Sweet Goodbyes

We are preparing for our first trip back to Asia in a long time and since we will be traveling alone we decided to take a couple days to make some memories as a family camping. The kids love to camp!  Our first family camping trip was a few weeks before Christmas at a State Park only minutes from our home and when it was time to leave, Jadynn cried and so did Jr. because they had such a great time.   On our way home from that camping trip we promised our kids and ourselves that we would do it again soon.   It's April now and we just might have experienced the very last of the the "cool" nights in Florida before the summer sets in. We saw all kinds of animals, had a fire and s'mores, discovered new things and walked nature trails and spent some quality time together.
One of our favorite memory was sitting around the camp fire singing and talking when we were nightly visited by a friendly Raccoon.  Jr. made a "meow" sound every time he saw him (he thought he was a cat) and Jadynn tried to chase him away since he was after our food.  One evening, he climbed up at our table and helped him self to a cup of hot chocolate!  We couldn't believe it, he was like a member of the family.

This month we will travel to Asia and spend some time with co-workers and friends while also taking care of logistics in the city where we used to live.  We hope to be an encouragement and blessing to those who are living overseas and are working hard on Language study and others who are moving into the next phase of their work.  Our Asian friends seem to have spread out to many different provinces and cities since we saw them last, but thankfully we are still in touch and will make an effort to connect with them during our travel in and out of the country.

As we say goodbye to our sweet children for two weeks, staying in Atlanta with grandparents, we also are returning to Asia in some ways to say goodbye to a season in our lives.  We are very hopeful for what the future holds, yet we also wanted to bring a sense of closure to what has been a long and challenging time for us as a family.  He has good plans and we trust that in the perfect timing we will be able to return to the work that we feel so passionate about (if it is His will) and in the meantime we are resting in Him and praying for contentment with what He has asked of us here.

Jadynn and Jonathan Jr. are growing so fast and we are so happy to be their parents.  Here are some recent pics of the past few months...Enjoy!

Our nature girl

Jr. made this tree branch into a bouncing horse

Jadynn practicing ballet and teaching brother how to bow

We love camping!!

Easter Sunday

All Things New

For quite some time now I have been thinking about this verse from the good book, "Behold, I am making all things new." It refers to the time at the end of this age when the Son will come and reign.

The idea of making all things new strikes me all the time. I just keep thinking about the beauty of it. That which is broken will be fixed, sickness healed, unjust made right, sorrow to gladness and death will give way to life. It must be because of all the brokenness that I am confronted with, from silly things like brand new clothes getting stained, things breaking down and becoming useless, to relationships that are strained or seem to fall apart.

We all yearn to be delivered from the old, broken, dying world where we live, don't we?

The good news is we can be delivered now!

We don't have to wait.

When we say no to the wrong we do,
and yes to the life He offers and trust
in the sacrifice already made on our behalf,
the process begins.

We are brand new!

It is a process that I have seen both my brother and sister go through recently and I cannot describe the excitement that they have because they are new creations. While it's true we are still "stuck" in this body with its wrong desires, we cannot go back to being old again. A whole new person is born and there is a desire to learn, grow, and change into the image of the one who created him/her.

Even still, my soul longs for the time when I will be free from the struggle in my self against, well, my self. I want to see Him make all things new.

The happy newlyweds. Rick and Pam.

My sister Renee. Together again!

                             

Conformed through suffering...

Our first year overseas in Asia was an amazing time for us all! We felt that we were finally in the place that we were supposed to be and felt fulfilled in what He had called us to and happy with our new roles. However, soon after we arrived (the first few days), Robynn was violently ill with a sickness that she would soon come to know very personally for the coming months. Later, we were filled with joy when we found out we were pregnant again, after many months of asking and hoping for a baby. What a blessing! Yet, it was bitter sweet as the day after we found out, Robynn again was very ill with sickness which lasted for months and she was unable to take any medication for the safety of the developing baby inside.

Even though most of our first year we dealt with a lot of sickness, it was still a very sweet time of langauge and culture learning and developing good relationships. We often look back and realize that the depth of friendship and our dependence on our local brothers and sisters actually helped our language learning and allowed us to become friends very quickly out of necessity. People came to see us and we bonded so quickly with them because they felt sorry for us and for Robynn when she was so sick and helpless and away from everything familiar. We beleive this was all part of His plan for us and He blessed our relationships as we looked to Him for daily strength even though we were struggling.

Our leadership and home fellowship helped us seek the best plan for delivery of our baby, and though in our hearts none of us wanted to leave, it became clear that a trip back to the United States was best. A month before we prepared to travel, on Robynn's birthday, we were involved in a traffic accident and all three of us (with baby in the belly) suffered minor scrapes and bruises but appeared to be fine, and we were very thankful for His protection.

