What's in a name?

I've been thinking a lot about names recently- partly because my grandson Cole was dedicated today, and I wanted to present him with a gift which gave both the meaning and a scripture-prayer for his life.

The other reason, is that I received divorce papers this week.

When I got married 33 yrs ago, I took my husband's family name as a vow of "your people shall be my people". Ruth 1:16 Now, as I come to grips with his rejection of my vow, with his decision to re-marry and with the absolute void of any relationship with his family, I have been re-visiting the name question.

I've come to the conclusion that lineage and heritage is precisely what a name is about. That's kind of ironic, because I've always bristled at the so-called "Mennonite game" where your lineage is traced as soon as someone finds out your last name! I'd rather focus on the legacy that this lineage represents- and that I can happily embrace!

So, over the next few months, I'll be doing the incredibly time-consuming legwork of changing my name back to the family from whence I came, and to the family which continues to walk with me, pray for me and embrace me as one of their own. Don't worry, I'll still be the same person, because the godly heritage I was shaped by is my solid choice. My hope is that as I follow somewhat in the footsteps of Naomi, who acknowledged the difficult turns in her life by asking people to call her a different name, I will also see God's abundant blessing and redemption for the generations who will follow me, no matter what our last names are! 

I'm not Julia Childs!

Today I watched M, an Ethiopian man, teach L, the teenager, how to cook for her and her younger brother.

The generous families at Kitchener MB had given each refugee some groceries, including a package of frozen chicken, so first we talked about expiry dates and freezers- just in time to save the chicken from being thrown out!  Then they gathered round as he showed her how to cut the chicken and most importantly, how to use "a little of this, a little of that" and lots of taste-testing to come up with a sauce to bake the chicken in.  After everyone concurred that it was perfect, L popped the chicken in the oven.  Wow, did the whole house EVER smell good!

As I was about to leave for home, I commended L on her cooking skills and asked what she was going to do with two pans full of chicken.  I meant, "How will you store all this delicious food so you don't have to cook again this entire week?"  but she surprised me by saying, "I've made it for everyone here and now I will invite them to share it with me."   Who says generousity doesn't breed generousity?

Blessings or curses?

Three months ago I walked into my condo to find water everywhere! I’m still waiting for the laminate to NOT be back-ordered, but last week the insurance paid for tile to be installed in my laundry room.

At the end of the day, I walked into my condo and stepped into water! Needless to say, I was extremely disheartened, to the point that I wondered whether I was “cursed”- do I even believe in that?? Return of the noisy fans, the panicked neighbours below and the plumber- to fix the leak again.

It took almost a week to get perspective, but here’s what I discovered:
-it’s a good thing the laminate was back-ordered, not ruined AGAIN
-it’s a good thing my new hot water tank was on warranty and the “this never happens” was repaired
-it’s a good thing I put in tile which is resistant to water damage
-it’s a good thing I realized there was still a puzzling amount of water after 24 hrs and discovered the other leak
-it’s a good thing I have a portable washer so I could make this discovery
-it’s a good thing insurance repaired the washer with life-time hoses and shiny new taps, even though it wasn’t their fault that the couplings were separating from the hoses
-it’s a good thing leaks happened while the insurance-funded repair guys were here- no plumbing bills this time!

A good thing or a God-thing?
Cursed or Blessed?
I know I’m being watched out for, for sure!

Do you believe?

Two songs have captured the hearts of our nation in the past few months and no, it's not the national anthem, which the Conservatives briefly contemplated changing!

• I Believe- Canada’s ‘other anthem’ for the 2010 Olympics 

• What Faith Can Do- #1 single on Christian Radio- on the charts for 24 weeks in a row

It’s interesting that both these songs talk about believing.  There are subtle differences- who and what to we put our faith in?- that are to be noted.

Sometimes when I feel I’ve had enough and I feel like giving up …be all I can be …together we’ll fly I believe in the power of you and I (I Believe)

Everybody falls sometimes Gotta find the strength to rise …Life is so much more than what your eyes are seeing You will find your way if you keep believing …dreams…hope… miracles…prayers (What Faith Can Do)

What I can see and strongly identify with is our need to BELIEVE, against all odds.  I’m even more inspired to look up with eyes of faith, to the ONE who gave His life so I could have a future and a hope.  Music always lifts my spirits and these lyrics help me soar.

