i've got something on my mind.....

Well, one of these days I'm going to get around to writing a full-blown update on what has been happening in my life recently. But, until then, here are a couple of things on my mind.

Recently, I decided to stay in Poland for another year; i.e. 3 years in all. When I originally contemplated the question last fall, I decided that I wouldn't stay longer than my originally agreed-upon 2 years. However, over the following months, the thought of staying in Poland with AIM just wouldn't leave. I guess it was really a God thing:) So, last month, I told the AIM board that I will stay in Poland for a third year; that's 1 ½ years yet.

I'm excited to think of staying on here longer. In some ways, my first 10 or 12 months here were spent just learning how to live in Poland. That was a good time, and an incredibly stretching time. I don't discount that experience by any means, but I think it would have seemed a bit abrupt to return to the States at the end of this summer, as I had originally planned. So I'm happy to think about living here even longer and deepening friendships, learning the language better, and discovering what kind of crazy things God wants to teach me in Poland.

Some upcoming things for the year:

Gideon is getting married in July. He and Esther will live here for at least one year after that. I think that is way cool, although unless something changes, it also means I will be the only single VS guy here.

John Smucker's family is planning to return to the States at the end of the year. John's have been here ten years, and as the mission has grown and changed, their roles have grown, too. They play a huge part in the work here, especially as one of the two American families in our small group. Seeing them go and welcoming another family in their place will be a significant change.

And, I AM planning to go back to the States for a two month furlough. I'll be home from June 24 to August 23, Lord willing. I am very happy about that:) I'm looking forward to learning to know my family and my friends again, including two nieces whom I've never met. I'm very grateful for skype, email, and cheap phone rates, but they don't totally cut it. Summer, here we come!

rejoicing in the gray day

It's a gray day. Yesterday the chinook was blowing, and the sun was shining. Today it's cold and gray again. The snow is fading into mud. So I sit, listening to sad folk songs. And writing a bit. Because it is sometimes good to be quiet and introspective. And it is good to not ignore the twinges of creative quietness when they come, but to welcome them in and get to know them a bit. Then, on Monday (which we are definitely NOT dwelling on now) when the crazy, invigorating, tiring schedule returns, we will be ready and we can smile with calm quietness and take the day in hand.

I don't know if any of this makes sense, but that's ok. Making sense is for later, and i'm a horrible perfectionist. You know what that means, right? It means that if something gets done, it has to be perfect, or not done at all. Perfectionists only take on safe things, the things they know they can do perfectly, which means especially that they don't want to stick their necks out and look stupid by trying to learn new things in front of everybody else. Yeah, that's me. Somehow by posting this for the world to see seems to be a victory, although over what, i'm not sure; it's just fun to have victories. Today i'm sending my perfectionist conscience on vacation and trying to just enjoy the moment.

I think it's working:)