Little Things... Like Car Break-Ins and Time-Warping

This morning I woke up and the car keys were nowhere to be found. I dragged Ben out of peaceful unconsciousness to search frantically for them, my mind ticking off the minutes before I would absolutely miss my first class at CanIL.
We determined they must be locked inside the car.
Neither of us knows how to break into a car.
Turns out no one in our host family does either.
Thankfully, there is only so long that you can stand around a car with a hanger and a stubby knife in the quite Dutch town of Lynden before the police show up.
They do know how to break into cars.

Off I zipped down the road running calculations in my mind. It's 8:16. My class starts at 9:00. If I make it through the border without having to wait in line, and if there is no traffic on Hwy 1, and if the train is not holding up traffic at the intersection of Glover Rd., and if all the lights are green, I should be able to make it just in time for Tone Analysis.
But the lights were red, there was a line at the border, and a big wreck on Hwy 1.
This is probably the 3rd or 4th time that I have earnestly prayed, "God, please warp time for me."

It was 8:24 at the Canadian border with two big transport rigs and a line of cars in front of me. I turned my clock off so I couldn't see it anymore. I've found I waste a lot of mental energy trying to will time to slow down. I may still be in denial that this is out of my control.

I may waste a lot of mental energy trying to control a lot of things that aren't actually in my control.

"God, please time-warp me. Please help me get to class on time."

8:55 I am setting my backpack down in class, only the second student to arrive.
The math doesn't add up.
Call it what you want. I am extremely grateful.

I am grateful for the generosity of one of the girls at the house for offering me her car in case we couldn't break into ours.
I am grateful for nosy neighbors and skilled police officers.
I am grateful for the apples and the apple crisp that some fantastic person left in the common room at school.
I am grateful for Tonal Languages - as ridiculously complicated as they make things - and for someone with the expertise to teach me how to analyze them.
I am grateful for my husband, who simultaneously teaches me the need to give grace and the blessedness of receiving it.
I am grateful for this crazy, beautiful life with all its mess and all its glory.
I am grateful for God who transcends time and the littleness of my nature and who makes catastrophes into miracles, whether they are miracles of finding grace in relationship or time-warping on the way to school.

May your day be full of the joy of life and little things that matter. May your heart be full of gratefulness to the Giver of every good thing.

Diving off the deep end

I hate asking for help. There is a very loud, very pessimistic voice in my head that says that nobody really wants to contribute and even if they did, it isn't fair to ask them. Another voice - my pride - says, 'You can do this on your own. Drop school for a couple semesters, work and save up for tuition.' People are being bombarded right and left with pleas for money. Mine is no different. I am passionately pursuing a path that I can't afford and I want others to help me get there.

Ben says, "Mary, this is an opportunity to trust God beyond what we can see or plan for."

Deep breath.

I can always ask for prayer. That is something I know to be powerful and effective. Please pray for us during this coming semester. Nothing is clear but the next step and God has provided for that. So, as a good friend of mine put it, we are trying to 'live in the green light.' That is, go in the direction God gave us until He says stop.

Four tuition payments of $1,710.84. Due each month, the first one now. By the grace of God, we have enough for the first. But what about the second, the third, the fourth? What about car insurance and taxes? What about repairs, and gas, and oil, and....

Another deep breath.

This is an adventure blog. I realize I usually write about past adventures. Well, this is one I don't know the end of, and I am honestly kind of freaked out. For more reasons than one.
Right now I am trying to finish my Masters in Linguistics in order to go into a place where languages are as yet unwritten and create a written language, a program for teaching reading and writing, a working dictionary, literature, and finally - the ultimate goal - translate the Bible for a people who have never read God's Word in their own language. Of course I won't be doing this alone, but how that looks is still unclear. All I know is that it is good that people should be able to read and understand the Word of God in their own language.
Ben is still praying about what God wants him to be doing and how to be preparing. We are both praying for direction, purpose, guidance, clarity. I am prepared to wait and support as God directs Ben and prepares him for His purpose. So far, this is the step that God has placed in front of us. He has given us a place to live, thanks to the generosity of a wonderful family up here in Northern Washington. He has given us a car, thanks to the generosity of Ben's mom. He has provided for us to go through two semesters debt free. This is the third, and He has provided for the first payment.
Ben has a lot more fun with this trusting God thing than I do. He get's excited when we get into places that only God can get us out of. Me? I'm just trying to quell the anxiety and remind myself of every time - every single time - and there are so many, that God has come through in bringing me along in His purposes.

