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Category: Around the house

Dancing on Rusty, Splintery Pallet Tables

A Jon Post

My computer is on my lap, a word document is open and I’m sitting here watching my almost-two-year-old daughter playing on a wooden table made of old splintery nail-split pallets. The slats are coming up, the rusty nails are failing in their job of holding mushy, rain ruined wood together and my daughter is dancing on top. Gasher, my huge dog, is pushing at her with his nose and I can’t tell if he’s concerned for her or wants to get up there and dance with her (and probably push her off to a painful landing on the concrete below).

As I write this I’m realizing that there are few things I’d rather do than make unsafe, FDA non-approved, child hazardous pallet tables and watch my daughters dance on them with my dog. I don’t want to watch them fall off those tables or step on one of those splinters or nails but those risks come with dancing on rusty, splintery pallet tables.

Watch The Fall

Watch The Fall

So when I take my daughters to the hospital with me, like I did yesterday, I have to remind myself, some times it’s ok to let my daughter dance on pallet tables.

See, yesterday we spent some time laughing and playing with Papa João. João is a wonderful grandfather who speaks of his family with immense pride and misses them fiercely while he sits here waiting to finish his 6 months of chemo treatment. From everything I can tell he is as healthy as I could hope for having the cancer he does and we hope together that in 2 more months, when he finishes his 6th and final treatment, he can go home to that family he loves.

But for now, I take my daughters and they laugh and play with Papa João. They are still getting to know him so they want me around when we’re there and yet they are getting more and more comfortable.

So where are the splinters?

Papa João will, one day, stop being there at the hospital. I hope and pray that it’s because he will be home with his family in Mozambique, but there is a chance it will be because he is home with his family in heaven. And, as hard as it is for me to understand death and it’s gruesome victory, I know my young daughters do not yet know why Dad gets scared when, after repeated treatments, the lump hasn’t gone down like it should. My young daughters don’t always see the rusty nail coming when a friend at the hospital is spending more and more time in bed rather than outside laughing.

Yesterday, when we were leaving, I was holding Anaya and we were walking to the car saying goodbye. Standing there with Papa João I said, “Tá tá Papa”, which in her perfect-two-year-old voice Anaya repeated, “Tá tá Papa”. João smiled and replied, “Tá tá Anaya”. Anaya took this as a good reason (with coaxing from me) to try to say “Tá tá Papa João”. Her perfect-two-year-old voice mangled it beautifully and it come out “Tá tá Papa Jollaw”. João loved it, smiled at me and told me how big she was getting and we walked away.

So what scares me about all this? I don’t think my girls understand that there will come a time when they won’t have the chance to say “Tá tá Papa” anymore.

So watch out for those splinters, rusting nails, and nasty falls my precious girls. And keep dancing. I’ll keep making tables for you, you keep dancing, and we’ll trust together that our Savior will kiss the splinters and cuts when they come and make them all better.

Dancing Together

Dancing Together

February 5, 2013
Around the house, Hospital Ministry, The Kids
2 comments

Sing Along

A Layne Post

Sing Along – Passion Worship Band

From babies hidden in the shadows
To the cities shining bright
There are captives weeping
Far from sight
For every doorway there’s a story
And some are holding back the cries
But there is One who hears us in the night

From the farthest corners of the earth
Still His mercy reaches
Even to the pain we cannot see
And even through the darkness
There’s a promise that will keep us
There is One who came to set us free

Great God
Wrap Your arms around this world tonight
Around the world tonight
And when You hear our cries
Sing through the night
So we can join in Your song
And sing along
We’ll sing along

Tonight was fried chicken night. Jon recently bought the new Passion Worship Band CD, so I had it cranked up as I worked. Grease sizzled and popped and I sang, prayed, and worshiped with a heavy heart.

This week was my first week back at the hospital alone since Jovie was born. I left both girls with Jon and spent a couple quality hours visiting with some ladies. It was the first time in a long time I felt like I connected, though it has left me burdened all week. The hospital is in one of those cycles we talk about, a season of suffering and death. Just when I think I’ve seen it all, something new shocks me.

Cancer.

I hate it. It robs so many of dignity.

Tuesday I watched as a lady tried to swallow water laying on her back, turning her head slowly from side to side trying to help it pass the rock, which was her tongue covered in sores, and then past the tumor growing beneath her chin. I wanted to help, but there was nothing to do. I prayed. I pray.

A mom lay in bed with her seven year old daughter changing the cotton soaked with blood from her nose every minute or so. The worry was tangible, no words necessary.

Friday I chatted with a lady whose left breast was a tumor the size of a large cantaloupe (at least the visible part was that size). She just wanted to see and meet my girls. Anaya had a poopy diaper, but it was worth the extra 5 minutes to pick her up from Jon and meet this lady, to bring a smile for a passing moment. The woman next to her was on her forearms and knees due to horrible pain in her stomach, but when my girls came in she managed to sit up, smile, and talk to them… then get back to her quiet moans.

