But most of all . . . Jesus loves you

We've been having fun with Noel Piper's book as we put Ethan to bed. All our kids get into it, and when we had Kim's parents together with my parents, the whole family got into it.

The message of the book is very simple . . . as a mother puts her children to bed, she goes through each member of the family telling the kids that, "Mommy loves you. Daddy loves you . . . "

And at the end, "But most of all, JESUS LOVES YOU!"

Ethan loves hearing each person say, "I love you!" Then with anticipation, he crinkles his nose and squints his eyes as we all say, "But most of all . . . Jesus loves you!" And then he follows with, "keesus."

Travling and Storying

October and November were months filled with traveling and sharing about Indonesia. Kim and I loved telling the story of Jokotole. He is a hero from the Madurese folk stories of East Java. In the story we tell, he marries the blind princess of the Majapahit Kingdom, and then she miraculously gains her sight.

Civil War History

This year, since we're in the US for at least half of the school year, we've been studying US history with the kids. Before we left Minnesota, Steve Ruud showed us what it would be like to be a Union soldier in the Civil War.

Little known fact about the Civil War: the city of Anoka, where we lived for the summer, sent the first volunteers to the Union Army. The governor of Minnesota happened to be in Washington, D.C. when Fort Sumter was fired on. He offered a regiment to the War Department, sent telegram to officials who happened to be meeting in Anoka when they received it. As they announced it, several men stepped forward to become the first volunteers.

"It won't be long until we see some . . . snow!"

On Saturday it snowed just a little bit. The kids were loving it. I'm sure these Minnesota neighbors of ours were wondering why all the fuss over a dusting of snow.

I went out and put my best effort into building a snowman.

A tiny little snowman.

With today's snow, the kids got into the action and built their giant snowman.

I think they won! Then again, I know it doesn't look like it,
but they had a lot more snow to work with.

Northern Minnesota

We just returned from a very great week speaking with a group in northern Minnesota.

Nathan and Heidi Wright and their kids, Andrew, Matthew, Emily, and Ben, were our hosts.

The youth group enjoyed a game that Indonesians often play on their Independence Day.

Kim was able to share several times about the P-town handicraft project
and sell a lot of handbags.

After the conference, the kids got to play in Uncle Arch and Aunt Linda's haymow.

We're teaching our kids to win in at least one competition

from Christ is deeper still by Ray Ortlund

Outdo one another in showing honor. Romans 12:10

Here is a competition where we can rightly fight for first place in line: in honoring one another. Not just tolerating one another, but honoring one another.

Every church should be a culture of honor. The gospel is all about honor replacing shame. Every Christian will be forever glorious with the glory of the risen Jesus: "To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Thessalonians 2:14). Let's see one another not as we are now but as we will be then. Our future glory makes Romans 12:10 an obvious thing to do.

It is also rare. Romans 12:10 might be the most ignored Scripture in our churches today, which are too often cultures of shaming rather than cultures of honoring.

But who wouldn't want to walk into church this next Sunday morning to a hero's welcome? And why not? We may not be the greatest Christians in the world. But by God's grace we didn't go apostate in a whole week.

That's worth celebrating.

Showing off Indonesia

A couple weeks ago, we were able to share about life and work in Indonesia. The kids were eager to get their ethnic clothes on, though for Delaney it was itchy and she couldn't wait to get them off.

Urgency of the message

"The Gospel is only good news if it gets there in time."

- Carl F.H. Henry

Family Reunion

Last weekend, we made our way out to Camp Grow on Green Lake in Wisconsin for a family reunion. Kim's cousins (and the Aunts and Uncles came too) all got together for three days of reconnecting, fun, and Christ centered fellowship (think everyone sitting around the campfire singing hymns).

Looks like Brienzi's swimming lessons paid off. She made it twice around the deep end (which was quite a distance) and then had to tread water for a minute to pass the deep water swim test. Here she is showing off her Green Band with second cousin Lydia.

Aidan, with the red life vest on, out on the trampoline.

Delaney getting a ride on the paddle boat.

Ethan loving that c-o-l-d Wisconsin lake water.

Wenny's Chemo Update

We've received a few updates on Wenny's progress with the chemotherapy. She's had three treatments and her body is responding well. She's even been well enough to make a trip to Aceh (remember the tsunami back in 2004) at the beginning of August. She and a few other teachers went there to help train teachers at a new school in that region.

Wenny has an appointment scheduled for testing to see if the tumor has disappeared. They are hopeful it has since the first test after treatment #1 indicated it was shrinking.

Thanks for your continued prayers for Wenny and her family. They have been amazingly resilient during this time, especially in entrusting their lives to God. Wenny has persevered despite the effects of the chemo in weakening her body.

Posting again

We're back in Minnesota and settled in a beautiful little old house in the town of Anoka (actually have been back for a month). The house belongs to a friend from our church, which is also in Anoka.