I’m also challenged to share “the hope that is in me” even more boldly.  

I believe!

Moments of Glory

It's been something to watch the Olympics and hear the stories behind the podium.  The athlete's ups and downs, and dogged perseverance towards a goal, have been inspiring.  Rarely does the media report on all the injuries, missed jumps, and failures when we recognize an athlete- but it's all part of the journey!  No wonder the Apostle Paul uses athletic metaphors to challenge us to keep our focus.


I've seen the same kind of realities for the refugees at Welcome Home.  There are days of depression and discouragement, of taking their frustration out on the others who share the house, of giving up hope, and consuming fear. However, what sticks in my memory and inspires me, is that despite seemingly insurmountable odds, there are moments of glory!

Hearing a joyful, resonant voice ring out the French version of  "Great is Thy Faithfulness"  from the men's shower room, while his brother is imprisoned in Rwanda and may never be released...
Watching the quiet, timid one stand courageous and tall as she decides to show sacrificial love to the one who aggressively bossed her around... and how God used meekness to win a friend!

I'm inspired and would love to go around giving out medals.  I can just imagine how heaven's medal ceremony will top the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, moving as they are!

Speed Dating?

As a newly single again person, I have no lack of well-meaning suggestions coming my way.  Among the options, I've been told to check out online dating and ... speed dating!  
Personal "earthquakes" aside, I can see that moving into Welcome Home is a lot like speed dating.  Sure, when a newly arrived refugee inquires about moving in, we try to tell them as clearly as we can about what this community living will be like.

But, imagine with me what their first days might feel like:

• The first person I encounter comes from a culture that my entire family, for generations, has openly hated...
  
• No one I meet speaks a word of my language- my head hurts just listening to them...
• What kind of food is THAT??
  
• I escape to the bathroom and wonder how to use that kind of toilet...
• Back in my room, dazed, with my door locked, I'm left wondering if anyone here is like me at all.

Just before Christmas we had two new refugees move into Welcome Home, freshly arrived in Canada and struggling to take it all in.  Crammed into the kitchen, in the midst of the lovely chaos of a community meal and farewell party for our house supervisors , one of them exclaimed,

"I am SO happy to be part of Welcome Home!  In my country, we are like this all the time, but I thought that in Canada, everyone was just alone.  Thank you for letting me live here."

Now THAT's a God-thing:)

What the pictures don't tell you...

An image of gaunt children wearing rags always tugs at my heart strings to the extent that I simply cannot watch those TV specials.  The need is so obvious, the cry of outrage against such injustice bubbles up, ready to explode!

In contrast, the pictures we have of Welcome Home residents look like any other multicultural Canadian - drinking coke in the park, camping in the wilderness, eating meals around a crowded table. I struggle with this, because I wish a picture could portray what I see at Welcome Home.

• I see refugees doing laundry every day because the clothes they’re wearing are all they have. (Did you know our African marathoner has proudly worn his Ride 4 Refugees shirt daily since he got it?)

• I see the “deer in the headlights” look on their faces when they first arrive, and how a safe place to sleep and a community to share life with changes that so quickly.

• I see the depression and anxiety that many struggle with- the weather, the separation from family and culture and home, financial woes, wrestling with the English language and waiting for resident status, work permits…

• I see the long journey to emotional and physical wholeness, often with 2 steps forward and 1 step back, which many have to take. Lack of medical and dental care, prison, extortion, rape, kidnapping, torture, fleeing for their lives, betrayals, watching their family be killed, bombings- all these traumas are hidden behind the "smile for the camera!" faces of the courageous refugees who live at Welcome Home.

Last week we celebrated one woman’s birthday and the next morning she looked so glum. Trying to cheer her up, I asked her about her party and she sadly said, “No uncles to come and wish me happy birthday.” We may try, but we can never replace what each one has lost along the refugee highway. She often practices her English with some hilarious memorized “Fortunately/Unfortunately” dialogues.

Let me try one:

Unfortunately, no one can restore what a refugee has lost personally, culturally and relationally as they begin their new life in Canada. 
Fortunately, we can invite 15 refugees at a time to live in safety and community, sharing the love of Jesus who Himself promises to make all things new!