Driving Miss Jenni

We are getting settled here in Chiang Mai. We are slowing adjusting to the time change. I think in a few more days we will be on the right schedule. Friday the children did their school work and we visited with some of the other staff families.

Yesterday We went swimming in the afternoon. Then in the evening we were at the Institute to hear the teams report from their ministry trips in the last two weeks. The one group had been to India and the other group had been in some Karen villages here in Thailand.

This morning we went to church at the Institute. We are going back there for the evening service.

The Institute gave us a car to drive. It is rather old and has character. For that reason it has been named Jenni. So, we are driving Miss Jenni. It takes a little concentration to drive on the left side of the road. I find it the hardest when I turn a corner to stay on my side. It helps to remember that the driver always belongs in the middle of the road. Of course, I get lots of help and advice from other family members.

My first class period will be tomorrow at 1:30 PM. I think the Lord knew I couldn't do well at teaching a morning class and blessed me with the after lunch class period.

Here is Elaine doing homework in my office at the Institute.

Here I am getting into the driver's seat of Miss Jenni.

Arrived Alive

We arrived safely in Chiang Mai at about 12:30 PM today. We have settled into the house with Kris Schrock. She is graciously sharing her house with us this month. Elaine went with her to purchase some rice for Supper. We are trying to stay awake as long as possible this evening.

I start teaching classes on Monday. It is nice to have a few days to get adjusted before classes begin.

Our Travels so Far

We are well on our way to Chiang Mai, Thailand. We left Minneapolis late due to flight delays. Then our flight in Dallas was delayed. We ran to make our connection in Los Angeles. Then we basically fell asleep on the airplane. It was a twelve hour and forty minute flight to Taipei, Taiwan. We arrived here at 5:00 AM their time. The children are now doing school work. We missed a day because it is already Thursday morning here. We missed a day when we crossed the International Date Line.

We leave here an another hour and arrive in Chiang Mai at 12:55 PM which will be 12:55 AM in Sioux Lookout. I think our challenge then will be to stay awake until bedtime.

Here is a picture of the Airport in Taiwan.

Here is Dallas in Dallas, Texas. He and Elaine are playing their Nintendo games while we were waiting for the flight.

On Our Way

We arrived in Minneapolis last evening around 9:00 PM. This morning we are going to walk over to Mall of America for a bit and then go to the airport. Our flight leaves this afternoon.

So far the trip has gone well. The children did a little extra school work yesterday while we were on the road so that we would have time to go to Mall of America today.

The Space Between

We are now in the space between having Darren and Jennifer here and leaving for Thailand. I took Darren and Jennifer to International Falls on Friday and then went to Red Lake for a mentoring meeting with the Believers Fellowship men. We had an intense two days together in Red Lake. Each of us men shared our life story with the group.

Today we are entering the final stages of packing for our trip to Chiang Mai, Thailand. We leave tomorrow morning. I am teaching a three week course at the Institute for Global Opportunities. My course is titled, "Kingdom Theology". I am covering Jesus teachings on material possessions and money and on peace and non-resistance. There are 15 class periods with 22 and a half hours of teaching. I am feeling pretty comfortable with my preparation at this point. The terror may strike when I finish my first class on Monday October 1 and realize how much time I really will be in the classroom.

We had a great time with Darren and Jennifer. Darren, Dallas and I went fishing one day. Edith had suggested that we take some hotdogs along for lunch, but we were sure that we would catch some fish first. By 1:00 PM we had only one fish, and it wasn't very big. We had a loaf of bread so we ate the one fish and the rest of the food we had brought. Then Dallas made toast with a few slices of bread. We survived. At 4:00 PM we started catching fish and did very well until we ran out of minnows at 4:45. It was a fun day.

Here are the fish we had when the day was over.

Here is Dallas making toast.

Darren and Jennifer

This week Darren and Jennifer are here visiting us. It is wonderful to have them here. We attended the Borderland Ladies retreat on Friday and Saturday. Then Saturday evening we attended the Rising Above concert here in Sioux Lookout. Sunday morning and evening we attended our church.

Yesterday and today Darren helped me put sheeting on the ceiling of our screened in porch. It was an awkward job. The sheeting was in 4 by 8 sheets and we had to hold it above our heads until we got a few nails in it. Then nailing at an angle above your head is not very easy. We managed to get it finished this morning.

Tomorrow we are planning to go fishing. Dallas is going along, since there is no school tomorrow. We are hoping that it doesn't rain too much during the day. I always enjoy having company who want to go fishing because then I get to go fishing as well.

I am also packing up files and books for our Thailand trip. We leave on Monday. I am finding more and more things that I want to take with us. Hopefully, we will have room for everything.

