A Little Silliness

This week has been a rough one at the Hertzler household.  The children and I (Heidi) all had the flu at some point during the week along with colds.  Conrad though had it the worse as he came down with malaria.  While he is still weak, he is on the mend.  The kids and I are doing better too.  
     This month I have been in a photo challenge where each day you take a picture around a theme.  The one for today forced perspective.  According to Wikipedia it's "a technique that employs optical illusion to make an object appear farther away, closer, larger, or smaller than it actually is."  Taking these photos gave us so some much needed silliness in a tough week.

   When we are feeling "bored" or "silly" in Mozambique, we...  

... kiss rhinos

...ride rhinos

... lean against the amazing shells found in the Indian Ocean and watch the world go by.

What do you do?

Children's Day

   June 1^st in Mozambique is Children’s Day. It’s a day where people give gifts, have parties, and celebrate the life of a child.

   Our kids have been asking for a while, when is our day.  We have Father’s Day and Mother’s Day, but what about having a Kid’s day.  So this year we decided to celebrate.  We decided to allow them to do fun things for the day that we normally limit.  So they spent the morning playing electronic games.  They ordered their favorite lunch, macaroni and cheese with hotdogs and Fanta (orange soda). Best of all, they didn’t have to have a nap/rest.  Then we headed off to English Fellowship.  There was a special surprise for my kids as there was Sunday School for them.  My kids were even kind enough to allow me to take a picture of them. J It was a fun day.

As I think about each of my children, I’m so thankful for who God has made them.  Alissa is growing up and learning to love the Lord and follow him.  Justin is quick to smile and loves playing jokes on people.  Kayla is full of personality and love to express her excitement about something with a jump and a cheer.  I’m so thankful that God has blessed us with these three precious children.

Unexpected Part of Being a Missionary

  This post has been on my heart for a while, but to be honest, it's something I don't wanted to really write about.  Why?  Because it seems that when you write about something, you get to experience it in at a “new” level.  But, since it wouldn't leave my head, I guess it’s time to put it on paper.

  It was the night before Mother’s Day.  Conrad had told me to sleep in and he would make a special breakfast in bed.  The idea sounded wonderful.  Some time to just rest, sounded amazing.  But at 6:00 am the morning of Mother’s Day, the electric went out.  I’ve lived in Mozambique long enough to know what that means.  It’s one of the “electric maintenance day”.  This means that the electric will be out all day and if things go well we will have it back by dark.  My heart sank.  Our house without electric gets very warm, very fast.  Gone was the morning of sleeping in, gone was the breakfast in bed (we don’t want to open up freezers or fridges because we don’t really know how long it will be off and we don’t want to lose food), gone was my plan.

   My heart cried out, “Not today.  I don’t want to be flexible today.”  But, I had no choice.   As I reflect over almost 13 years of marriage, I’m starting to see a pattern.  It’s a pattern of being flexible.  I realized the other day, that the current house we are living in, is the longest house we have ever lived in since being married.  We moved to this house 2 years and 4 months ago.  When we started this path on missions, I never dreamed how flexible one would need to be.  I can't count the number of times I have wished to be able to "settle" and put roots down.  But that isn't the life of a missionary.  There are days, when I feel like a rubber band about ready to break that can’t be any more flexible.  On those days, I’m learning to run to my Heavenly Father and find comfort in His arms.  But I’m also learning how to embrace the new plan that presents itself and enjoy the moment.

   So it was time for a new plan.  This plan included a trip out of town to a little reservoir.  It’s a place that I always enjoy once we arrive after spending an hour on a very bumpy road. It’s beautiful and refreshing.  It has flowers, birds, swings, and we always have fun there.  So off we went.  We enjoyed lunch and then we spread out our blanket under the shade of a palm tree.  I enjoyed the view and crochet as Conrad read “Treasures of the Snow” out loud.

  It was also fun watching my kids get involved in the story.  I'm so thankful for the family God has given me.

         As we relaxed, I enjoyed the breeze and the amazing creation God has made.

  So it wasn’t the original plan, but it was a good day.  A day to remember.  It serves as a reminder that whatever comes my way and when flexibility is involved, that God is still in charge.  As I learn to embrace the change and living in the moment, God brings along His love and care in unexpected ways.   I still can’t say that I just LOVE being flexible all the time, but I’m thankful for a God who gives the strength to continue on.  A God who gives the emotional strength to live in the moment and enjoy the ride.   

Hosanna, Hosanna

   “Hosanna, Hosanna, Hosanna in the Highest”

   These are words that we relate to Palm Sunday,  the day we remember Jesus riding in on a donkey with crowds of people shouting as He rode by.  Interesting enough Hosanna, meaning “oh save”, can only be found in this story of the Bible. We also remember the miracle of the unbroken donkey.  The donkey that had never been ridden before, yet under the control of the Master of the Universe, Jesus, was calm and performed beautifully even in an abnormal setting.  I have wondered what the owner of the donkey was thinking as he watched the whole parade, the shouting, the palm branches, and the excitement taking place.  I wonder if he was holding his breath, hoping for the best because we all know how unpredictable donkeys can be.  But under the control of Jesus, this donkey did exactly what it was suppose too.

