Monday, July 8, 2013

Yay Duck, Yuck Duck

We have now finished our month long training at World Missions Institute.  Throughout this past month, we have learned through many speakers about basic theory, real life experiences, case studies, cultural experiences and we've heard a variety of spiritual journeys. The most impactful part of WMI for us was when we watched the EE-taow video (more here ) and the next day, Mark Zook came to speak to us, and I am sure none of us wanted him to stop. He shared with all of us how he and his family went to a remote tribe that had never seen white people before and proceeded to learn their language and culture and then began to teach them about Jesus Christ. He took us through the things they did in order to establish a ‘ground’ to share the gospel.  The first thing we need to do is learn the language and culture of Guinea Bissau before we can do anything.  That was a central theme of our entire four weeks.  We want to form relationships with the people and know them well, so that when we do have opportunities to share, it can be in their context and in a language they understand. 

Beyond the teachings at WMI, we built friendships with some great people.  We lived together, ate together, worshiped together, prayed over each other and our children did all of those things with their friends.  We are connected.  When we had to say goodbye on Saturday, tears couldn't help but be shed.  Some of the people we were with, are not with EMM and we may not see them again.  God touched each of us in a different way, but he worked in all of us so powerfully.  It was a blessing to be able to pray over our friends, and to bond with missionaries that will serve all over the world.  We had a hymn sing one evening. It was the first time Michael or I had been a part of a hymn sing, and we really enjoyed it. 



Our kids had a wonderful four weeks too. The childcare workers that took care of them were just phenomenal. They were all so creative, enthusiastic, loving and caring.  Our children were loved and they taught them so much.  They have all these wonderful songs they know, one of our children learned how to swim, they played games, did crafts, field trips, just so many things.  The best way to show you is through pictures.  



Settlers of Catan was the favorite game of the month.  At any given point during free time, kids could be found playing, and when the kids were sleeping, the guys were playing.  

The kids got to go to a dairy farm where Josiah milked a cow.  


Here they are playing a game and they are doing an Indian in a teepee.  


This is the older kids class. They all had a blast together.  

That is a glimpse into our kids life these past four weeks.  Like I said before this was a wonderful experience for all of us.  We are all so thankful for the things we have learned.  Oh, one last thing we learned, yay duck and yuck duck.  They are a pair of ducks, or a paradox.  Each day, we all get to say one thing that was good about the day, the yay duck, and one thing that was bad about the day, the yuck duck.  Our prayer is that this will help our kids to know that it is okay to have things go badly, but also to be able to see the good in it.  This was an idea that was told to us from another WMI participant that learned it from another missionary.  We loved it, so we are adopting it for our family.  Yay duck for today, we got to spend the day with family. Yuck duck for today, we had to say goodbye to my aunt this morning.  What are your yays and yucks for today? 





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