Life is a Team Sport

As many of you, I've been watching the Olympics recently.  As I watched yesterday, I was struck by the importance of team.  This is the case with every sport, including the individual sports.  The team is not just the individuals you play the sport with, but it includes those that have gone before, those that are cheering you on, coaches, peers, sponsors, family, and everyone else included in an athlete's success.  Each person on the team is there in a different way when you win and when you lose.    

I think often we make the mistake of pursuing life as an individual sport.  We forget that we have a team of people (even in an individual sport) that come alongside us and make what we do possible.  In my life, I have to acknowledge the need for others a little more than some might since my job depends on the sponsorship of friends.  However, even so, when things get tough, my natural tendency is to try to tough it out on my own.  I think we all tend to do that.  When life gets rough, we try to figure out how to fix it.  Often that means that we push our team away and try to get things figured out before we reach out to our team again.  

However, the more I think about it, the more I think we are called to something completely different.  I think we are called to live life in community.  It is in those hard times, when I want to pull away from everyone,  that the best thing I can do is remember that I have a team of people surrounding me.  

I also think about how Olympic athletes have a group of people scrutinizing them and being honest with them about their mistakes in order to make them better.  We expect this from athletes, but often when it comes to our personal life, we want to hide our failures and our shortcomings.  Why do we have different standards for athletes?  Why do we recognize that growing and getting stronger requires recognizing where we struggle when it comes to them, but not when it comes to us?  Why do we think we can do it alone?  This challenges me to be more of a person that invites people into my life to live every aspect of my life with me. 

The other night as I was watching team gymnastics, I recognized one other way in which I often live differently than an athlete.  In the team competition only the best three individuals get to compete in each event.  Team members have to rely on each other in areas of their own weakness, even though compared to me they are all amazingly gifted in even their weakest areas.  Why do we want to be good at everything?  Why don't we want to admit that someone has a gifting in something that we don't have?  

These are the things I have been trying to implement in my life.  I want to live in community in a way that causes my reliance on others.  This goes against my natural reaction to life, but the more I chose to rely on others, the richer my life becomes.  

I also realize how blessed I am to have such a large team of people living life with me, from those that have known me a long time to those that I am just meeting.  I have a wonderful support system here in Taraz of friends and family that have been here for me for nine years.  I have people encouraging me from the all over the world.  I also have a team of people sponsoring my work here.  Thank you for being part of my team and helping me to live a richer life!  

Thankfulness

I figured it was time for another chance to just list some things I am thankful for.  So much has been going on and I sometimes have the tendency to forget the many ways I have been blessed.  I thought I'd share them with you in case they might provide you with some encouragement.  

• Time in Almaty with a a good friend!
• Canasta playing
• The chance to have deep conversations about life
• A safe and nice apartment to live in
• Work that I can get behind 100%
• An air conditioner in my bedroom
• A washing machine that works when I employ the tricks I have learned
• Time with friends in the mountains
• The times when a choice in attitude produces a great day
• A car with 4WD to get around town and cart people and things 
• People who come all the way over here for a few weeks/months at a time to build into lives
• The book "Love Does" and its encouragement to me this week
• Medication that can help with allergies and asthma
• Overall good health
• Indoor plumbing
• Windows with screens
• Text messages from friends
• A great staff that I get to work with
• The mountains that I see each day
• Friends and family that support me
• People that ask the hard questions and want answers
• The chance to sleep in
• A train with air conditioning on a 95 degree day
• Encouraging emails
• A shared train room with a woman and her small children
• The manholes without covers that I have not driven my car into
• The train conductor who had never met an American before and was thrilled
• Finding good deals while shopping for souvenirs
• The ability to buy bacon in Almaty
• Surprises
• Safe taxi drivers
• A refrigerator covered with pictures of friends from all over the world
• The joy on a person's face when they meet me for the first time and realize I speak Kazakh

There are so many more, but these are the things that come to mind immediately.  I hope each of you is able to be encouraged by the small blessings that come your way throughout each day!  

Remodeling Coming to a Close

Hi everyone! I thought I'd give you a quick update on my apartment.  While I was at Savva, Josh and Adam worked to install the linoleum in my living room and entryway.  They also installed light fixtures, trim, and some new shelves in a couple closets.

