We drove the three and a half hours to Fresno to spend an extended weekend with Kevin and Rhonda and kids since Brendan was on spring break and we needed to spend a bit of time in our storage unit (oh joy). The boys were ecstatic about spending time with their cousins, so much so that they forgot about sleeping in the van on the long drive, even though we timed it so that they would sleep most of the way by leaving at 7 p.m. and arriving at 10:30. Best laid plans . . .
On Friday, we received a much-awaited e-mail from the MCC Country Reps in Zambia. We had asked them to look into school options for the boys and in this e-mail, they said that there are two good options that they are going to research more for us in the next few weeks. One is an international school that I had read about on an outdated website. But we learned of a Christian school that is another possibility. The Rector of Mindolo apparently sends his children there. So I also learned that there are other kids in the community which could be great for our boys. Though nothing is nailed down, I am ecstatic that there are good options for the boys, which will help in their adjustment. This is a huge answer to prayer. We also received a picture of the house in Mindolo where we will be living. It’s fun to be able to picture it!
We spent Friday evening and most of Saturday at the West Coast MCC Sale. This annual sale was always a big event for me growing up. My parents would always match whatever money I was going to spend and I would run around with my friends buying used books, zwiebach, and items from 10,000 Villages. I could spend the money with no guilt, knowing that all the money went to Mennonite Central Committee. Peter questions if I was actually guilt-free but I think it was pretty darn close. So this year we were able to take our boys and explain to them that the money raised at sales like this all over North America in part goes to pay for our food and living expenses. We spent a few hours at the Penny Power booth, a special giving project where families collected change all year. This year the money was going to support a Drop-in Center for street children in Zambia. The boys helped collect the money and put it into sorting machines. They had a big picture of us in the front, inviting people to come meet us. Brendan wondered if that made us famous. Not quite, but it was special to be recognized. We got to talk with different people and had some interesting conversations, mostly with former MCC workers. Saturday was spent eating zweibach and fritters, talking to old friends, and watching beautiful quilts get auctioned off. In the afternoon, Brendan was asked to help out with the Children’s auction. No, they don’t auction off children, although that could raise quite a bit of money, don’t you think? Brendan held up the toys that were for sale and only kids could bid on the item. I was invited to share a little bit about where we are going and what we will be doing. Despite the cooler weather and threat of rain, I understand that $240,000 was raised this weekend, all of it going to MCC.
In the middle of this crazy weekend, we celebrated Jason’s birthday. He is finally four which is very exciting for him but he doesn’t grasp that he gets to be four for awhile. Each day he wakes up and says in wonder, “I am four.” Then he says, “I’m not three anymore? I get to be four for a long time?” He got a lot of attention from his big cousins who would fight over who got to sit next to him at mealtimes. Even Brendan got caught up in it and insisted that he should get a turn to sit next to Jason too. I almost reminded him that he doesn’t even like Jason but caught myself just in time. Nothing like positive peer pressure! Jason was pleased with all his presents and gave hugs and kisses along with effusive words of thanks to everyone.
We decided to attend College Community Mennonite Brethren Church on Sunday morning, the church I attended from third grade through high school. On the way there, we passed by Blackbeards, the miniature golf place where I first met Peter. I told the boys that this place was where Daddy and I met and fell in love. Jason asked, “You fell down?” I explained that I didn’t fall down, I fell in love and explained that this was when I started to love Daddy. Jason, still thinking I had fallen, asked, “Did you cry?” We all burst into laughter!
When we arrived at church, the pastor found us and asked if we would be willing to share a little bit at the end of the service. It was wonderful to stand in front of the church that nurtured me and look out at many familiar faces. I expressed my gratitude for the role they played in my life and the people who had encouraged me along the way. Peter talked about where we were heading and what we would be doing. Then they took the time to pray for us. After the service, we chatted with many people and were blessed by their encouragement. Brendan and Jason would have felt more blessed if their parents would have stopped talking sooner but such is life. My parents did that to me and it is my moral duty to do the same thing to my kids, right?
The reality that we are really going to Zambia with MCC is hitting us, thanks to this weekend. Now we are coming to the realization that there isn’t much time left before we go. The plan is to leave for Zambia mid-August. That is four months away from today. However, once Brendan gets out of school June 22, we have a pattern of going on a trip, returning home for three days before leaving for another destination, back for three days and departing once again. We will be going to Manitoba for a week, orientation in Akron, PA for two weeks, up to Fresno to send everything in storage up to Spokane, then Spokane for a week and a half, then off to Zambia. In June, Peter will be attending a Summer Peacebuilding Institute seminar at Eastern Mennonite University and will be gone for 10 days. While this will be a very helpful thing for him to be part of, it means that he needs to have an entire first draft of his dissertation completed by the beginning of June. Yikes! So we have two months to sort, pack, complete projects, research topics related to our future work in Zambia, fill out paperwork, get shots, and write a dissertation, not to mention spend time with family and friends and still maintain some sense of normalcy. Should be fine, right?
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