Snowfall

It must be about time for us to leave for Thailand! We have a dusting of snow on the ground this morning. I don't think it will last very long, but it is snow. I am refusing to switch over to long sleeve shirts before we leave for Thailand, so now I am wearing a short sleeve shirt and a coat.

Sadness....and Relief

Today Asia left. I'm taking cereal and other food she liked to snack on at will, down from the top of the refrigerator, and putting it in the low cupboard again. I'm putting away playdough, toys, and story tapes. I'm putting the booster seat in storage.

And I'm crying.

It didn't turn out as planned for her. The family she was with for 2 years left on a Sabbatical in August. She was supposed to transition from our place back to her bio-family. But then things came up in the Bio-family that meant her move back needed to be delayed. So...she's off to a new home.

She talked with her new foster Mom on the phone yesterday and found out they have a trampoline, dog, 3 cats, 2 birds, and a 5 year old boy to play with. That helped her to get ready for the change. But still this morning she kept saying, "Me want to stay your house."

I'm so glad Elaine and Dallas don't have to do these transitions anymore. It's so unnatural.

Yet I'm also relieved to not be chasing a very busy 3 year old. I have limits. When I say yes to keeping her, I have to put some other things on hold. I'm ready to plug into some of those other things again.

I guess I'm getting more ready for grandparenting where you enjoy a child, then let them go to their parents.

Merle has been thinking of doing a series of sermons on God's foster children. One of the Biblical ones is Samuel. Hannah gave him up at a young age too. That must have created some attachment disorder for him. Yet he heard God's voice at night and became God's prophet. It gives me hope for Asia and all the others in foster care.

Could you breathe a prayer with me for her and them?~Edith

On my way home

I finished two days of teaching at the mission training centre in New York City. I enjoyed the days I had with the people there. I knew most of them from other places. Marland and Alice Miller, Rod and Christa Swartz, Kendra Beachy, and Rebecca Duerst. It is always great to talk with people who are preparing for missions.

One of the nice things about that speaking assignment was that I got to stay with Darren and Jennifer. I left my rental car close to their house and rode the train over to Queens both days for the teaching. Taking the train is as fast as driving and a lot less stressful.

Today I am flying back to Thunder Bay and then driving back to Sioux Lookout. I should be home by 2:00 AM tomorrow morning. Tomorrow I go with some of the men from the church to Kenora District Jail for the Sunday service there.

The big event for next week is Darren and Jennifer coming to visit us. We are going to the Borderland Ladies Retreat on Friday and will meet them there.

Anabaptist Foundation Bd. Mtg.

The Anabaptist Foundation board meeting is finished. We had two days of board meetings which went very well. The big news for me was that the board approved my proposal for establishing a micro-finance committee. They also approved continued discussions with Christian Aid Ministries regarding joint projects in micro-finance.

I believe that micro-finance is one way to change the economic situation in the world. With less than $1,000 we can help a family to double their income from two dollars a day to four dollars a day. This makes a great difference in nutrition and education possibilities for these families.

Micro-finance is one part of what we as North Americans can do to help those who are living in poverty. If I can help to make micro-finance banks work in third world countries, it could change lives and help to strengthen churches. In a situation where 80 percent of the people in a church are unemployed, it is difficult if not impossible to have a self-supporting church. This often creates a lingering dependence on a North American mission organization to fund programs in the church. Micro-finance can help to give a hand up to those in poverty, by giving them the cash to create a small business to provide income for their family.

Now, that the board meeting is finished, I am ready to head for New York City. I am teaching there tomorrow and Friday at the mission training centre in Queens. I get to stay with Darren and Jennifer, which is an extra bonus feature!

Travel Stress

I know now why you are not allowed to smile for a passport picture. When you finally get to the front of the immigration line at the airport, you will not be smiling.

This morning I got up at 4:10 AM and headed to the airport. My first disappointment was that after I checked in and was ready to head for security, the Tim Hortons in the airport didn't open until 5:15. Finally, I had a large coffee and headed to the plane. We arrived in Toronto 20 minutes early.

When I got to the immigration line it was long. I soon discovered that there was only one officer working. The line hardly moved. I had about 50 minutes left before my flight was scheduled to leave. We waited and we waited, and we waited some more. About 15 minutes before my flight was scheduled to leave they brought in three more officers. I left the immigration line at 9:25, exactly the time my flight was scheduled to leave.

I took the bus over to the other terminal and as we approached I saw my plane with the door still open. I rushed through the terminal. As I approached the gate the agent asked if I am Mr. Burkholder. He then got on his radio and told them they can put my suitcase back on the plane. I got on the plane and they closed the door.

I arrived in Harrisburg on schedule and got my suitcase too. All is well that ends well.