We're back
Well, after a few weeks of being on the road we're home again...albeit our temporary home. These past couple of weeks have been almost a blur as we've been to a missions conference in Temple, TX, came back and spent the night here, then woke up the next morning and packed our family into a taxi headed for the airport and a flight to Richmond, VA for an IMB conference. Wow!
Things here are pretty good. Since we've been gone the weather has changed. It's definitely fall now. But that's a welcome relief for me. I love the cold, crisp air. As I walk outside and the cold hits my face I always think about Chicago. I remember back to so many freezing mornings when I'd be walking to class. Ok, they weren't just mornings...that was all day in the winter. I loved the crispness...the bite in the air. Sounds strange, huh? Moving to Poland, I was reacquainted with the cold after a brief hiatus in Texas. So, I've been waiting for the cool weather to move in here in the states...feels like home (good song by the way - by Chantal something or another).
Mission Conference - Immanuel Baptist Church in Temple, TX
We had an awesome time in Temple, TX. The couple we stayed with was great and extremely hospitable to us. It was a neat experience to be able to talk to so many folks about what God did and has been doing in our lives in Poland, as well as in ministry there. This was their first missions conference...something they're now planning on doing each year. What's fantastic is that so often Southern Baptists just give their tithe. They know that a portion goes to support our missions organizations....but often they don't have faces to go with their financial sacrifices. Without that personal contact with the missionaries they are supporting, it has to be difficult to continuing giving "sacrificially". But through these conferences, Southern Baptists can meet a lot of missionaries...get a great feel for what God is doing through our denomination's work...and hopefully get excited about getting further, involved deeper in what we're doing.
IMB conference - Richmond, VA
Fast forward to our IMB conference. That's just one of those things you can't really explain...you have to experience. Yeah, the IMB isn't perfect...there are shortcomings just like with any organization. But to get together with other missionaries is something we always look forward to. We just get each other. You know? We've been through so many of the same situations...lived cross-culturally for long periods of time...adopted children (so many adopted children of IMB missionaries)...longed for time with family and friends in the states when they needed us but we couldn't come...suffered through culture shock...experienced triumphs in relationships that seemed doomed from the outset..."plowed concrete"...enjoyed friendships with nationals while always feeling like something was just missing from those relationships...felt alienated and isolated at times on the field...experienced reverse culture shock when coming back to the states...felt like we're strange creatures -- not completely American anymore and not Polish, Czech, or whatever...felt loss of friendships as we've said so many goodbyes, both in the US and abroad...felt the blessing of being called "friend" not just "missionary" by the people we serve...plead for just one soul to come to Christ when no one is seeming to be moved...rejoiced when that one, and more, give themselves to Him.......and that's just the tip of the iceberg.
These are tough conferences. Tough because we are all able to just jump into our friendships with other missionaries because of our similarities, all the while knowing that in just a few days we'll say goodbye and not be together again for many months or years. But of course we wouldn't trade the experience.
We feel very encouraged and "ready" for action at this point. Kind of sounds funny. I guess that's that elusive feeling of being recharged and refreshed. And we need it. Our plates are pretty full these coming months. Lots of speaking engagements around here over the next several weeks. I'm looking forward to them.
Update on my dad
I did want to wrap things up here by updating you on my dad. He's back in the hospital and it appears that the cancer has progressed. This past week they did another scan (don't know what kind) and found that there are "numerous" tumors on the brain as well as finding that it has moved to his spine. Pray for us. Pray for my dad, Tom, that he would absolutely be resolved in his faith in the Lord Jesus. Pray that I, and others in his family, would have strength to go alongside him in this. As tough as it is to write it, pray that he will finish well.
Things here are pretty good. Since we've been gone the weather has changed. It's definitely fall now. But that's a welcome relief for me. I love the cold, crisp air. As I walk outside and the cold hits my face I always think about Chicago. I remember back to so many freezing mornings when I'd be walking to class. Ok, they weren't just mornings...that was all day in the winter. I loved the crispness...the bite in the air. Sounds strange, huh? Moving to Poland, I was reacquainted with the cold after a brief hiatus in Texas. So, I've been waiting for the cool weather to move in here in the states...feels like home (good song by the way - by Chantal something or another).
