Well, not sure why I feel so inspired to keep the blog journey going but here I go.
South Sudan
After leaving Mozambique back in December of 2011. (Forever ago) We continued on to South Sudan. This country was such a healing, peaceful place for us. Our team of Iris students that we were leading was the dream team. We fell in love with each of them. Truly could not have had a better group of people. Spencer and I learned a lot about they way we lead and this team was perfect for us. Our model is "here are your tools, here is what is expected, now go and do and we will be here to encourage and answer questions." These students came to Africa to learn how to be missionaries so we didn't hold there hand through each step, we let them run, and they did fantastic!
The magic moment for me was upon entering the Iris base the first day in Yea, South Sudan. Several young girls come up to me and in the little english they knew asked me "What is your name?" I answer, "Melody" Instantly they begin singing "Melody, melody, melody, oh melody in my heart. Melody, melody, melody, I got a melody in my heart." I was won over. The whole 2 weeks we were there every time they saw me they would begin to sing.
The Iris base in South Sudan was such a wonderful example of missions done right. There are about 150 children on base with several Sudanese mommas. There is such an atmosphere of peace, love, and joy in this little community. Every night the kids on their own would worship. In the dark, in the dirt, they would sing out praises to God every night without an adult leading. Once the girls saw me doing my laundry in the field. They came to help and then helped me hang it to dry. Later in the day I went to go take it from the line and it was gone. I came to Spencer to tell him I can't find our clothes and there sitting beside him was a pile of stacked, folded, IRONED laundry. I have never met a more gentile people.
We were in South Sudan for the countries first Christmas! It was such an honor to be there to serve these beautiful people. Christmas morning we partook in slaughtering the Christmas goat, and then continued to help in the kitchen the whole day.
There are many more stories of course but it was a year and a half ago.
Knoxville, TN
We arrived in Knoxville just before the new year. (2012) We took time to spend with family and close friends and began looking for jobs right away. We stayed with Spencer's parents out in Loudon, TN (45 mins outside of Knoxville) until we had means to get a place of our own.
Within 2 weeks I found a job at a little cafe in Knoxville and the next day we signed on an apartment. Spencer picked up a job with the Children's camp he used to work for and ended up getting a job with the Knoxville airport as well.
For the first time in our married life we had a place that was ours. It wasn't anything special. But we were thankful. As months passed, we began to dream a little bigger. We thought in order to get all the things we wanted in a home we would have to buy so we made a list and knew it would be a long time before we were there. However... God surprises us.
We were approached by a couple we had gone to dinner with once, about moving into the guest house behind their new house. It needed to be renovated a bit before moving in, but even that was an aspect of what we were looking for in a home. We wanted to help renovate to make it our own. Nic and Emily were completely generous with letting us have a say in how to make this little green house into our house.
Spencer added the electric, insulation, and walls to our little bedroom. He added a kitchen and hung a Crystal chandelier in the center of the house. The house is all windows, tall ceilings, and wood floors. We have a big yard with a big garden, we have a wood burning stove in the living room, and Nic and Emily offered to let Spencer use their basement as a shop.
Life was looking good and we were happy. We spent our one year anniversary in Seattle, WA. We stayed in a nice hotel and got a couples massage. We ate crab leg dinners and drank champagne. We live a blessed life.
Not too long after our one year anniversary I got a new job as a nanny, and Spencer had a schedule change at the airport. He began to work evenings. He would go into work at 6pm and wouldn't get home till sometimes 4am. I would then wake up at 6:30am and be at work till 5pm. Spencer worked every weekend. Missed every social event. Missed every Tuesday night worship. Relationships were strained.
The company at the airport Spencer was working for went out of business in September of 2012. I knew this was an opportunity for him to begin doing what he was made to do, build furniture. It was so obvious to me that this was the Lord giving him the chance to pursue a career that breaks the curse of Adam. When we make money and provide for our family by doing something that we love, we break the curse that says we painfully toil the ground to provide. Back in September, Spencer was not as confident this was the right rout for him. Because of lack of friendship and encouragement he suffered a painful depression season.
By October he was pulling out of it and started working on his first project for a friends wedding. During the process however there was an accident. Spencer sliced his hand open with a chainsaw milling up some wood for this first project. An ER visit and two months of healing later He was back. He took a remodel job for the first couple months of the new year (2013). So still he was not doing what he was made to do. By March he began another first project, a kitchen island for a friend. On his second day working on it, he completely cut off part of his pointer figure. Another ER visit and another two months of recovery went by. This time he went straight back to work on the kitchen island.
In May Spencer completed his first work of art. The kitchen island for the Fray house. It is spectacular. He is now fully underway in his business entitled "Commune Woodworks."
This is our life. 2011 was a year of intense learning, great hardship, full of new experiences, and fast learning. 2012 was a year to heal and process 2011. Year 2013 is a year to get out and live again! This year God is calling us to step back out in leadership, and being bold for him. Our lives are a sacrifice for Him. God has called Spencer and I to be servants and there is no greater calling than to be what Jesus was on the earth. Jesus was the ultimate servant and we are continually learning how to live by his example.
