Naomi's First Day

July 3, 2009: Knowns and Unknowns

Hello Friends!

June has been a busy month for Brad and me as we continue to make preparations for both the arrival of our first child, and the
beginning of a new job. Thoughts of moving out of my parents'
(finished) basement have been put on hold for now as we concentrate on these first two priorities. The month has been one of knowns and unknowns, changing and waiting.

Our first priority over the past month has been our continuing job
interview and search process. As most of you know, we are hoping that Brad will be hired as a Young Life Area Director in the USA. Brad and I met with the leadership of Cecil County Maryland Young Life on June 3 at North Bay Adventure Camp, and Brad met with them again on June 22. Brad will have one last interview with the Chesapeake Regional Staff on July 10 to determine if he is the person for this particular
position. Two weeks ago Brad was informed that this position might not be open until the end of December, so we have now widened our search to include the entire country. We have been corresponding regularly with Regional Directors from California, Washington, Oklahoma, and Minnesota. The whole month seems to have been marked by interviews, reference letters, resumes, portfolios, applications, a StrengthsFinder quiz, and determining whether we are Otters, Beavers, Golden Retrievers, or Lions.

Our second priority (of equal importance) is preparing for the birth of our first child, our daughter Naomi Faith. As of today, our little girl is two days overdue, and does not appear to be in any hurry to arrive. During my weekly appointments, I've steadily increased in weight, dilation, effacement, and station, but still no Naomi. She keeps my body temperature hot and my hands and feet itching, and the Braxton Hicks contractions happening daily. We've attended our
Childbirth Class and Hospital Tour, picked up baby resources from the library, packed our suitcases, borrowed a birthing ball, printed our birth plan, folded our baby clothes, ordered our cloth diapers, and assembled our pack 'n' play, car seat, swing, and walker. My mom threw
us an amazing Baby Shower, and we received so many wonderful gifts for our firstborn. We've done just about everything we can think of to prepare for her arrival, but as new parents, I'm sure she'll be full of surprises for us!

Brad teases me about the “nesting” instinct of the pregnant woman, but I tell him that I've always loved cleaning and organizing. Nevertheless, my family has been generous in allowing me to clean to my heart's content. In the past month I've sorted and organized drawers, cabinets, desks, a bathroom, the kitchen, the dining room, the living room, the basement, my Dad's workshop, a walk-in closet, my Mom's craft/sewing room, and Josh's bedroom. My Mom jokes that if Naomi is any later, I'll have the entire house cleaned before she arrives! I've also busied myself with ironing clothing, folding laundry, writing lots of thank you notes, making holiday cards, and photographing my art.

While I've been nesting at home, Brad has been keeping busy outside of the house. He is spending six weeks this summer working at Antietam Recreation as a swimming lessons instructor and lifeguard. During the first week of June he ran in the Antietam Battlefield (10K) Run Through History. During the last week of June he joined Thurmont United Methodist Church in their annual four-day trip to the Creation Music Festival in Pennsylvania. He's also had a great time catching up with Mr. Bair and other friends from Boonsboro High School over late night games of Settlers and Puerto Rico. He and I also spent time with some of our former Young Lifers at the Boonsboro Film Festival during the last week of school. For our Friday date nights, he and I have been seeing movies at the “cheap theater” in Frederick. So far we've
watched 17 Again, X-Men Origins, Wall-E, and Transformers (with the Thurmont United Methodist Youth).

For both Brad and me, it's been a month of renewing relationships. It's been so fun to see our friends and family after a year apart. I've enjoyed attending Josh's baseball games, going for walks with Karilyn, Mom, and Dad, and shopping for the baby with Mom and Bonnie. Mom and I had a great time visiting “Hope Alive” together, a shelter for homeless women and their children, and were inspired by the work being done there. Mom, Karilyn, and I hope to be certified as volunteers there at next month's training session. Mom and I also had a great time at my 10-year high school reunion, where we caught up with lots of old friends and met their new dates, spouses, and children. It's been fun celebrating Father's Day and two birthdays with my family. For Josh's birthday, Brad and I took him to an Orioles game for “Adam Jones bobble-head Night,” and we were delighted to see Matt Wieters' first major league home run the same evening. Two weeks later, Josh had “Dugout Club” discount tickets to see the Orioles play
the Red Sox, and we all went again! Brad and I also had a great time dining with the Hetricks and Hamsons as we discussed life, jobs, and starting a family.

