Back From China

Just got back from a series of meetings in China with GM and Shanghai Automotive. The key executives I met with all used to work for me in Pontiac at the Truck Product center. Its a small world. The meetings were in Shanghai which is a city of 19 million people. Right through the center of the city is the Hangpu River which is a super highway of riverboat traffic. To get to Shanghai from the PuDong airport I like to take the Mag Lev Train. At the time I was riding the speed was limited to 300 kilometers per hour (about 180 mph) but it also runs at 430 kph (about 260 mph) during certain times of the day. This train is magnetically suspended and propelled and thus it is very smooth and quiet. It is an amazing city!

There Is A Peace

Final Thought - there is  a peace about me and my team.  This is the sky that we were blessed with this week.  We are thrilled beyond words to be in God's service and can't wait to see and do what He calls us to do on the streets of Port au Prince.  We trust that no matter how big or how tiny the task is - that it is part of His plan.  Thank you for your prayers - I have no doubt that God is on the move - active, alive, and listening to the cries of His people because in this little heart of mind - there is peace.

Psalm 56:3 When I am afraid, I will trust in you.

Paid

Ken and I paid off our mortgage this week. Yay!! This house, garage, carriage house and four acres of woods is all ours. It is a good feeling.

We Beseech Your Prayers

Family & Friends, in about a week, I'll be heading out with my team to Port-Au-Prince.
We beseech your prayers as we take this journey. thanks -t

If you would, please pray for. . .

1. God to go before us - paving the way and that we would walk with confidence into His plan even if it isn't evident.  (Isaiah 30:21 Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”)
2. The Grace of God to cause/allow our team to be effective and productive in the jobs we work on but even more so that we are compassionate and full of care toward all people.  May we always error on the side of compassion.  (1Cor16:15b-16 and they have devoted themselves to the service of the Lord’s people. I urge you, brothers and sisters, to submit to such people and to everyone who joins in the work and labors at it.;1Peter4:8 Above all things have intense and unfailing love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins [forgives and disregards the offenses of others].
3. Protection, extreme favor, and health in all circumstances and in all times. (Especially with travel, the Salvation Army, the Haitian people, the job site(s), those who we purchase job materials & help from.) (Isaiah 40:31 ³¹But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up [close to God] as eagles [mount up to the sun]; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired.; Isaiah 58:11 And the Lord shall guide you continually and satisfy you in drought and in dry places and make strong your bones. And you shall be like a watered garden and like a spring of water whose waters fail not.)
4. Joy and Peace in all circumstances.  (Phil 4:5-7 Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.)
   

FBC - Mountains Beyond Mountains - Part 1 Questions

Hello Everyone,
Glad to hear that you are enjoying Tracy Kidder's Mountains Beyond Mountains, or as they say in Haiti, "Deye mon gen mon."  Our questions will be a mix from the discussion section at the back of the book and a few from conversations I have had with friends about the book.  So here goes. . .
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1.  The title of the book comes from the Haitian proverb, "Beyond Mountains there are mountains."  What does the saying mean in the context of the culture it comes from, and what does it mean in relation to Farmer's work?  Can you think of other situations - personal and societal - for which this proverb might be apt?

2.  What do you think about Farmer's unique approach to his patients?  Is this similar or different than the experiences you have had in the health care setting.  Would you want Paul Farmer to be your personal physician?  Why or why not?

3.  In chapter 4, Farmer is referred to as a 'blanc' or white.  According to the book, what makes someone 'blanc.'  As we read further, consider whether Farmer remains 'blanc.'  Have you ever experienced being 'blanc' and what is your reaction to that experience?

4.  A few of you have recently told me that the book is good - what makes it good in Part I?

5.  In chapter 4, a Haitian elder woman says to Farmer, "eske-w pa ka konprann bagay ki pa senp."  This literally translates, "are you not able to understand things which are not simple."  Why did she say this to Farmer?  How could it apply to our own lives?
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You can respond to the questions (whichever ones you want) in the comments of this post or you can make a separate blog post with your thoughts.  If you write a post, be sure to include Family Book Club in your label at the bottom of the post.  Feel free to add other questions into the mix and bring up other interesting items from Part 1 of the book.

Let's try to have Part II - The Tin Roofs of Cange read by March 15th. 

Important Haitian Vocabulary from Part I (that wasn't directly translated in the book)
gwo wout la - the big road
Wi - yes
ti kay - little house
doudou - gentle, mild mannered person
cherie - dear
maji - witchcraft

Book Club?

Hi All, How is everyone doing with the Book Club? I have finished the first section, how bout you? Is there a new deadline for the next section? Just wondering..... Debbie

Our Snow Angels!

Well, we finally got the girls outside! Pete worked so hard today to get all the snow cleared so we can head to work tomorrow (hooray?)Here are some fun pictures of the snow angels out and about.

Snow Day

  Compared to Chicago we didn't get much but it was enough to have a little whiteout here and there!

 I used my yooper scooper 3 times over the past 12 hours and I see one more time in the future.  I did start to run out of places to put the snow so I shoveled the previously shoveled snow off of the deck and into the backyard.  That was fun.

 Emily sent this picture.  They had real snow!  This is from their front door - I think?  I hope they get a picture of the girls standing next to it for perspective.

Scripture Memorization Challenge - February

Tip #2  Memorize word for word.  It is important to be accurate.  Just memorizing the 'gist' of the verse may be okay, but small errors can lead to misinterpretation of the meaning.   If you are not careful, ideas can be lost or added to the passage you are trying to become familiar with.

February's Scripture theme is Christ the Center

Galatians 2:20 (NIV) I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.  The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

resources:  Topical Memory System by The Navigators and memoryverses.org