PILAT - Arrival

It's a fun and exciting time here at PILAT. The participants to the program are all arriving. They're going all over the world. It's SO exciting to know that the Word is being shared. There are about 27 adults in the program and 23 kids! One family has 3 kids under 2.5 and one on the way! Amy and I don't know how they do it.

Amy and I spent the bulk of the day today settling into our room, scanning and sending Amy's Russian homework to her professor and drilling vowel sounds. It's really great that we'll be able to help so many people take their first steps to learning a new language to share the best news there's ever been.

The main gist of the whole PILAT program is to learn how to share important things with people, you need to share them in their heart language. This is the language that is usually their first language and the one that connects not just in their heads, but in their hearts.

It's going to be a really busy time though and we were hoping for it to be a bit slower than things have been recently. Please pray for good sleep, some rest, and relaxation.

Tonight we already have a great opportunity to see one of Amy's best friends from college. Jaci is coming down from Denver to Palmer Lake to visit with us!

PILAT - to Colorado Springs --- Drill Practice

Today was a very interesting day. We arrived, no problem to Colorado Springs and Dwight Gradin (the director of PILAT) picked us up from the airport. He took us to their (his wife Barbara) lovely home and we had a delicious Sunday dinner with them.

Dwight suggested a brief Sunday nap (Amy did homework, I worked on mapping PILAT audio files to their drill numbers) and then we practiced drills together. It was really quite fun, but 2.5 hours of producing just language sounds can stymie the minds of the world's best linguists. I'm a geek about language and Amy is a chemist. I don't think it's fair that she's so good at this when I still get confused between n-u-c-l-e-a-r and n-u-c-u-l-a-r. She's just brilliant. Men, it's smart to marry up.

(Amy says, "hi" to you all as she labors away with the sweat of her brow and a bit of elbow grease on her Russian homework - I joined her today and read an entire chapter in my Russian book too -- it was really nice to be honest)

PILAT - to Denver

Amy and I are on another adventure right now. We're heading out to Colorado Springs (Palmer Lake to be precise) to help with PILAT training. It's at Mission Training International, which is where we met in 2006! We're really excited to be out here helping out. Mostly it sounds like we'll be drillers and sharing stories of language learning on the field.

What's a driller? We're the people who work with a small group helping them learn how to make sounds that aren't part of the normal 44 sounds of English. So we're sorta like the discussion leader or graduate assistant in a class.

Our flight path took us from Detroit to Denver and then on to Colorado Springs. The flight from Denver to Colorado Springs was overbooked, so we ended up staying overnight in Denver at a hotel (for free!)

... and the Lord's blessings have already begun for this trip. We also got FREE vouchers to fly anywhere in the continental U.S. round trip. Translation - free trip. Amy's going to get her dream vacation of somewhere sunny and it's paid for!

God is so good to us.

Updates on Russian politics and our departure

I don't usually just add posts from other sources - but this is just an update on the political situation in Russia. Please be praying. Amy & I are going to be in Russia on a educational visas - so this shouldn't directly affect us. Thank you for your prayers.

http://www.MNNonline.org/article/11048

Amy & I are both amazed and how quickly time has flown. We're leaving on Friday for 2 weeks in Colorado Springs working with Mission Training International at their language acquisition module called PILAT. We'll be helping to teach - you'll hear from us on the blog I'm sure - and we're excited about that time. Please pray for Amy especially during this time as she's missing 2 weeks of class and scanning & emailing her homework to her professor. She'll be returning just in time for the last 2 days of class and her exams. (Did I mention that Amy had to speak with her professor for 20 minutes on Monday for her Oral Exam? She received Advanced marks for her grade! I'm bursting with pride at how well she's done - God gave her the talent, and she's working hard --- it's so nice that it's paying off!)

I have only 1.5 months of work left at UM, prior to our final month in the States. In June we'll be wrapping up affairs with the house (please pray for renters or buyers) and then we'll be visiting family/friends for goodbyes. We'll also be in D.C. for the General Assembly meeting where Amy will have her final interview with World Outreach.