As you can see, we've had a lot of changes on our minds and hearts recently. Please keep us in your prayers as we continue waiting on our job situation and our daughter. You can pray for wisdom in the many decisions we are and will be making in the near future. By the time we
write our next update, we will probably be telling you about the joys and struggles of labor, delivery, and a new baby! Thank you for your continuing prayers throughout this summer of change.

Love always,
Jessie and Brad

June 1, 2009: Pregnancy Forgetfulness

I was planning on taking some photographs, so I took the camera from the camera bag. Then I removed the lens cap, closing the fingers of my left hand around it, promptly forgetting it was there. A moment later, this conversation took place:

Jessie: Brad, have you seen the lens cap?
Brad: No. I'm pretty sure I left it on the camera though.

(Brad begins to look through the camera bag for the lens cap.)

Brad: Well, I don't see it in here.
Jessie: What are you looking for?
Brad: The lens cap.
Jessie: Why? It's right here in my hand.

(At this point in time Brad gave me a very strange look as he assumed I'd lost my marbles, and then I began laughing when I realized what had just transpired.)

Oh my...welcome to my life. :)

Sunday Thoughts: May 31st, 2009

“The people ate and were satisfied.”

I have realized lately that our Father is not content with just allowing the people to eat; they must be “satisfied.” Our Father is a father of abundant love, extravagant love, and scandalous love. He serves the choicest of wines with an abundance of food. He lavishes us with his gift of grace so that we might realize the fullness of life he offers. His gifts are perfect, and his gifts satisfy.

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”

Please think about us:

1. Last Tuesday was our final baby check-up in Beijing. Everything went well; the doctor gave Jessie a clear bill of health, signed the clearance for flying, and copied all of our paper work. After our appointment, we spent the afternoon walking through the Hou Hai district of Beijing. That evening we returned to Langfang in time for ice cream dessert with some of our students.

2. Our final morning in Langfang was very hectic, but it was apparent that the Father was using us right up to the end. We scheduled a farewell lunch with students at noon, and it took us twice as long as normal to walk to the restaurant because we were greeted all along the way by students who wanted to say goodbye.

Once we made it to the restaurant, we had a great meal with about 15 of our students and fellow foreign teachers. All of us ate an abundant meal and were satisfied for the cost of about 30 dollars. It was fun to realize that we were eating our final meal at the same place where we ate our first meal in China.

After lunch, pictures, and a tearful goodbye, we climbed into the van and headed for the airport. One of our student friends, Danielle, had asked to accompany us to the airport. As the van rolled along for the hour drive, I was barely able to stay awake, but Jessie started sharing with Danielle about some of the ways the Father has been working in her life. When we reached the airport, we grabbed our luggage and headed for the check-in desk. As we were speaking with the United employee at the desk, I looked back toward our carry-on bags and noticed that Tony was speaking with Danielle. When we returned to our bags, Tony had just finished sharing about our Father and told us that Danielle wanted to be introduced to him. It was amazing! We had less than a few hours left before boarding the airplane, and the Father still had one last surprise for us.

3. Our airplane ride home was uneventful. There were no problems with the plane, and we even arrived about 30 minutes early. It was great to see my parents waiting for us at the gate as we came through customs. After about 19 hours of traveling we arrived at Jessie's parents' home in Thurmont, Maryland. We have spent the last couple days trying to recover from the jet-lag.

4. Tomorrow, I will spend the day lifeguarding, on Tuesday we will visit Cecil County, Maryland for a job interview, on Friday we will visit the hospital for a tour, and on Saturday we will participate in an all-day childbirth class.

Living outside the boat,
Brad

“Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with the Father's people and members of the Father's household.”

“We are therefore the Son's ambassadors, as though the Father were making his appeal through us. We implore you on the Son's behalf: Be reconciled to the Father.”

We have spent the past two years constantly being reminded that we are foreigners, and we have enjoyed our job as ambassadors of True Love. But as we prepare to return to the United States we are keenly aware that our job is far from finished. One of the biggest lessons we have learned in the past two years is that we are “foreigners and aliens” in the world because we are “fellow citizens” with the Father's people. We are ambassadors to all creation wherever we may happen to live.

Please think about us:

1. Last Thursday the students invited us to visit their English Association meeting. Jessie shared a sideshow and described her pregnancy during the past 8 months. Peter organized a game, Jess Shamblee led a song as part of her “Shamblee Moment,” and Shannon and I sang a few songs for the students. It was a fun evening as we celebrated the end of another semester with the students.