   This last week on Palm Sunday, a couple of boys willing cut some branches that we used during our song service at the English fellowship.  

    For over 20 minutes the children, tirelessly waved the branches.  As I watched the excitement on their faces amidst the branches, my heart was touched.  Do I have that much excitement about  Jesus?  His death on the cross was enough to pay for the sins of the world but more importantly He paid the price for my sin.  He won the victory.  How excited am I?  Is the joy of Jesus overflowing my life?

   Today is Good Friday, a day when we remember the final hours of Jesus.  Normally, to me it’s a solemn day.  Yet this year, I just kept thinking “Hosanna in the Highest, Jesus has won the victory.”  In my mind, I keep seeing the kids waving their branches last Sunday.  And I rejoice because while Jesus did die, he also rose again.  He paid the price for my sins.  Hosanna.

Can you praise ME in the storm?

  The last two months have been a whirling of activity for the Hertzler family.  We have traveled over 22,000 miles.  The beginning of February found us in South Africa visiting an asthma/allergy specialist for Justin and Kayla.  We are encouraged by our interaction with the doctor and have started a few new approaches to helping the two kids deal better with their asthma and allergies.  While we waited for the medications to be filled (since we needed 6 months worth it took a number of days), we decided to visit a game reserve. 

   We have lived in Africa for over 4 years and have never been to a game reserve.  We have never seen the animals that Africa is famous for in the wild.  So we headed off to a small game park.  On the way, we were required to take a very long detour due to rioting and car burning.  Thankfully God went before us and kept us safe.  We greatly enjoyed our time visiting the park and seeing the amazing animals that God had created in their natural element.

    Then it was on to the USA, where Conrad headed to Head Quarters for 2 ½ weeks of training and the kids and I headed to Iowa to see family.   Our time was filled with doctor appointments, fun time with cousins, holding the brand new baby nephew, hanging with friends and family, and doing some shopping.  Then the kids and I packed up and travelled to Delaware, were we meet Conrad and spent the next week with family and friends there.  Then Conrad flew back west for another two weeks of training and the kids and I returned to Iowa to finish doctor appointments, pack, and say good-byes.

    It was during those last two weeks when our life took an interesting turn.  I had been to a dentist appointment and was on my way back home when the friend who was watching my kids called and said that Alissa hurt her foot.  When I arrived, Alissa refused to put any weight on it and just kept crying saying, “It hurts, it hurts.”   Since we were past office hours, I decided to wait until morning and see how it was. 

   Morning came and she still refused to put anyway weight on it.  So as I was on my way to another appointment, I called the doctor to see if they could get us in.  Right before I called, I thought, “Lord, you know 1:00 pm would be a good time for me”.  I placed the call to the doctor’s office and the first time the reception asked “Would 1:00 work for you to come in?”  I couldn’t believe my ears and the voice of the Lord whispered to my soul, “Trust me, I’ve got it covered.”

  Upon returning home, getting Alissa ready, and back on the road again, doubts began to creep in.  What if it was broken?  My mind already was calculating how much changing tickets was going to cost us as in 4 days we were suppose to be boarding a plane back to Africa.  What if it’s not something that would be wise to go back to Mozambique while it heals or what if we need to make another trip to South Africa just to make sure it’s healed correctly?  As I’m driving along the interstate, my mind is racing and my heart is keeping up, anxiety is fighting to gain control.  At the moment, the song “I Will Praise You in This Storm” by Casting Crowns came on the radio.  The soft voice on the Lord broke though my worried mind and spoke gently to my heart and said “Can you choose to praise Me in the storm?” 

   Instantly, I knew I had a choice.  I could choose to praise no matter what the results.  Or I could choose to allow anxiety to take over me.  As I drove along the interstate, I made my choice.  I responded, “God, I choose to praise You in the storm.  This makes no sense to me as my plate already feels fuller than I think I can handle but I CHOOSE to praise You for what You are doing.”

    The next 4 hours were full of doctor appointments, x-rays, phone calls, waiting, and finely a boot with crutches.  Yes, Alissa fractured/broke her foot in three places.  But the most amazing thing happened.  The location of the fracture couldn’t have been better, just slightly forward or slightly backwards, the foot would have had to been cast.  We would have needed to have follow-up x-rays and traveling would have been very difficult.  Instead, we were told, traveling is fine.  The Dr said that she was to wear the boot and when she is ready to try to put weight on it, she is welcome to walk on it.  When the six weeks is up, as long as there isn’t pain, she should be good to go.  Because of her age, where the break was, and the amazing goodness of God, we were able to travel back with no problems.  Now less than three weeks after the break, she is running around on the boot like nothing happened.

   God has such a sense of humor because of her injury, we were able to receive medical assistance through the airports.  It was the fastest trip through customs, immigration, passport control, and across airports that we have ever had.  The trip went so smoothly that I joked with the kids who wanted to break their foot next time so it would be an easy trip.  But more than that, I got to stand back and listen to my 8 year old tell someone how good God is because even though she had a broken foot, it was broken at just the right place that she was able to travel and God has been taking care of her. 

