This is from Brandi’s journal @ www.xanga.com/blkendall ... hope you enjoy this little reflection of our past year.
Reflections 2005
A year! We can’t even begin to truly understand that it has already been a year since we actually arrived in Estonia and Tartu! And who could have even guessed at all the adventure, all the amazing people, or all the circumstances that we would encounter in that short year….
That first Sunday will not be forgotten . . . not a huge crowd, but anxious faces all around. “Now what was her name? His name? Who is she related to? What were we going to remember about that couple? Was this the right first lesson to share in this amazing place?” . . . We were greeted with love and respect, even though we weren’t quite the same as those who were here before us, those whose presence is even yet a part of all the Tartu family.
We remember that early, January, Sunday morning, when a “little wind storm” literally raised the roof and left us a bit wet and a bit cold for days. So began the repairs and the small daily challenges of working around repairmen and the tools of their trade. After a year . . . mostly just one more room to go . . . work to begin almost one year to the day that we experienced that small bit of adventurous “settling in”.
We watched our first Estonian winter take shape around us . . . very short and dark winter days and long cold winter nights. Snow, that was so beautiful to look at and admire, and so fun to slide, sled and tumble into. Later on it’s melting would cause no small bit of frustration as the wet and dirty mess that was left behind followed you where ever you found yourself going. Then spring came with the joy of warming weather, and the trees, flowers and grasses smiled with colors that brightened both the season and spirits.
We’ve found ourselves in the midst of an amazing family and a people whose national pride and identity touch your soul at first meeting, and who grow to become so much more than you can ever imagine. Every day brings us new insight into an amazing country and a people whose love for life makes our being here both a challenge and a tremendous pleasure.
The year at church has been “full”, even though our desire still includes the room and time for more. . .
We’ve laughed at one another across game boards and decks of cards, grinned as we watched one or another fall from a sled going down a hill. We’ve enjoyed the blowing out of birthday candles, the sharing of birthday snacks and flowers for holidays and well wishes all around. We’ve lost our voices in Sunday night singings, and laughed and cried together at movie nights over popcorn and goodies new to many of those attending. We’ve helped some of our church family in times we all thought there was little we could do, and watched as God used people and circumstances to show all of us just how far his hand can reach, and how gentle his touch can be. We’ve prayed for several who have faced the ugliness of disease . . . some of our own and others we hold dear, family and friends who we have learned to place in the Father’s hands. We’ve gone to our first bible camp in Estonia and watched the young and old alike grow in faith and fellowship over the days and nights we spent together. We’ve enjoyed the company of visitors from Canada, Russia, the Ukraine and numerous points back in the States. We’ve come to know new friends through Let’s Start Talking, and Character for Kids, and answers to newspaper ads and signs put up here and there to attract someone’s attention. We’ve cried over the loss of friends moving away and others who have wondered away, no longer answering calls for love and fellowship. We relied on one another for a time when we heard of a dear friends passing, and shared both the pain and joy of remembering together how she had touched us, changed us, and taught us so much about life, living and the man named Jesus. We still share the empty place of her sudden Good-bye. We’ve watched young teens growing into young ladies and new Christians touching all of us with their zeal and willingness to be all that they can be for Christ. We’ve gathered together to watch the new birth of two sisters in Christ, and rejoiced with a mother giving birth to her second son. We’ve decorated for parties and gathered around the table for holiday meals and presents that we’ve enjoyed preparing just for the occasion. We’ve tried foods whose names we can’t pronounce and dodged one or two others in spite of the encouragement and well wishes of a few. Language studies have challenged all of our skills and patience, while we’ve frustrated some with our “complicated” English, and entertained others with our childish Estonian. We have rejoiced with the birth of grandchildren back in the States, and watched with pride and fear as sons left those semi-safe shores . . . one for a mission field far away, and another for battle in a war he’s not sure he completely understands. We watched as hurricanes found their way far too close to children and family, and rejoiced at God’s protection when all was said and done. We’ve seen new cities and old castles, sea shores, lake shores, ancient churches and country villages, which all have taught us something about this country we live in and the people we have been called to serve.
Every day we offer thanks for the year and events that have brought us to this place in time. It’s hard to believe we have come so very far in such a very short period of time. We are blessed beyond imagination and can’t wait to see just what might be set aside for us on the road ahead.
This last year? . . . Well, let’s just say that we’ve smiled, cried, laughed and shared . . . we’ve been a part of an amazing family and an amazing place we’ve come to call “home”.
bk
