There's No Place Like Home

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During the our organization's conference/retreat these past few weeks, we were offered a 4-minute slot to give an update on our last year. We wanted to share our report with you:

"Nethier Andrea, nor I wanted to prepare a speech for this time, therefore we delegated his job to the newest member of our team. So, Micah wrote it, and we will read it, since obviously Micah can't read yet!

'I have overheard my parents talking on many occasions and so I have a pretty good idea of what is on their minds and hearts these days. When you talk of highlights in the past year, I think that we really need to ask the question "when and in what have my parents found joy?" I may be small, but I can sense joy in my parents, the way they hold me, the way they talk to me, each other and the people coming to our door, and even in their eyes, I can sense it when it's there. And I can sense it when it's not. For example, I can tell when my mom is working too hard. As I am drifting off into a nap, I can hear her bustling about to dust, wash, sweep or mop, only to wake an hour later finding her still busy with these chores. Then, I often sit on the floor of the kitchen and look up at her as she scrambles around to make amazing meals for us to eat. Sure, I think she enjoys making and eating nice food and living in a mostly-clean house, but her sighs of tiredness many night!
s make me doubt if she finds true JOY in such things. My dad, well my dad is often working with some of those nice Gumuz guys that come to our house. I like them and my dad seems to like them too. Sometimes they talk the whole morning, but when they leave, my dad seems so tired and quiet. Lately, instead of meeting with his Gumuz friends, he has been just listening to their voices and typing on the computer. I don't know or understand all that he is doing, but I do know one thing for sure…his joy in these things is not growing, but rather shrinking. I have heard him speak sadly about postponements, delays and the constantly changing goals and I know that he really looks forward to what he calls "translation work" so I hope that he finds real joy in that. My mom, again, I know that she really wants to learn the Gumuz language from her friend that comes to our house, and I try my best to behave when my dad can't take me during that time, but it's hard for me somet!
imes to stay quiet, which makes it hard for my mom to learn. I know th
is makes her sad. Finally, I know for certain that both of my parents are struggling with finding their place in Gumuz society. One day, I pray that they will find joy in their relationships with Gumuz people…thus far, I don't sense it much at all.

So are my parents stuck in a joyless existence? No. At times, they may believe such a lie, but I know better. For example, I overheard my mom telling someone on the phone that her favorite times of her day was playing with me during diaper changes. How can the yuckiest part of her day become the highlight? Then my dad. Ha, sometimes when I yell at night, he comes in to see what is wrong and I only yell louder, refusing anything he offers. He leaves angry, frustrated and probably hurt. But then, the next morning, as according to our routine, my mom takes me in at 7am to wake him up and as soon as he sees my face explode into a smile at seeing him through the mosquito net, the frustration from the night before melts away and he welcomes me into his arms! The way my mom loves reading me books and taking me on walks and how my dad and I would sit out on the porch at night looking up at the stars and down at the Gumuz fires scattered through the valley below, he would sing to me !
"How Great Thou Art" over and over again as he rocked me to sleep. So, you asked about the highlight of my parent's year, and with all humility, I must say that, it is me. Believe me, they are not perfect parents, just as I am not a perfect baby, and our life circumstances are not perfect either, but God has given us an inexpressible joy and love in the gift of family. My mom and dad have often said "Home is not a place on a map, it is wherever we are together." And I know my parents would agree, "there is no place like home!"'"