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Author: Layne

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

Ordinary

A Layne Post

or·di·nar·y

adjective

1. of no special quality or interest; commonplace; unexceptional
2. plain or undistinguished
3. somewhat inferior or below average; mediocre.
4. customary; usual; normal

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Ordinary Day

Today marks 2 weeks for our Jovie girl.

Yesterday we were all sitting on the couch, all four of us, and Jon wanted to catch a picture, a picture of ordinary life… well the new ordinary. You see, it seems like only yesterday Jon and I were adventurous young newly weds with a vision on our hearts and passion to fuel it. We took off traveling and searching for a home, a place to spend this God given passion within us. We found that home in Mozambique.

Now when we walk in the hospital we are greeted with happy smiles and familiar ‘Hellos’ by the staff and patients. Some hardly lift their heads from their crocheting and give a simple wave. Anaya is their little ‘Oncologista’ as she toddles around pointing at and naming the animals on the wall in the hallway. We’ve become regulars… ordinary.

When I roll out my tortillas or individually cut my chips to bake, when I make my own white sauce to substitute cream of chicken soup, when I measure in milliliters… it’s my ordinary.

It happens quick, this settling, this ordinary. Jovie has only been here two weeks, and yet my mornings and days have fallen into a rhythm. My mom came for three weeks, and she quickly slipped in. By the time she left she had become accustomed to making the coffee every morning for the three of us, she’d do afternoon dishes, take Anaya to play outside after lunch, she filled Anaya’s juice and milk cups at the end of every night, she’d make bubbles on Anaya’s feet in the bathtub. It became ordinary to have her around.

So I was thinking… I wonder, if this ordinary is so easy to slip into, if it happens so quickly, then what new life things would I like to become ordinary things? And what is the difference of forced adjustment and voluntary adjustment? Jovie is here for good, no options – we adjust. My mom came to visit – stuck in our house 3wks, no options – she adjusted. But then it comes to resolutions and goals and we just can’t seem to get in the groove.

Anyways, I don’t really have an answer, I just got to thinking. Thinking about the joy it is to have Jovie feel like one of us, an ordinary Heller. Thinking about how I miss my mom and hearing her door open in the morning, the lack of what became ordinary. Thinking about how I’d like to be more consistent about reading the Bible with my husband an about prayers with my daughters before bed… things I want to be ordinary.

Ordinary Day

June 29, 2012
Personal
4 comments

My Mom’s Arrival and Our Anniversary at the Fish Market

A Layne Post

My mom has arrived in Mozambique to help Jon and I ease into our soon-to-be family of four. Jovie’s arrival will likely happen this week, and life will change in all sorts of new and adventurous ways. Anaya has taken to her Gee quickly, and I fear we will have a bit of a hard time when she leaves! Anaya is old enough to notice the lack of her presence now. This is one of the difficulties, and probably the worst, we experience living overseas; family is so far!

Gee time!
Sweet memories

It has been a blessing taking my mom to the hospital with us this week and introducing her to patients. It is always such a fun thing for the patients to feel like they get a closer look into our lives, and what better way than meeting my mom! They like to assure her we are well taken care of over here, even if she already knows it. She is also a big help chasing Anaya around the yard, as it is becoming more and more difficult for me.

My mom babysat for us while Jon and I went out to celebrate our 4 year wedding anniversary, which is coming up on the 21st. It was a special and quite fun time together, as my Mom and Dad funded our outing to a local fish market for dinner. We’ve heard about it forever, but never made it a priority to go. I’ll describe the experience for you, as I think it was fun and unique, and perhaps you’ll enjoy reading about it.

4 years!

Upon arrival a waitress with her red apron met us at the car offering to cook the food we were about to pick out, and though many others would vie for our business along the way in a somewhat annoying manner, we decided to stick with the first. They all offer their individual price for preparation, though we had no clue what “prepare your food” meant. Spices? Butter? Boil? Grill? We could have asked, but what fun is that? The first waitress gave us a good price, according to the advice were were previously given, so we agreed and refused the many other insistent proposals.

We then entered the market area made up of dirt floors and a tin roof.  There is a small area with wooden tables set up covered in all the variety of seafood you can imagine. Rows of different kinds and colors of fish, basins of shrimp (prawns), mussels, oysters, octopus, etc. The vendors proudly show you the inside of the gills, assuring you of the freshness of the fish, though Jon and I, not being connoisseurs, had no clue if they were telling us the truth . You pick out what you want, pay by the kilogram, and then they place your fresh seafood into black plastic grocery sacks, which, if you want prepared, you then give to the waitress of your choice. Otherwise, you are welcome to take it home and cook it for yourself. Jon and I chose a red fish and a 1/2 kilo of prawns to share.