It's amazing to think that heading to Russia in June will provide us a small breather!

Housing market in Ann Arbor

pray pray pray pray

We got our first email regarding someone who might be interested in renting our house... please pray that they would want it and it would be a DONE deal!

New York City! - Day 3

My birthday has never spanned 4 days before! (well, maybe in Russia, I did get to celebrate several times....)

We started off just like Saturday... sleeping in! Yes! We needed the sleep. Then we got ready, grabbed New York City Bagels with cream cheese and cucumbers and headed off to Easter Service!

What a treat. We went to Redeemer Presbyterian Church where Dr. Tim Keller shared the sermon entitled, "Mary!" (unfortunately for sale) It was incredible.

I think the most profound items from the sermon for me were:

1. upon his resurrection, Jesus first appeared to a woman. during that time in history, it would have made more logical sense for him to appear to a man, but he chose to appear to a woman. not just any woman, but one who had been possessed of multiple demons.
   
2. mary didn't recognize Jesus, just like so many of us. He had to call her name, because he DOES know her, just as he knows all of us. He but called her name, and she immediately realized it was he.
   

After the service, we headed off to lunch and Young Frankenstein. This show was a special treat as I've been a BIG fan of Roger Bart for a long time and he's the lead role. It's also incredible because it's the WHOLE original cast. So Sutton Foster (a highschool classmate of friend Matt Bressie), Megan Mullally, Christopher Fitzgerald, and Shuler Hensley were all THERE!
Following the show, we bolted for the airport and made it in plenty of time, because our flight was delayed for 5 HOURS! Amy got LOTS of homework done, and we talked in Russian for quite some time preparing for her Oral Exam on Monday.

- and the special homeward bound surprise... first class seats on the way home.

Easter

The singular greatest day of the year. On this day some 2000 years ago, the Universe changed forever. Most Christians seem to think that Christmas is the holiday to celebrate - and I do love presents. And it is the day Jesus was born (well, you know, when we celebrate it in America and some other countries). But, Easter is the one that makes the difference.

When I think of denial of self, I think of things like, "should I eat this cupcake?", "maybe another mile and I can push a little harder," or if I'm really denying self, "I should send some money to someone in need," or "my time could really make a difference if I spent it in service."

No - I'm talking real self denial here. Knowing that I need to forgo every temptation, every desire to be selfish, to do what I want, when I want... and to go to the extreme measure and give my very life in the most gruesome way... I wish I could say that I would have done the same - that I have the character to resist myself that much... I know I couldn't have done what Jesus did for me.

I seriously just struggle not having more chocolate. I don't mean to be irreverent here. I really am just learning that although I have discipline, I have a long way to go - and a lot more to learn about living for others.

Bless Amy for putting up with me - I'm trying!

The Lion King

Amy & I got a backstage tour of the Lion King. A personal, just us, backstage tour. Amy's friend, Katy, has a cousin who BUILT the hydrolics...

Here we are with a Wildebeast mask

This is the stage managers desk

New York City! - Day 2

Perhaps the second perfect day in my life! We slept in and started off the day with a run in Central Park! The image to the left can be clicked to enlarge it, the red line is what we ran, and the green line is what we walked out. According to Google Pedometer - we ran about 1.5 miles to get to the park, then we ran 3 miles in the park, and walked about 2 miles out. Then 1.5 miles back to our hotel. It was a wonderful start to our day. It was so sunny.

In the afternoon, I saw another show while Amy did some homework and got us tickets to see Curtains in the evening! I love 1/2 price tickets.

In between shows, we had an incredible opportunity. Amy's friend and former roommate (Katy) has a cousin working in New York... on the Lion King (see separate post). So he gave us a personalized tour backstage. He's the hydrolics genius who built the automated pride rock that lifts out of the stage!

We topped the evening off with dessert from the Roxy Delicatessen. I recommend it, but get the cheesecake.

I've never had a birthday like this in my life! It's been so wonderful and relaxing .. and FUN.

New York City!