Please pray for us.
If you are open, please pray about supporting us. If you tithe, would you consider donating a monthly amount to our mission? If you do not feel led, please don't feel pressured. God has set us on this road and He will provide for us.
You can email us at mowen10@georgefox.edu if you are interested in supporting us or just encouraging us :) .
Our mailing address is PO Box #808, Lynden, WA 98264

Here's to the next adventure. I am a little terrified at the thought of advanced phonology and tone analysis. I am even more terrified at the prospect of translating God's Word, accurately and well, into another language.
God is good. That is all.

Unexpected Encounters

On the final day visiting down in the Portland area for the holidays, we spent the last hours with our friend Jimmie.

Coffee? Sure. We're all pretty much broke, so let's scrape the bottom of the barrel for a house coffee and some time to catch up.
We were on our way to Shari's when a little coffee house caught my eye. "Hey, turn around! What about that place?" We pulled into the next door parking area and trooped inside. There was a couple lounging on some comfy seats in the corner, and a jolly looking man with a beautifully tended, long white beard sitting on a stool at the counter.
We were informed that the shop was closed for the day but that they still had a little house coffee left which we were welcome to if we wanted some. We helped ourselves and ended up conversing for a while. The couple was celebrating their anniversary. The man with the beard was the owner.
Somehow our goal to go into missions and my master's studies at Trinity Western University came up. The owner said he had almost gone there!
But wait, it get's even crazier.
He had supported and was good friends with a missionary pilot, now in Papua New Guinea! See, this guy had planned to go into Ministry as a Pastor but ended up choosing to dedicate his time to his family and start his business. His little shop had opened months before the economic downturn and yet somehow managed not only to survive but to thrive during those trying times. "You can't see it, but the rafters and door posts of this place are covered in written prayers and scripture verses." This man with his cozy shop and his welcoming attitude is one of the simple saints. This is the term I use to describe those who live their lives in simple, beautiful obedience to Jesus and generosity to everyone they encounter - no frills, no pretensions, just faith and love.
We walked away amazed yet again by the crazy encounters God lines up for us in our adventure with Him!
Oh, and the name of the shop?

It doesn't get better than that.

New Years Update

Rambling on Mt. Ranier

Update on Ben
Having settled into full time work at Lynden Door, Ben has not received clear instruction from God in what he should be doing to prepare for the mission field. He is focused on being the husband God wants him to be and asks for your prayer that God would show him what to do. Meanwhile we have met some wonderful people through his job.

Update on Mary

Mary has completed her second semester of school with near perfect marks and is poised to complete her Masters program by this time next year if her accelerated pace holds true; praise God for allowing her to work so well and at such a pace while saving us money in tuition! AAAAND: we are still debt free! Praise God the Provider for what He gives!

Exploring the beautiful state of Washington
with school friends and our host family

We have spent some time with the great students and teachers at various events and found good fellowship and excellent learning from folks who had been on the ground in Papua New Guinea. We are thankful for really good information on what things are like there from several sources (God seems to throw buckets of these folks at us) and good fellowship with strong followers of Jesus who are dedicated to His purpose. 

Christmas! 

Jesus appreciation day! Hooray! We are thankful for visits and cards from everyone and sent out...81? This is par for the course in our family. And no college buddies were included in that number. Sorry! It was also fun making the cards (Mary did all the artwork!).

We are continually blessed and amazed by the grace and hospitality that has been shown to us by the Mock family, our hosts. It has been a joy to share bits of the Holiday season with them. We have also been so blessed by friends near and far.

Over Christmas break we were able to travel down to the Portland area to spend time with dear friends and family. One of God's little miracles this month has been providing exactly what we needed for gas and expenses for the trip down and back again. So thank you God! And thank you all of you who prayed or helped us out in other ways! We are continually blown away by the perfect timing of God's provision.

Moving into the new year, Ben will be going back to Portland for a few days in the second week of January for Army Guard drill and Mary will begin classes in her third semester at school. We look forward to the blessings and challenges of the New Year and are truly blessed and grateful to the living God for the privilege of serving Him.

PRAYER REQUESTS and PRAISES:

1. What kind of education Ben should pursue (he is a personal trainer)

2. Whether we should attempt to secure visas without Ben having a degree

3. Financial provision for the coming semester, this will be the largest hurdle yet!

4. Wisdom for Ben in communicating better and to be the husband God wants

5. Patience and wisdom for Mary in being a good helpmate for Ben

6. We are currently looking at a laptop for her; please pray God will provide what we need to facilitate her education

We had an answer to prayer when we asked for healing of Ben's back when he strained it a few weeks ago. He has experienced no pain there since coming back to full duty and is reminded of the gratitude we must all show for our circumstances.

We have been provided for in every way from the car we drive, to the place we live, to the funds for tuition and weekly needs. God patiently teaches us again and again that He will provide for all that we need to be able to walk in obedience to Him.

