Happy Wednesday, Friends!
We have officially been missionaries since January, however I was still working full-time as a teacher until June 10th.
On weekends we would travel together, as a family, but during the week, Dan would travel alone, even doing 5-week stretch in Ohio, while we were back in Florida.
On June 11th Aidan and I flew to Missouri to join Dan, and begin our (roughly) month-long missionary training. It was a time of learning, stretching, abiding and prayer. It was truly enriching, and we felt empowered to continue on this adventure called "itineration".
For those of you who may not know, itineration is the process of missionaries meeting with churches or individuals, and sharing their heart for the country and people they feel called to. This can be over coffee, or in a service.
The hope is that people would be moved, and partner with the missionary in prayer and/or financial support. Both of those are a vital need for the missionaries! I know people who have prayed for me or my family every day since they met me! I have had ladies show me our family's prayer card in their Bible, where they have kept it, and faithfully prayed, for over 20 years. It is very humbling and encouraging at the same time.
So, I thought you might enjoy if I shared a few light-hearted moments. And since we have a rambunctious 2-year-old, whose vocabulary is rapidly growing, most of them revolve around him:
1. When we ask Aidan "Where are we going?", we usually get an adorable "Slovenia!" But, on occasion, we will get a resounding "TARGET!!" That one has gotten a little more dangerous these days, haha!
2. We have mints sitting out on our display table. For obvious reasons, we don't let Aidan have them. So, sometimes when people come over, take a prayer card, and try to take a mint, Aidan scrunches up his face, and shouts, "No touch the candy, put it back!" We usually make a light-hearted joke about how they have to promise to pray for us, and then they can have the mint, but... yeah.
3. Aidan thinks all churches have donuts.
4. During our commissioning service, we were holding Aidan, and I saw my grandparents. I pointed them out, and said, "Look, it's great-grandma and great-grandpa!" Just then, the people who were to pray with the new missionaries were called up, many of whom had white hair. Every one that walked by, Aidan sweetly said, "Hi great-grandpa! Hi great-grandma!" One of those people was our district superintendent, who was coming to pray with US. He is a very sweet and understanding man, but I was about ready to die of embarrassment.
5. One day, Aidan took a little bag, flung it over his shoulder, grabbed a pack of prayer cards, and said, "I got my prayer cards, I'm going on a mission!" My sweet boy.
So, these are just a few of the funny moments we've had, and I know there will be many more to come! Thank you for coming along with us on this adventure!