From there you are led into a large square filled with plastic tables and chairs that are covered by cloth umbrellas. You can order drinks and decide on the sides of your choice; salad, rice, or french fries. The food is slow to be cooked, so in the meanwhile music blares from less than desirable speakers, men walk by selling their goods (paintings, bracelets, fabric, etc.), and children dance as they laugh, run, and play. Because it was the weekend, we had the treat of  live music. The man played the guitar and harmonica and sang. He had his microphone placed between his chest and harmonica stand holding it just so as he sang with his head tilted down. It was an impressive sight!

When the food arrived, Jon and I were pleasantly surprised; it looked amazing! It turned out to be some of the best seafood we have had since living in Mozambique. And the company… well, my husband is amazing; I enjoyed every minute. I love him more than ever.

June 10, 2012
Mozambique, Personal
4 comments

Encouraged by Alice

A Layne Post

“Isn’t today Monday?” she asked, a bit perplexed.

“Yes. I can’t come tomorrow, so I wanted to come today,” I explained.

I usually visit the Dermatology ward on Tuesdays, and Jon keeps Anaya at home. I knew Alice had been there a long time, but I didn’t realize how long. She had become a regular visit for me, always insisting on my prayers before I left. She is from Maputo and her husband visits near daily. While Jon and I try and focus on those without visitors, sometimes someone just catches a place in your heart, and that’s what Alice has done. The second week I visited and remembered her name, she was delighted! (I am not always so successful in this area, but I do try! In this case it helped that our  ministry partner’s name is Alice.) She is usually full of optimism, but I’ve watched the expression on her face change as time has passed.  Yesterday when I asked her if she would be completing two months there, she scoffed, “Two months? No! This will be five months!”

Five months.

She has watched every other patient in the ward come and go. Sometimes she has someone in the room with her, sometimes there are weeks she is alone. Some 20 plus hours, alone.

The hospital is slowly renovating their wards, but unfortunately, they haven’t made it to Dermatology, which is in dire need. I want to respect the hospital, so I will not describe all that I see, but the conditions are not nice, especially for living there five months.

I laid in bed last night praying for Alice, thinking that I just cannot imagine being in her place. I tried and I just can’t. I have been a bit sulky about my husband taking an upcoming trip, about the weather, about some minor health nuisances that have come with this pregnancy, but last night those things seemed so trivial, so “doable”. And I was encouraged.

So maybe this week there are some things that have got you down, that seem like a lot, that seem hard to handle or perhaps just a nuisance, and maybe you can remember Alice. Maybe it will encourage you, like it did me.

May 8, 2012
Hospital Ministry, Mozambique
2 comments

Update and Thanks

A Layne Post

We returned to the hospital on Monday after 2 weeks of being away. I don’t like being away for that long, but the health of our family and the patients undergoing Chemo was and is most important. It’s always good to catch up. It is going to be difficult for me when Jovie arrives, and we stay home for 6 weeks! Jon will have to keep me informed!

As I made my rounds, one lady recounted her difficult weekend of a having treatment and the hard days that followed, though she ended with a broad smile saying she was better now, gaining strength. Another friend held her head proud as she boasted of her outing that day; she had gone out to walk around town a little. I could tell she felt like her old self, even if only for an hour or so. Still another lay in her bed, unable to start treatment, needing other medication first; her counts weren’t good.  She was discouraged, as this should be her last treatment, but still a smile emerged. These women are so strong.

I ran into a a boy and his grandmother that were back for control, meaning he is finished with Chemo, but still comes every 3-6 months for a check and some tests. He looks great and is growing tall, which is such an encouragement to our hearts, which are so often weary of death.  I gave his grandmother a long hug, and she rubbed my protruding belly as she laughed. They are some of the first patients we knew. She knew me during my whole pregnancy with Anaya, giggled at every ultrasound photo, and now she is doing it again with Jovie. This time; however, only every few months, as she spends most of her time in her own home with her healthy grandson. Just awesome.

In other life news, I am 31 weeks pregnant and nearing the arrival of our little Jovie. It seems the last stretch will fly by. I am throwing a wedding shower for a dear friend of mine in a couple of weeks; Jon will return to the States for his brother’s bachelor party and wedding; then my Mom will arrive in the beginning of June to help with Anaya and daily needs as we ease into becoming a family of 4! What a sweet time of life, and I am so thankful we are all back in good health to enjoy it. The Lord has been gracious to our family.

And finally, I feel like I haven’t expressed lately our gratitude to you. Your love and prayers during the last few weeks was simply breathtaking. I truly believe the Lord heard your cries and moved on our behalf. We were strengthened, encouraged, and ultimately healed. Thank you for your faithfulness to us and to the Lord.

 

April 18, 2012
Hospital Ministry, Personal
3 comments
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