Shorty after this and before boarding the plane for home, at almost 9 months pregnant Robynn started to have severe vertigo and trouble sleeping. Returning home to Florida, her symptoms only intensified as the time for delivery came and after baby Jonathan Jr. was born and other new symptoms arose too. This season of life for our family was possibly the most challenging time we had ever experienced, but it also when we saw and knew the love and compassion of many who were eager to help us.

Through this time of suffering in our lives, we have seen the most amazing compassion and care from friends, family and those who are in our local fellowship, and even strangers!
- we have been blessed with the provision of housing from two dear friends-thank you!
- many have come to care for our children and brought meals and encouragement.
- our costs for medical care have been met by a loving Father through His people.
- we have had transportation in both Florida and Atlanta during our time here.
- some of our family members have had some personal tragedies and we have been here to comfort them.
- finding contentment in ALL circumstances has allowed us to see even daily routine tasks as blessings.
- our marriage relationship and friendship has grown by leaps and bounds as we have depended on one another and the Father to sustain us and give us strength, even during a difficult time for us.


Robynn's sister, Renee, has been through a personal tragedy this year and we are thankful we could be close to her while she is healing. She has been able to really encourage Robynn due to her own experience, and now as an instructor, she has also helped give some practical advice on exercise and stretches that can help her little sister, too!


Jonathan's sister, Christi, and her husband, Jay, have also suffered loss this year, and we are thankful we could be there to comfort them. Their faith and trust in the Father has inspired us and allowed us to see that He allows suffering for our good. He is good. There is joy found in the midst of trials because of what He has done. We look up to them in so many ways, and we are encouraged by them as well. Here they are recently with their nieces and nephew.

Jonathan Jr. and his cousin McKenzie only 2 months older. What a blessing to be here soon after she was born and develop a relationship with her that we can continue while we live overseas!


Jadynn turned 4 while we have been home and though Mommy wasn't well that day, our dear friends helped us celebrate by bringing party decorations, balloons, and baking a strawberry cake together!


Jonathan Jr. had his first Christmas and started sitting up- still not crawling, that's ok, take your time!


Slowly, Robynn has been feeling better and has been able to do fun things with the kids again. Please continue to lift her up as she is recovering, some days are good and others not so good, she is learning endurance and thankful for the time she is being allowed to fully heal.

People often ask what the best part of our first year in Asia has been. We have loved seeing our daughter, Jadynn learn to live and love people from other cultures and see her use her gifts of compassion, love and joy to bring the good news to those who need to hear.

We are overwhelmed by the thoughts and cards that have been sent, and thank each of you for thinking of us. You are also in our thoughts and we would love to hear from you!

All our love,
Jonathan, Robynn, Jadynn and Jonathan Jr.

A Gift from Above

With thankfulness in our hearts for His goodness and this great gift from above, we joyfully introduce our son, Jonathan Milton Jr., born on June 15, 2011 at 11:59pm, weighing 8 lbs 12 oz and measuring 21 1/2 inches, born in Sarasota, Florida. We hope you enjoy some of his recent photos:

Jadynn loves being "Big Sister." She even wears a "Big Sister" ribbon!

Lying around with little brother.

First kiss from big sister.

"My little brother brought me a gift basket because I'm so special!"

"Handsome like daddy"

Robynn's family visiting right after Jonathan, Jr.'s birthday.

"Mmmm...this thumb tastes good..."

Dreaming about real Chinese food...

Jonathan's parents beaming about their first grandson.

"I can't believe I have a little boy"

"My own baby doll to sleep with!"

At the beach with mommy...

...and daddy.

Thanks for thinking about us and our adjustment to a family of 4! We can't wait for you to meet Jonathan, Jr., he's so friendly!

All our love,
Jonathan, Robynn, Jadynn, and Jonathan, Jr.

Real People, Real Stories...

It is a great pleasure to introduce you to some of our friends and share their personal stories as our relationships with local people deepen. We are thankful that our Father has allowed us to build friendships with people from many different backgrounds and walks of life.

Our friend Maggie. She was introduced to our family shortly after we first arrived in Asia.

Maggie has served our family in the areas of cooking, cleaning, babysitting, practicing language, and nursing Robynn to good health when she has been sick. She loves our family by serving, and she does it so well. Though she does not yet know the Father, we are confident that He is working in her life. She has offered much needed advice on how to handle the illnesses common to this area, and when we didn't know how to buy food or cook it, she has humbly taught us. During our first few months, when communication was the hardest, she patiently played charades with us and corrected our pronunciation. Recently when Jadynn started preschool, she practiced with her at home in the local language so she could know what her teachers and friends were saying. We believe she was brought into our lives at just the right time, and we love her very much.



Jadynn at preschool. Can you spot her in this crowd? She is the only foreigner in her class, and the only one who speaks English. Although it was not easy at first, she now has learned a lot of the local language and loves to go to school. When we go to pick her up she is the only child who cries because she has to go home, instead of crying because she doesn't want to go to school.