Amy has officially gone over the top as the award winner of the Best Wife of the Year award. For my birthday she arranged for some wonderful gifts (a new jotter blotter! new headphones! Running Shorts! and a sweet pack of items for our trip to New York City!)

She found this really cool little pack of cards - 52 adventures in New York City. Well, we won't get to all 52, but I'm excited about trying a few of them!

So we got up this morning at 4:30 am - headed off to the airport and almost missed our flight! Seems like I don't anticipate the little things that sometimes happen --- like the shuttle taking longer than expected. SO, we made the flight (by running across the terminal) but our luggage didn't make it.

So we waited in the airport for several hours and our luggage finally joined us.

We started our New York City day at the South Street Seaport. There's a TKTS location there where you can buy 1/2 price tickets to Broadway shows!

Here's the hint of the year for you Broadway fans (you can buy Friday evening shows AND Saturday afternoon matinées at this location. BUT - the same tickets are NOT released at South Street Seaport and Times Square. So if you're looking for something and they don't have it... you might be able to get it at the Times Square location.

There weren't a whole lot of options available as we were there later than we had planned. But there were tickets available for A Chorus Line! What an awesome show for Amy's first Broadway show!

We had New York Cheesecake for dessert afterwards!

What a sensational birthday!

Name Anagram - my birthday!

So I got a birthday card at work yesterday... and to my surprise, my name, written in cursive looks nearly the same upside down! (just JEFF) so the 'e' was a little large and the first 'f' was a little small... but that's pretty cool.

It's my birthday! I'm really excited to be able to celebrate this day with my wife in our first year of marriage - we're going to be traveling this weekend, the posts next week are going to blow your mind about how awesome our weekend was!

Hiatus...

Sorry I haven't written in a while. You can pretty much tell when life is overwhelming me, because I don't have time or the brain power to write anything.

This week has been really wonderful and hard. It's been an emotional roller coaster as Amy and I have tried to decide about renting or selling the house (we're leaning toward renting) - as we try to put together emails and letters to contact all of our supporters to communicate our departure date (June 30) and to ask folks to start the financial support process again (we're just shy about $1000/ monthly right now).

It's also the week of my birthday (tomorrow). So I've been receiving cards, emails, calls, and lots and lots of cake. Amy made a milk chocolate cake with peanut butter frosting that melted in your mouth and your heart. We had a wonderful date night on Tuesday with a trip to the movies (saw Juno). And this weekend is a surprise trip to New York for a last American hurrah with Broadway in the mix! Pray for good 1/2 price tickets.

Work feels a bit strange, because my job is posted and I'm really starting to wrap things up. I can't believe how quickly this year has passed. Only 2.5 more months.

New Life

Amy found this and it brought us both such joy... I had to share.

A new Blog

I've been toying with this idea for quite some time. I've created a new blog. It's a question blog. Good questions - not necessarily any answers. I find that asking questions, thinking about questions, etc has made me a better person. Maybe we can be better together.

introducing:

Questions for Thinking

I'll try to post a new question each week.

rss feed addiction

i might just have an rss feed addiction. or maybe it's an information addiction. i just can't seem to get enough information into my system. yet, i don't know why i seem to feel i need more. is it my nature as an american consumer? i don't know. i just seem to love knowing more and more. i realized this was a problem when i was searching for new feeds when i already don't have enough time to read the ones i'm subscribed to

just read an article on lifehack.org that shares about productivity as a function of discipline. without discipline, we can't be productive.

i've been discovering over the past months that productivity is a huge part of who i am at my core. i'm not sure why - is it my nature as a man? is it some small part of my flourishing type a personality?

my thoughts are all over today - sorry.

i'm listening to the new Shawn McDonald album, Roots. It's amazing.

this post is brought to you by the number 6 and the color orange

I ran six miles yesterday. yes, six. my wife right beside me the whole way. she's just an incredible bundle of encouragement when we run.

you see, i go through this transformation when i run. i really do like it, especially the fact that i'm exercising - but somehow, i become this whiny, complaining, hungry, little boy when i run.