The town name, Anoka, comes from a combination of terms taken from the native Dakota and Ojibwa. It sits right on the Rum River and the mighty Mississippi, and we're about 40 minutes from the Twin Cities. Anoka is also known as the "Halloween capital of the world" and is said to have sent the first volunteers to the Union Army for the Civil War.

Kim and the kids, with cousin Nathan, on the Coon Rapids Dam, which spans the Mississippi.

It's been a while since I've had the chance to cut grass with a mower (not much of a yard in Indonesia). Aidan's doing the Father/Son tradition thing - didn't have a toy mower, so he improvised with one of Ethan's toys.

Back in the US

Uggh! It has been almost a month since I last posted. The blog basically got left in the dust as we packed, got our house ready for someone else to live in, said goodbyes, and then flew back to the US two weeks ago. To be honest, the last thing I wanted to do was get on line.

Then, we transitioned quickly back into the US time zone, and began a six week road trip last Wednesday. The purpose of our trip is a mixture of re-connecting with friends and family, education, and vacation.

Our first stop was at Mt. Rushmore. This was a fitting end for one of Brienzi's research projects at the end of the school year.

Brienzi, Delaney, and Aidan getting sworn in as Jr. Park Rangers.

We next headed south an hour, almost getting our way blocked by the roaming buffalo . . .

. . . to visit a real live paleontological dig where fossils of 55 ice age mammoths have been discovered along with many other animals.

Lots of hands on stuff to do, like trying your hand at uncovering the fossilized bones of these pre-historic creatures.

Now we're in Colorado and I'll get more posted as I have internet access and time to get something up.

Keep praying for Wenny

Wenny just went through her second chemo treatment last week. It initially went well, but it is taking its toll on her body. She walked to her bathroom yesterday morning, and then tried to get back and passed out. She hit her head pretty hard and couldn't remember her name or where she was. Bambang called the ambulance to get her to the hospital. Except for the large lump on her head, she was okay. After a few hours there, they released her to go back home.

Please keep praying over these next few days for strength and energy for Wenny. And that the chemo is doing its job in getting rid of the cancer. We'll know more in a week or two if it is or not.

That's a grave Daddy!

Wednesday was a big day for me. I turned 40. Could it possibly be? That's what everyone is asking me - at least those who knew me growing up. (By the way, a BIG THANKS to everyone who made my day special in sending me messages on Wednesday!)

Delaney helped get me into the spirit of this new decade of life. All the kids made cards for me and they were sitting under my plate at breakfast. I picked up each one and made a special effort to ooodle over every detail. As I opened Delaney's card:

Me: "Look at this beautiful spiral!" (ooohing and ahhing)

Delaney: "Daddy, that's not a spiral . . . That's a grave!"

The whole family erupted in laughter and little Delaney started to tear up.

Me: "Delaney, do you know what a grave is?"

Delaney: "No."

Again laughter . . . and more tears.

After explaining what a grave is she brightened up and said, "That's Jesus coming out of the grave!"

Wish we could of had that on video!

Meeting Pak Polisi

In Indonesia, a common way to greet the police around town, especially for little children, is to call him Pak Polisi . . . Mr. Policeman. We had the opportunity to meet with the chief of police forMalang on Friday night, a huge honor here. He came to watch the Malang Football Club boys U-21 soccer practice, which plays at the international school.

Agus and I got a chance to meet him.

He met and talked with the team and . . .

. . . joined the team in prayer.

Happy Boy!

This was also on Ethan's birthday. Forgot to include it with the birthday post below. Just had to include it now.

Language School makeover

This past week, we made a big move in renting a new house for the language school. We also put the finishing touches on a new name and logo. We're now Sunrise Language Center.

It doesn't look like much on the outside. But it has seven rooms plus a garage that can be converted into a classroom or office.

And lots of natural light. The staff was over cleaning it up this week, and we'll begin moving in next week. Classes will move over in the middle of May, and the new children's English program will begin the first week of June.

April 21, 2008

One year ago on April 21, Ethan Judson came screamin' into the world!

One year later: Happy Birthday Jud Bud!

We had a little party on Tuesday, with Ethan getting his first taste of cake. A bigger party is planned for next month when we're in the US.

I don't think Ethan will mind having more cake. Looks like he liked it.

Construction on Ibu Jum's house

Last December, Brienzi and her friends raised some money to help Ibu Jum renovate her roof. Ibu Jum and her five children live near the P-town learning center. She's also been helping out part time keeping the center clean and guarding it.

With a little financial help from others, and the rainy season subsiding, she's now been able to begin the renovations. Not only did she need a new roof, but walls as well, since some of her walls were just thatched bamboo.

Ibu Jum and her kids. Saras and Nana, the two girls on the left, have been some of our best students.

A good look at the front and the roof.

Inside back of the roof.

Left side and back.

Now in the midst of renovation. Front and left side.

Front door.

Ethan's first haircut

Ethan had this great natural mohawk going on.

But since it was getting down into his eyes . . .

We decided it was time to give him a little cut. I don't have the results on film yet. Will have to post tomorrow!