Some of her new friends. Jadynn is very outgoing and likes to give hugs. This is somewhat shocking to her Asian friends who are taught at a young age to shake hands when greeting others. Even though she doesn't get many hugs in return, it has not slowed down her desire to pick up, kiss, and hug her friends when the mood strikes her!


Cherry and her mother. Our friend Cherry met us one day while we were out shopping for food. She came up to us and introduced herself in perfect English (this is not common in our area). We quickly realized that she was very intelligent and outgoing and also new to the area, just like us!

Two ladies from a local minority group. During a recent trip to a village near our city we were able to meet and spend some time with some ethnic minority people. In an area like this, many of the people may not even speak the language that we are here to learn, but rather another dialect. While Robynn was interacting with some ladies, she noticed a grass basket she wanted to buy. These two women came and offered their advice as to what was a good price, how to bargain, and which basket was the sturdiest. The ladies clearly enjoyed the opportunity to help a foreigner know how to do things in the "their village." Afterward, in "Jadynn-like fashion," she hugged one of the ladies to say thank you and the lady was clearly caught off guard, but hugged her back just as tightly. Even though this interaction was brief, it helped our family realize that we can befriend people who are very different than us. The best way to do that is to put yourself humbly in the position of a learner and let the people teach you how to live in Asia.


Minority group women enjoying Jadynn's hugs.

Minority women maybe seeing a foreigner for the first time.

Jonathan asks to borrow this Asian guitar.

Our friend Tom and his wife, Maria. Tom has traveled all over Asia, Europe and America. He met his wife in college and they started out as very good friends. They married less than three years ago, Tom says, "because it was time to settle down."

Comparing bellies, we are due the same week!

Thanks for thinking of us, our friends, and the people of Asia!

All our love,
Jonathan, Robynn, Jadynn and Baby!

Good news from a distant land...

Greetings from Asia! We are privileged to be here because of the good news that compels us to live with, learn about, and love those on this side of the world. Also, as the holidays in our home country are now upon us, we find ourselves so thankful for the many friends and family who are lifting us up and who are a part of our team. Jadynn has some more good news to share with you from this distant land, "I am going to be a BIG sister!"

Our desire for our family to grow has not always followed "our plan." This good news comes after more than a year of waiting and hoping again for a baby. However, we are excited and thankful for this gift from our Father, and His perfect timing. Robynn is now in her 2nd trimester, almost over morning (or all day) sickness, and looking forward to our newest family member joining us the first week of June, here in Asia. Thank you for your thoughts for a healthy and happy pregnancy!


Here are some more glimpses of the land that we now call home.


A Buddhist temple in our city, which we toured with our language teacher who worships there.

This is where the offerings of incense are burned.

In the south where we live, the mountains are green all the time- the views are amazing!

A small village near us with very beautiful murals and architecture.


A park in our city, Jonathan and his friends climbed the 999 steps to reach the tower in the distance.


A large meal that we were invited to in another province.

Honestly, getting accustomed to the food has been a journey for us. When we first arrived, we were eager to try many new foods, and now that we have been here nearly 6 months- and after a few sicknesses (including Robynn's morning sickness which made it almost impossible for her to eat anything for a couple of months), we are not quite as adventurous as we once were, and we find ourselves often longing for familiar food.

We know that there are many seasons that people go through when leaving their home culture and becoming accustomed to a new one. It's great that there are plenty of healthy foods, fruits and vegetables that are available here. We are hopeful that we will continue to discover new foods that we like and cultivate thankfulness for the food that we are offered.


Fried wasps! These were included in a recent meal we had with some friends. The one rule that we have found to be true is, if the food looks familiar and it looks like something you want to eat, most of the time it's not what you expected. However, if the food looks strange, like nothing you have ever seen before, most of the time it's really good! These wasps were a big hit at the meal, and they tasted great!

Of course, rice and noodles are a family favorite at every meal (even breakfast), and there is no shortage of those here.

Jadynn's best friends. Both of these girls live in our apartment complex.

Our college friends who are all in training to be English teachers.


At a late night performance, Jadynn wore her warm pajamas and sat with her favorite college girls.


Our house has become a favorite gathering place to play games, practice language, and share.

A new friend we met at the park.

Our little butterfly dancing in the living room.

When Jadynn sat down next to this Asian grandpa we weren't sure what they would have in common. However, they had quite an interaction, and from the looks of it, perhaps discussed their different choices in foot wear.

We thank our Father that through His strength and might we have the opportunity to share with many people whom we have very little in common with outwardly. Our cultures and language separate us, but as we continue to make efforts toward forming a bridge, we know that we all have one very important need in common, and that is what we have come here to share. Thank you for your thoughts.

All our love,
Jonathan, Robynn, Jadynn and Baby!