for ALL things, holding promise for the present life and the life to come."<br>
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3. It is a fight to be godly. 2 Tim 6:12 "Fight the good fight of faith."<br>
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4. "Godliness with contentment is GREAT GAIN." (I Tim 6:6) Being content with what we have, not all caught up in pursuing what we don't have brings great gain.<br>
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5. We have to pursue godliness. It doesn't just happen. I Tim 6:11 "Flee from (the love of money) and <i>pursue</i> righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness."<br>
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6. Lastly, 2 Timothy 3:12 says that the godly <i>will</i> be persecuted. "In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted." Awesome. At least we are in it together. It's coming!<br>
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So we should expect persecution, realize it will be a fight, know it will be unpleasant at times, but be encouraged in that it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace and is of great gain. It will be worth it!<br>
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Here is what a godly person looks like, in case you needed a reminder. (This is only from 1 Timothy...much more all throughout scripture obviously)<br>
A godly person<br>
1.4 has solid doctrine, doesn't quarrel<br>
1.5 has a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith<br>
2.1 intercedes for our kings and leaders<br>
2.9 godly women dress modestly<br>
2.11 does good deeds, submits to authority<br>
3.3 is not a lover of money; has a good reputation with outsiders<br>
4.12 sets an example in their speech, life, love, purity and faith<br>
4.16 watches their life and doctrine closely and perseveres in them (no matter who around them compromises)<br>
5.4 helps those in need<br>
6.11 flees from the love of money<br>
6.17 doesn't put their hope in wealth but in God's rich provision<br>
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I'll leave you with this. Though being godly is a bit of a mystery, we know that it's by God's grace that we can pursue it and grow in.<br>
Titus 2:11 "For the <i>grace of God</i> has appeared to all men, teaching us to say NO to ungodliness and worldly passions, to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives while we wait for the blessed hope, the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people of his own, eager to do good."<br>
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A godly person is one whose hope is NOT in this world, our government or president. Our hope is in Christ's return, his glorious appearing! Come Lord Jesus! Let us be strong and blameless and keep the faith til He comes!Jenni Austellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10347411806243729132noreply@blogger.com0