and i really need to set my expectations well. 'cause it's not pretty when 4 miles accidentally becomes 4.7. i'm not nice when we insert a tempo run in this 3 miler that i thought was just a 3 miler.

but yesterday was really nice. really nice. amy talked to me the whole time. it was nice, not because it was a distraction from the running, but i really got to hear her thoughts on everything. i like that. i like talking to her.

she's the best. i know that you're thinking, "maybe my wife's the best." or even, "maybe i'm the best." but in this case. you are wrong. my wife is the best and i'm really glad that i met her and that she captured my heart and that we're married

Captivated

from the new Shawn McDonald album, Roots - i heard this for the first time just prior to running outside for an hour. my heart is full

captivated

when I look into the mountains, I see Your fame,
when I look into the night sky, it sparkles Your name

the wind in the clouds and the blue in the sky,
the sun and the moon and the stars so high
that's what draws me to You

[chorus]
I am, I'm captivated by You
(You know that You do)
I am, I'm captivated

when I wake unto the morning, it gives me Your sights,
when I look across the ocean, it echoes Your mights

the sand on the shore and the waves in the sea,
[Captivated lyrics on http://www.metrolyrics.com]

the air in my lungs and the way You made me
that's what draws me to You

[chorus x2]

the wind in the clouds and the blue in the sky,
the sun and the moon and the stars so high,
the sand on the shore and the waves in the sea,
the air in my lungs and the way You made me,

the blood in my veins and my heart You invade,
the plants how they grow and the trees in the shade,
the way that I feel and the love in my soul,
I thank You my God for letting me know

[chorus x2]

losing my mind

So, I'm about to go computer geek.

Daylight savings time has absolutely messed up my calendar! I sync my calendar with a pocket pc. At work we use Microsoft Outlook 2007. At home I have 2003. On my pocket pc I have pocket Outlook... this means three computers are interacting.... Microsoft very very very poorly coded the Outlook calendar and in the newer versions have not corrected their mistakes in the system.

So there's a patch. But the patch won't install on my computer.

I've lost additional hair this morning. I'm not even kidding. I have events that are spanning multiple days. I have events that are happening an hour earlier than they're supposed to be. I've rebooted and rebooted and rebooted. I'm usually a very patient person, but it's been over an hour of NOTHING accomplished.

I'm practicing deep breathing exercises and praying. I think I might listen to music while I decompress and try again.

Bursting with Pride

Can you believe this!? This is Amy's progress report from her professor:

It has been very gratifying to have you in the class. You are a very enthusiastic and talented student who is driven to succeed and work hard to achieve goals. Your attendance in this class has been perfect. You have also been submitting all assignments in a timely fashion. thoroughly completed and checked with the keys. You also are the most active participant in all class discussions and at co-curricular activities, initiating conversations, contributing great ideas and being an intrepid speaker. Due to your commitment and exemplary work ethic you have progressed immensely this semester, which has been reflected in consistently excellent results on all tests and quizzes, averaging at perfect 102% on them. Your skills, both active and passive ahve been developing very steadily. As the midterm oral exam accurately and coherently, while displaying a sizable vocabulary, excellent oral comprehension and cultural knowledge. This term has also seen your writing and reading skills flourish - you picked up both speed and accuracy in these areas. Your last composition was almost flawless too.

Overall, outstanding performance in all areas. If the semester were to end today, you would pass the proficiency exam with flying colors and would ear A/A+ for the course. Great job!

PS She's being very humble, and isn't so excited that I'm sharing this with all of you!

Mission Statement

Amy & I prayed and wrote a mission statement for our work in Russia. It was suggested to us that it would be really helpful as we try to decide where to focus our energies to have a mission statement. So.... here it is!

Jeff & Amy are called to the advancement of the Gospel in Russia through one-on-one discipleship and group study with young men and women. With a special heart for orphans and the lost, Amy & Jeff hope to introduce the youth of Russia to a personal relationship with Christ. Jeff & Amy strive to help youth establish a strong spiritual foundation and empower young believers to reach out within their communities and the world.