South Sudan
After leaving Mozambique back in December of 2011. (Forever ago) We continued on to South Sudan. This country was such a healing, peaceful place for us. Our team of Iris students that we were leading was the dream team. We fell in love with each of them. Truly could not have had a better group of people. Spencer and I learned a lot about they way we lead and this team was perfect for us. Our model is "here are your tools, here is what is expected, now go and do and we will be here to encourage and answer questions." These students came to Africa to learn how to be missionaries so we didn't hold there hand through each step, we let them run, and they did fantastic!
The magic moment for me was upon entering the Iris base the first day in Yea, South Sudan. Several young girls come up to me and in the little english they knew asked me "What is your name?" I answer, "Melody" Instantly they begin singing "Melody, melody, melody, oh melody in my heart. Melody, melody, melody, I got a melody in my heart." I was won over. The whole 2 weeks we were there every time they saw me they would begin to sing.
The Iris base in South Sudan was such a wonderful example of missions done right. There are about 150 children on base with several Sudanese mommas. There is such an atmosphere of peace, love, and joy in this little community. Every night the kids on their own would worship. In the dark, in the dirt, they would sing out praises to God every night without an adult leading. Once the girls saw me doing my laundry in the field. They came to help and then helped me hang it to dry. Later in the day I went to go take it from the line and it was gone. I came to Spencer to tell him I can't find our clothes and there sitting beside him was a pile of stacked, folded, IRONED laundry. I have never met a more gentile people.
We were in South Sudan for the countries first Christmas! It was such an honor to be there to serve these beautiful people. Christmas morning we partook in slaughtering the Christmas goat, and then continued to help in the kitchen the whole day.
There are many more stories of course but it was a year and a half ago.
Knoxville, TN
We arrived in Knoxville just before the new year. (2012) We took time to spend with family and close friends and began looking for jobs right away. We stayed with Spencer's parents out in Loudon, TN (45 mins outside of Knoxville) until we had means to get a place of our own.
Within 2 weeks I found a job at a little cafe in Knoxville and the next day we signed on an apartment. Spencer picked up a job with the Children's camp he used to work for and ended up getting a job with the Knoxville airport as well.
For the first time in our married life we had a place that was ours. It wasn't anything special. But we were thankful. As months passed, we began to dream a little bigger. We thought in order to get all the things we wanted in a home we would have to buy so we made a list and knew it would be a long time before we were there. However... God surprises us.
We were approached by a couple we had gone to dinner with once, about moving into the guest house behind their new house. It needed to be renovated a bit before moving in, but even that was an aspect of what we were looking for in a home. We wanted to help renovate to make it our own. Nic and Emily were completely generous with letting us have a say in how to make this little green house into our house.
Spencer added the electric, insulation, and walls to our little bedroom. He added a kitchen and hung a Crystal chandelier in the center of the house. The house is all windows, tall ceilings, and wood floors. We have a big yard with a big garden, we have a wood burning stove in the living room, and Nic and Emily offered to let Spencer use their basement as a shop.
Life was looking good and we were happy. We spent our one year anniversary in Seattle, WA. We stayed in a nice hotel and got a couples massage. We ate crab leg dinners and drank champagne. We live a blessed life.
Not too long after our one year anniversary I got a new job as a nanny, and Spencer had a schedule change at the airport. He began to work evenings. He would go into work at 6pm and wouldn't get home till sometimes 4am. I would then wake up at 6:30am and be at work till 5pm. Spencer worked every weekend. Missed every social event. Missed every Tuesday night worship. Relationships were strained.
The company at the airport Spencer was working for went out of business in September of 2012. I knew this was an opportunity for him to begin doing what he was made to do, build furniture. It was so obvious to me that this was the Lord giving him the chance to pursue a career that breaks the curse of Adam. When we make money and provide for our family by doing something that we love, we break the curse that says we painfully toil the ground to provide. Back in September, Spencer was not as confident this was the right rout for him. Because of lack of friendship and encouragement he suffered a painful depression season.
By October he was pulling out of it and started working on his first project for a friends wedding. During the process however there was an accident. Spencer sliced his hand open with a chainsaw milling up some wood for this first project. An ER visit and two months of healing later He was back. He took a remodel job for the first couple months of the new year (2013). So still he was not doing what he was made to do. By March he began another first project, a kitchen island for a friend. On his second day working on it, he completely cut off part of his pointer figure. Another ER visit and another two months of recovery went by. This time he went straight back to work on the kitchen island.
In May Spencer completed his first work of art. The kitchen island for the Fray house. It is spectacular. He is now fully underway in his business entitled "Commune Woodworks."
This is our life. 2011 was a year of intense learning, great hardship, full of new experiences, and fast learning. 2012 was a year to heal and process 2011. Year 2013 is a year to get out and live again! This year God is calling us to step back out in leadership, and being bold for him. Our lives are a sacrifice for Him. God has called Spencer and I to be servants and there is no greater calling than to be what Jesus was on the earth. Jesus was the ultimate servant and we are continually learning how to live by his example.