2. The packing process continues! I cannot believe how much stuff we have accumulated in the past two years. It's hard to believe that we will be limited to 100 pounds of checked luggage and two carry-ons each, but we will have to make it fit.

3. Jessie has been doing great for being five weeks away from her due date! Our last baby appointment in China is this Tuesday, two days before we return. We will leave around 10am for Beijing. The appointment should be quick & routine, and then we will probably spend the afternoon enjoying the city one last time. You can be thinking of us as the doctor will hopefully write Jessie a clean bill of health and gives her permission to fly on Thursday.

4. We fly home this Thursday. We will be flying out of Beijing at 6pm on Thursday, and landing Dulles International airport about 7pm on the same day. I know it sounds strange, but a 13 hour flight will only take 1 hour; that is what happens when you fly eastbound across the International Date line.

Living outside the boat,
Brad

May 22, 2009: Lasting Impressions

“All of them were together and had everything in common.... They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising the Father and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Father added to their number daily...” Ac 2: 44-47

Dear friends,

In six days, Brad and I will return home from China to live again in the United States. It is a surreal feeling. We have called China home for the majority of the last two years and for the majority of our marriage. We've lived in our apartment in Langfang longer than we lived in our duplex in Hagerstown. It's sad to see the walls becoming bare again, and the signs of life placed into boxes and suitcases. I've been cleaning every surface: the bathroom, the refrigerator, the television, and my art desk. We've returned the things we've borrowed, and given other things away to the orphanage, our team, and our students. Brad and I have completed our exams and grading and taught all but our last few classes. I've been photographing my artworks, and trying to utilize the last of the items in our pantry. It's difficult to imagine that we'll be trying to fit almost two years of our lives into four fifty pound suitcases and a couple of carry-on bags.

A look back over the last two years reveals so much change. We shared our Orientation with five teachers serving in Qinhuangdao (Shana, Ian, Megan, Mark, and Andy) and arrived in China as part of ELT Edge. Within a few months of teaching, we separated from ELT and became IECS—a brand new organization with only four teachers in Langfang (me, Brad, Shannon, and Newt). Five months later, Newt returned home, and Peter took his place. Two years later, Shana has returned home, Ian and Megan are at home expecting their first child, and Mark married his girlfriend Katherine this past year and they are also expecting their first child. Shannon and Peter were dating when we arrived, but went through much of their courtship, engagement, and marriage with our team. Not to be outdone, Brad and I came to China after only 20 months of marriage, and have gone through the first eight months of pregnancy with our first child here in China.

After a year in China, we were delighted to add more teachers to our IECS teacher staff, and they have been so much fun! Jess Shamblee joined us in Langfang, Wil and Courtney went to Tianjin, and Amelia, Emily, Tim, Ryan, and Jon went to Baoding. Two couples (Shannon, Peter, Wil, and Courtney) survived their first year of marriage here in China, and some survived their first year out of college. Our Chinese native staff have also been busy. Frank and Helen were married in March 2008, while Tony and Lily gave birth to their daughter Xi Mei in October 2008. As Brad and I leave China this year, there is more change coming. Wil, Courtney, Emily, and Andy will return home to the USA with us, while Tony, Lily, and baby Xi Mei await confirmation for their upcoming move to Alberta, Canada. As Tony and Lily leave, Frank and Helen will step into their place. They will also be joined by newcomer Da Yu, a Chinese native from the Qinhuangdao area.

It is fun to remember our first impressions of one another and of China. I remember meeting Shannon's sister Emily at Lake Champion, and hearing that Shannon was a great singer, and dating a guy who lived in China. I remember finding Jess Shamblee on Facebook and enjoying photos of her and all of her friends “jumping” and being excited that Brad would have someone to talk about football here with him. I remember expecting Tony and Lily to be Americans, and being very confused when we were greeted and hugged by these two Chinese friends who spoke English with a thick Chinese accent (it took me a little time to understand Chinese-accented English). My first impressions of China were of being overwhelmed, despite having traveled all over Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. I was overwhelmed by a completely foreign language, foreign writing, foreign faces, foreign food, and foreign landscape. I felt isolated in being illiterate, deaf, and mute everywhere I went. We were also often hungry as we tried (somewhat unsuccessfully at first) to find Chinese foods in Chinese restaurants and supermarkets (where we couldn't read the menu or labels) that suited our American tastes. It was no surprise that our entire team lost weight during that first semester in China.