It is good to be reminded that we serve a great God who hears their cries, even in the night, who wraps His arms around them, who sings over them, and ultimately who sets them free.

And I have the privilege to join Him in that.

And so do you.

Will you join us?

Sing for Isabel, Joana, Julia, Celina, Samuel, Rui, Pedro, Almeida, Edson, and so many more.

August 18, 2012
Around the house, Hospital Ministry
4 comments

Soul Sculpting

A Layne Post

I remember the day like it was yesterday. I was thirteen years old. The anticipation around the house had been tangible. Somewhere around four in the morning on October 29th, my sister Tara and I awoke; it was time. Our oldest sister Stephanie’s water had broken. About twelve hours later little Lynise was born. I found it strange that as I touched her cheek and looked at her for the first time, I had tears in my eyes. I was moved by the miracle of her arrival, of her life.

Lynise is now 14.5 years old. (I put the .5 because I remember how important it was to me once upon a time. Now I’d rather hide those .5s!) She has been serving in Panama on a mission trip for the last couple of weeks and simply put, she is changing the world. I couldn’t be more proud of her. Somewhere in there, Lynise grew up.

Lynise is a reminder to me that these precious little babies of mine will all too quickly grow up. These days when I never get out of my jammies and pass the time dancing with large hand motions to songs like “I’m in the Lord’s Army” or “This Little Light of Mine”, making grilled cheese, and saying, “No! That is the trash, Anaya! Yuck!”… these days are not for naught. As Ann Voskamp reminds, I am helping to sculpt souls.

From Ann Voskamp’s blog :

Motherhood is a hallowed place because children aren’t commonplace.

Co-laboring over the sculpting of souls is a sacred vocation, a humbling privilege.

Never forget.

So on days like Tuesday when we all make it to the hospital, when I get the chance to introduce my Jovie to sweet sick friends and let Anaya give little waves, when I get to kiss ladies’ faces and laugh joyously about the fact that my daughters are Mozambican citizens… those days are special, but not more so than the ones in the home. We are raising world changers and part of that is feeding them, keeping them safe and clean (ish), letting them explore their imaginations, giving them self confidence by praising them frequently, and training them in the way of the Lord.

July 19, 2012
Around the house, Mozambique, The Kids
5 comments

Life and Storms

A Jon Post

I apologize for this post being a week late.

Earlier this week when I had intended to blog we had a minor medical emergency. Layne was putting Anaya down for a nap and in just reaching over to put her in her bed Layne’s back bent wrong and she immediately knew that it was trouble. Just walking into the kitchen to me she knew that this was a problem and when we realized how serious it was I packed the car and we drove to South Africa three hours away to the only chiropractor we know of who is experienced in helping pregnant women. Layne was in agony for much of that time and we spent two nights there in South Africa rather than put her back in the car for that time.

She has been recovering slowly since then and her back is on the mend though not completely pain-free. Please pray with us that she fully recovers quickly. It is extremely hard on both her and Anaya that Layne is unable to pick up and hold her daughter.

Tropical Storm Irina

Tropical Storm Irina

This weekend and into the beginning of next week we are bracing for Tropical Storm Irina to dump a lot of wind and rain on us. It was a tropical cyclone but has been downgraded (praise God) as it’s approached Maputo. We may have little or no power for the next few days so we are “battening down the hatches” as it were and preparing for that as best we can.

God has blessed us so much to have such faithful prayer partners in those of you who read this. Thank you.

March 3, 2012
Around the house, Mozambique, Travel
6 comments

As September Closes

A Layne Post

As September comes to a quick close, and Jon and I approach the ‘1 Month ’till furlough’ mark, we find ourselves amidst task lists, sweaty palms, and painted walls. We are working hard to get the rooms out back and the small kitchen area ready as we, Lord willing, will begin taking in friends/patients in February. I should say Jon is working hard, because he has done most of the work, and he has done so well; I cannot wait to show you the pictures. When the hard work is done, then I’ll come add my girlie touch for a comforting feel. I think I got the better end of the deal!

Mid-October Jon hopes to sit down with some leadership at the hospital and present our project for approval. We did this before, and it was welcomed wholeheartedly; however, leadership has changed, and we find ourselves praying for the same favor. Every now and again I have a freak-out moment thinking, “What if our project is shot down? Rejected immediately? What are we doing? What would we do?” Then I remember the crazy journey that has brought us here, and the faithfulness of the One who birthed this passion in us. I remember our current ministry, without the rooms, and stand in awe at His work. So who knows what will happen next? He does!

Pray with us!

We look forward to seeing many of you soon and connecting face-to-face. We’ll hug you hard and thank you properly.

September 25, 2011
Around the house, Hospital Ministry, Personal
4 comments
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