Mission Conference - Immanuel Baptist Church in Temple, TX
We had an awesome time in Temple, TX. The couple we stayed with was great and extremely hospitable to us. It was a neat experience to be able to talk to so many folks about what God did and has been doing in our lives in Poland, as well as in ministry there. This was their first missions conference...something they're now planning on doing each year. What's fantastic is that so often Southern Baptists just give their tithe. They know that a portion goes to support our missions organizations....but often they don't have faces to go with their financial sacrifices. Without that personal contact with the missionaries they are supporting, it has to be difficult to continuing giving "sacrificially". But through these conferences, Southern Baptists can meet a lot of missionaries...get a great feel for what God is doing through our denomination's work...and hopefully get excited about getting further, involved deeper in what we're doing.
IMB conference - Richmond, VA
Fast forward to our IMB conference. That's just one of those things you can't really explain...you have to experience. Yeah, the IMB isn't perfect...there are shortcomings just like with any organization. But to get together with other missionaries is something we always look forward to. We just get each other. You know? We've been through so many of the same situations...lived cross-culturally for long periods of time...adopted children (so many adopted children of IMB missionaries)...longed for time with family and friends in the states when they needed us but we couldn't come...suffered through culture shock...experienced triumphs in relationships that seemed doomed from the outset..."plowed concrete"...enjoyed friendships with nationals while always feeling like something was just missing from those relationships...felt alienated and isolated at times on the field...experienced reverse culture shock when coming back to the states...felt like we're strange creatures -- not completely American anymore and not Polish, Czech, or whatever...felt loss of friendships as we've said so many goodbyes, both in the US and abroad...felt the blessing of being called "friend" not just "missionary" by the people we serve...plead for just one soul to come to Christ when no one is seeming to be moved...rejoiced when that one, and more, give themselves to Him.......and that's just the tip of the iceberg.
These are tough conferences. Tough because we are all able to just jump into our friendships with other missionaries because of our similarities, all the while knowing that in just a few days we'll say goodbye and not be together again for many months or years. But of course we wouldn't trade the experience.
We feel very encouraged and "ready" for action at this point. Kind of sounds funny. I guess that's that elusive feeling of being recharged and refreshed. And we need it. Our plates are pretty full these coming months. Lots of speaking engagements around here over the next several weeks. I'm looking forward to them.
Update on my dad
I did want to wrap things up here by updating you on my dad. He's back in the hospital and it appears that the cancer has progressed. This past week they did another scan (don't know what kind) and found that there are "numerous" tumors on the brain as well as finding that it has moved to his spine. Pray for us. Pray for my dad, Tom, that he would absolutely be resolved in his faith in the Lord Jesus. Pray that I, and others in his family, would have strength to go alongside him in this. As tough as it is to write it, pray that he will finish well.
posted by Michael Shattuck at
7:50 AM
4 Comments:
What kind of prognosis are they giving your dad? Will he be staying in the hospital or will he be able to go home?
I am so blessed to have been able to see you all again! Please know that your entire family is in our prayers!
jm-If you're asking about how long he has, the doctors really do not want to speculate. They have said repeatedly that his case is very serious and that the cancer is advancing rapidly. At one point they said that untreated he might have anywhere from a couple of months to a year...and that was only considering the tumors that he had then (before the advance in the brain and the inclusion of the spine).
I spoke to him today and he is wanting to go home this week. He said that he can get home nursing and call in hospice care when he's had enough (treatment, that is).
Stephanie- It was great to see you. We're excited about your family's future!! We'll look forward to reading your blog posts!! I just hope they're not the roller coaster that we seemingly like to cover here!
Wow. What a hard and shocking trial. Things like this cause me to continuously be thankful for the peace that comes from our Savior. Having to walk through things like this "alone" would be so hard. I'm glad that your dad is going to be able to be at home. The hospital is just no fun. We continue to pray for you and your entire family.
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