Our growth in China has been exponential. Through the daily experiences and challenges of life together here we have learned so many things. Many of us have learned how to cook, how to teach, how to play the guitar, how to lead meetings, how to perform in a run-on skit, how to give a public lecture, how to speak Chinese, and even how to run a marathon or 10K. We've learned to navigate Chinese airplanes, trains, buses, taxis, restaurants, hotels, hostels, squat pots, and more. We've learned about China, Chinese history, Chinese culture, and the Chinese people. We've laughed together at the absurdities and cried together at the heartaches. We've bonded together as a family—sharing every birthday, holiday, vacation, job, illness, death, and significant event or memory as a team. Here we have learned to live in community, sharing everything we have with one another, and growing closer than most people ever have the opportunity to become.

As Brad and I leave China this Spring, we probably won't be missing the squat pots or the crowded transportation of China. What we will miss is the relationships we have shared with our students and faculty and especially with our IECS team. We have learned and grown so much during this time of intimate community, living like the family described in Acts. We have learned what it is to be unified by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose, and looking to the interests of others more than ourselves. We have daily seen this family, having everything in common, praise the Father and enjoy the favor of all people as they broke bread together with glad and sincere hearts. And finally we have rejoiced to see the fruit as the Father has seemed to add to our number daily. The lessons we have learned could not have been learned from a book or a class, but have been learned through daily experiences and relationships. We will never forget these people, this time of our lives, or the lessons we have learned.

Thank you again for your part in this experience, for your support and encouragement. Thank you for your joy in giving this life to us for two years, for befriending us, and for helping in whatever way you could. We couldn't have done it without you, and we wouldn't have wanted to. Thank you for changing our lives with your love. Thank you for sharing the dream, and touching the lives of so many. You have given more than you could ever imagine.

Love always,
Jessie, Brad, and Naomi

“...Then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.... Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others....” Phil 2:2-4

Sunday Thoughts: May 17th, 2009

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Father, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come...to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the Father, "and will bring you back from captivity.”

I love that the emphasis is on His plans, the plans He has for us! Plans to prosper, plans to give us hope, and plans to give us a future because without a hope in the Father, our future is limited!

This has been a week filled with frustration. Our plans have not prevailed, and it has been difficult to believe that the Father's plans are “plans to prosper and not to harm.” However, we cling to two truths: “many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Father's purpose that prevails,” and “in his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.”

It is not about “our plans,” it is about the Father's plan to be found by us and to bring our hearts back from captivity!

Please think about us:

1. Unfortunately this has been a difficult week for all of us. Last Wednesday night we learned that all of the IECS English weeks needed to be canceled due to the swine flu scare. There were two confirmed cases in China last week, and due to this, all visas from Canada, Mexico, and the United States have been suspended. The loss of these weeks has hit us hard, as we have been looking forward to them all semester. For the team in Langfang, this is the third consecutive English Week that has been canceled.

2. With no English Weeks, all of the IECS teachers found themselves free during this past weekend. So everybody decided to meet in Beijing. It was therapeutic for all of us. We had all been dealing with the loss of our English Weeks separately, so the time together was encouraging. Newt led our Sunday morning meeting, and we had lunch together before we all returned to our separate schools.

3. Please also continue to think about Newt and Claire Hetrick. They have had to deal with the brunt of the chaos created by the cancellation of the English Week trips. Newt has been in China for the past two weeks (he arrived before the visas were suspended) and Claire has had to make all of the phone calls to the various teachers and airline companies. Newt will be flying home on Tuesday.

4. Last Monday, the city of Langfang was without power from 8am to 8pm. Luckily, Jessie was still able to give her final exams in a dimly lit classroom. However, the “English Association” English Club that was scheduled for that evening had to be rescheduled. Since English week has been canceled, we will now visit the “English Association” English Club this Thursday night.

5. Last Tuesday, Jessie and I went to Beijing for another Baby appointment. Naomi Faith continues to be perfectly healthy and in the proper position. After the appointment, Jessie and I decided to visit the Summer Palace since we had never been there, and many people have told us that it is one of the best places to see in Beijing. It did not disappoint! We had a great afternoon exploring the island, taking a boat ride across the lake, and climbing through the palace to the overlook on the main land.

6. The packing process has begun; we have started taking pictures of the walls, we sent a 50 pound suitcase full of books home with Newt, and I took our other suitcases out of storage earlier today. We return to the states on May 28th, I start lifeguarding on June 1st, and we have a job interview on the 2nd.

7. The heat is on! The temperature has been hovering around the mid-90's recently which has not made Jessie's pregnancy any easier. Our next baby appointment is Tuesday the 26th, two days before we return.

Living outside the boat,
Brad