Of People and Projects

It's the busiest time of the year here in the Fishbowl... Visitors flow through our doors in trickles and rivers, some announced and some otherwise. The guest rooms are in constant disarray with backpacks and iPods, sunglasses and flip flops, linens and towels. The old house rocks with laughter into the night hours as young people get acquainted over games and popcorn. Other times, there are serious discourses around the living room which may very well conclude in an impromptu prayer meeting. "Can I do something to help you?" is the catchphrase in my kitchen, and willing helpers of all shapes and sizes mill about underfoot, eager to relieve the busy Mrs. Missionary. Whispered consultations take place in out-of-sight corners- "Do you think this is enough of beans?... Did you get the rooms ready for them?... Are they eating here or there?... Whose laundry is still hanging on the clothesline?" New friends, airport trips, travel schedules, church services, goodies from the USA, but best of all, brotherhood and fellowship! Sharing visions, dreams, battles, and prayers. What would we ever DO without guests?!

The current project is the construction of the new book warehouse next door to the Fishbowl. This will mean more storage space for the books, a sales room, and an apartment for single guys. The foundation has been laid and we are preparing for a work crew to come this week to pour the floor.

While that work crew is here, we will do our best to move to our new house in order to vacate this one for Tim's brother Jeremy and his family. They plan to be here for a month while Jeremy oversees the construction of the warehouse. While they are here, a prayer team will be coming from our home church in PA. And Rhonda's family wants to visit at the same time. Then a second work crew arrives. And then a third. (I am not kidding.) The grand finale to all this will be the missionary retreat the last week of March. (I think I am retreating.)

Oh, and did I mention that there is a container en route from the US and expected to arrive here sometime in the middle of all this? And do you know that unpacking containers is terribly exciting and terribly exhausting?

...And to think that all I ever wanted was a quiet life... No, no, wait a minute! All I really want is to be completely immersed in God's love and be a co-laborer in His kingdom work. That is exactly where we are right now, and I would not trade it for anything in this world!!!