Random joyfulness: we got to go adventuring (Ben's Christmas/Birthday gift to Mary). See picture.

Finally, pray that God will use us to be His witnesses here in Lynden. We aren't needed to accomplish God's goals (He is God) but we sure like the way He weaves us into the story!

Joy from Christ and His blessing on your New Year,

The Grimms

A very late, late update

I am obviously not a terribly committed blogger. This is the first post we've made since we were married. Sorry.
... Where were we? Well, the Grimms rode off into the sunset and lived happily ever after.

More accurately, we went north, driving a little Honda Civic that God and Ben's mom conspired together to provide for us and dragging a 5 by 8 foot U-Haul trailer with all of our worldly possessions inside (minus a car load of books that we thought might just break the camel's back).

Ben describes his life pre-Mary like a lazy river meandering quietly along. Now it's more like a whitewater stretch on the Colorado.
But it's all good.

God has emptied us, filled us, poured us out, and filled us again. We have nothing, and we have everything that we need.

I don't know how to relate all of the crazy turns our life has taken since we met or since the day our wonderful community of friends and family witnessed our marriage.We have been desert wanderers, hitchhikers, penniless travelers, mountain climbers, and dish washers. We went from enjoying the security of a wonderful community with family all around to being aliens in a strange land of tall Dutch people with too many reform churches. We have received mind-blowing hospitality and grace, the kindness of man, and the blessings of God.

Recent blessings:

• God has provided us a place to stay through the generosity of a wonderful family.

• We are going to church again.

• We had the opportunity to hear Carl Mederas speak (look him up!)

• We are both learning a lot about what it means to be wholly devoted to God's purpose.

• Recently God has humbled both of us through failures and mishaps; and we have had opportunity to benefit from the grace that exists in fellowship with Christ and in His Body. 

• Mary is in her second semester of her Master's Program for Linguistics.

• Ben has a full time job with a wonderful company.

Prayer requests:

• Ben is seeking out how God wants him to be preparing during this season of our lives. Please pray that God would give him opportunities to grow in skills that will be useful in the mission field. 

• We are both working on staying focused on God. Being married is hard! And we are learning together what it looks like to encourage each other in faith, communicate well, and live in grace.

• Please pray for our host family, that God would pour out His blessing in their life for the hospitality they have shown us and for the faithfulness with which they follow Jesus' teachings. 

• Please pray for our financial provision, that we may remain debt free as we prepare for the mission field.

Regarding Gifts

We have discussed it and decided not to register anywhere for wedding gifts. We did this for several reasons and with a few considerations in mind:

• Your presence is enough. We recognize that a lot of you will be traveling in order to attend and/or circumstances make it difficult to bring a gift, and we want you to know that the gift of your presence is absolutely enough.
• We are going into missions. Although the first few years of our marriage will be in the States, ultimately we will be going into the mission field. This means that we want to keep our material possessions at a minimum to reduce the complications of transportation and/or storage. 
• Our immediate future is uncertain. We are not currently sure if we will be moving immediately or shortly to Washington in order for Mary to attend her linguistic school. There are a few other opportunities on the table, but all of them would be aided by not having a whole lot to move.

If you do want to give a gift, we will receive it gladly. We ask that you give what comes to mind as useful and good for us. We trust that God will supply our needs.

• We are going to put any monetary gifts into an investment account to be used when we are ready to leave the Sates for the mission field (please let us know if you are interested in supporting us in missions on a regular basis).
• We are both book worms and outdoorsy people. So we enjoy shopping at REI, Next Adventure, Powells, etc.
• Needs:
• A queen-size futon mattress
• Some small bookshelves
• Your love and prayers
• Wisdom  :)
• That's all I can think of right now...

Potluck food - list of ideas

Here is a list of ideas and things to consider. You are of course welcome to bring anything you feel comfortable creating and transporting. :)

• Fun drinks - Martinellis, Simply Juice, etc. (no alcohol per. Park restrictions)
• Pasta salad
• Potato salad
• Been salad or taco Salads
• Cold cuts (like pork or salami)
• Chips & Salsa
• Fruit or fruit salad (watermelon, pineapple, cuties, etc.)
• Crackers or rolls
• Cheeses
• Twice baked potatoes 
• Sandwich platters
• Deviled eggs
• Pickles (or pickled things - artichokes, green beans, etc.)
• Deserts - cookies, cupcakes, brownies, joyfulness

• We are going to avoid peanuts altogether so as not to risk triggering allergies
• If you are making something vegetarian, vegan or gluten-free let us know so we can create courtesy labels for those guests with allergies or food preferences.