After Savva left Becky and I walked through the house deciding where each piece of furniture should go.  Then, while I had a meeting they moved all my furniture for me and did a round of cleaning.

Today, I had an air conditioner installed.  It was a bit of a funny sight watching a Kazakh man (tall for here) lay on my window sill out my fourth story window making sure the outside unit was properly installed below my window.  Tonight will be my first night sleeping under my air conditioner.

I have been so blessed by friends who have come halfway across the world and helped with in so many ways.  I am especially thankful for all the work they did on my apartment.  I certainly could not have done all of this without them.  We have some cabinets to move in tomorrow and a couple more finishing touches, but the work here is primarily done.  Now they are moving on to other projects at the office and the team house.

Here are some pictures of my completed living room and some light fixtures.

Savva Graduation

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to be at Savva Orphanage for their graduation ceremony.  I felt like a proud mom who had 26 children graduating.  So many of these children I have known since they were just starting school.  Now, nine years later, they are graduating from the 9th grade and moving on to the next stage of their life.  

I was struck by their child-likeness.  They were so excited to graduate, yet terrified at the same time.  This fall, their entire life will change.  They will be separated from friends and sent to different boarding schools around the country.  They will study a trade that they have not chosen and will be influenced by those that have gone before.  There are so many bad choices that are calling their names.  They don't see a lot of graduates going before them setting an example of success.  They are an easy target for those who are looking for someone to influence.  

I remember how hard the transition to University was and I can think back on all the people in my life that were supporting and encouraging me through that time.  The staff at the orphanage try their best to prepare them for the future and give them support while they are away at college, but there is only so much you can do when there are so many students graduating each year.  I remember the fear that I dealt with as I prepared to leave my family, knowing full well that I would be back for holidays and would never not have a place at home.  When I think about these kids and the fact that many of them will be leaving the only home they know and will never return (except for day visits), it is a bit overwhelming.  I can't even begin to imagine being in their shoes.  

So, needless to say, I've struggled with a wide range of emotions these last few days.  Joy as they finish well.  Apprehension as I look ahead at what their futures could hold.  Pride as I see the kind of young men and women they have become.  Sadness as I remember the fun times we have had for years during summer camps and monthly visits and knowing that I won't ever play soccer with them again or celebrate their birthdays at Savva.  Excitement to see what their futures could hold.  Doubt as I wonder how much of a difference we actually make.  Pain when I see their individual hurts and insecurities.  Thankfulness for the times I have had with them.  

I choose to end on thankfulness because I am learning how my perspective shifts as I remember to be thankful.  I am so blessed to be able to be here and allow these children to build into my lives.  I am grateful for the moments I have had with them over the years.  

A Day of Rest

Life has been pretty busy recently.  I had a great time with the Ulan delegation.  It was fun to spend time with them and be able to see the kids at Ulan again.  They did a great job and I think the staff and kids had fun and built deep relationships.  Three days after they left, the Savva delegation arrived.  It was so fun to see many friends who have been here before.  They were only in Taraz one day before they headed off to Merke (about 3 hours away) for camp.  I will be going out to Savva for parts of three days starting tomorrow.  It will be fun to spend time with the delegates, kids, and staff.  I am also looking forward to attending graduation and playing some soccer!

Yesterday, the team that is here for the summer took the day to enjoy the beauty of Kazakhstan.  We went to the mountains for the day.  Our time included some rest, hiking, and even some Canasta playing.  It was fun to have others here to share the joy of a restful day.

My apartment remodeling is coming along.  Becky and I went to the bazaar and purchased light fixtures while Josh and Adam installed the linoleum.  This adventure included trying to carry a 6 foot piece of metal through the crowded aisles of the bazaar.  Thankfully, no one lost a head, although there were a few times where it could have been a real possibility.  :)  The bulk of remodeling should be finished this week.  It will be nice to have my apartment put back together.  I am looking forward to thinking through how I can best decorate and organize the furniture and other items that I have.  I'm thankful that I will have help with this as I don't always enjoy trying to figure out what might look best.

Below are some pictures from our day in the mountains for you to enjoy!  If you want to see more you can go to this link.