    For me the choice to praise God in the middle of the storm, was a hard one.  In this storm, I got the privilege to see right away how God had gone ahead and prepared the path.  I had the opportunity to see how when the situation didn’t make sense to me, God cares about the details of my life.  He had a plan and prepared the way.  But there are storms in my life that don’t seem to have quick answers.  There are storms that seem to go on forever.  The Lord has been speaking to my heart and saying “Heidi, can you praise me in these storms too?”  It’s a choice.  Sometimes praise is an easy outpouring but other times it’s a sacrifice.  It’s releasing the situation to God and saying “I don’t know what You’re doing but I choose to praise YOU for WHO You are.  I choose to praise You because I know You have the best in store for me.  I choose to praise You.” 

   So what storms in your life is God asking you to CHOOSE to praise Him.  He is the all-knowing, all-powerful God of the universe.  But more than that, He cares deeply for each person.  He desires that we would choose to praise Him in the storm and then stand back and see what He does to calm the storm.

4:30 am Call

   I crack my eyes open trying to figure out what has woken me and come to the realization that Conrad is on the phone. As I’m trying to make sense of the fact that it’s still dark outside, I hear my husband saying “I’m fine”

    I think, “Who calls at this time of night and asks how you are.” 

    Then I hear, “Yeah, I can do that.  From where to where?  Ok, on my way.” 

   Suddenly I know exactly what the call is about.  I also know that our day is not going to look at all like originally planned.  A sense of fear starts to penetrate my heart because I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that either someone is sick and needs to be immediately taken somewhere for medical attention if they have any hope of living, or there has been a home invasion and the family needs to be removed immediately.  Is it someone I know personally?  Are there children involved?  Are there meals and housing that need to be arranged?

    When he finishes the call, I learn the details.  A worker at a mine to which we fly often is very sick and needs to come back the hospital here if he will have any chance of living.  While Conrad dresses, eats, and grabs the needed items for the flight and rest of the day, I prepare the coffee and lunch.  Then in a few short minutes, he is out the door and on his way to the hanger.  A couple of hours later as I hear Conrad fly over on the way to another flight, I wonder if we were in time and if the man will live.

   Around lunch time, I receive a text saying that the man was sick with malaria but it appears like he would make it.  I breathe a sigh of relief that we were in time and a life was save.

  At 4:30 in the morning, the call seemed like an invasion to my very tired brain that only wanted more sleep.  But as I listen to the report that a life had been spared, the lost hours of sleep seemed insignificant.  The longer I live here, the more I realize how quickly one can go from healthy to deadly sick.  The fact that we were able to help save one life, is a special gift.  Today, I know that we were able to touch this man and give him a second shot at life.  While I pray for complete healing and that the man will come to know our Lord and Savior, I’m thankful that we were at the right place at the right time.  I’m thankful for the team of people that stand behind us, enabling us to work here.  I’m thankful that God has a purpose in everything He does even if it involved being woken at 4:30 am.  But above all, I’m thankful to be part of what God is doing here in Mozambique through MAF. 

Joyful Sharing

It’s hard to believe that we are already in 2014.  I wonder what this year will hold.  In the next couple of days, I will try to post some pictures from our Christmas here.  We have been having a number of “most of the day” power outages, so that makes posting much more difficult.  Conrad called the electric company the other day and they said “Sorry for the inconvenience but we are working so you aren’t in the dark in 2014.”  Well we have officially been in 2014 less than 2 days and have already had two power outages. J

Today I want to share you a story that blessed my heart this holiday season.  A daughter of a missionary set up a “Day Spa” for missionary women to bless them.  She asked some girls from the local orphanage ( Evanjafrica) to help her.  The “Day Spa” included foot massages, head/shoulder massages, haircuts, extension braids, facials, crafts, pretty snacks and beautiful dishes with Christmas music playing. 

  It was a very special afternoon of hanging out with friends.  As two young orphan girls rubbed my feet with huge smiles on their faces, my heart was blessed.  Their joyful attitude in serving other was so refreshing.

I was able to buy some fun gifts that they had made and then I headed home. 

Later, I heard the rest of the story.  At the end of the evening after everyone had left, the girls were giving the money they had earned from their crafts.  If divided evenly, it would have been about $2 each, enough to get a new pair of flip-flops or a shirt at the market.  But do you know what they did with the money?  They decided to buy bread for the whole orphanage so everyone in the orphanage could have bread for breakfast the next morning.  They wanted everyone to enjoy a treat.

My heart was so touched by their selflessness.  They have so little and yet when they got something of “value” they wanted to share.  This holiday season, their example kept running through my mind.  How could I selflessly share what I have with others?  And when I think of selflessness, my mind goes to God’s gift to us of Jesus.  It was a gift that cost our Heavenly Father so much.  Yet, He gave because He loved you and me. 

  Am I willing to share so selflessly?  May I always be listening carefully to the Holy Spirit’s promptings and share whatever and whenever He speaks to my heart.  May I grow in sharing selflessly, seeing it as a joy.