Uncle Bob or Mr. Miyagi?

  It's funny how a phone call can change your entire mood for the day... Today I received one such phone call -- from my Uncle Bob. He's been a spiritual father figure and hero of mine for most of my life. There are so many reasons why, but here are just a few:

 *He looks kinda like Mr. Miyagi... Seriously, one of the coolest movie stars ever, right?! (I know you see the resemblance -- photo from here)

But, seriously...

*He went to Fuller Theological Seminary (where Randy and I currently live and Randy is working on his Masters of Divinity) to pursue a Marriage and Family Therapy License, which he now uses on the mission field...

*He became a missionary while I was still in grade school and sort of paved the way as a Fudenna who pursued ministry/missions... (now, I'm the only other "missionary" in the family)

*On one of his furloughs he came to visit me in my junior high school -- he even helped coach my volleyball team as a way of connecting with me and my friends...

*Then in high school when I was a chaplain in charge of coordinating weekly chapels, he was home again on furlough and spoke in one of my chapels!

*Just over two years ago, my sister and I felt the time was right to visit him in South East Asia (always a dream my siblings and I have had) and he opened his home and life to us for two weeks, inviting us into ministry opportunities to the native people he has been working with and showing us the beauty of his country...

*Some of my dearest memories of time spent with him have been due to my being the one to tell him sad family news because I was the only person who could do it in person... Those moments are beautiful because of the way we could share our grief with one another and prayed for one another and our loved ones...

*He's a gentle and humble man who has cried with me, prayed with me, and modeled to me what it is to follow Christ in a truly sacrificial way. His ability to speak boldly and with confidence, yet from such a soft-spoken demeanor has always been a blessing to listen to and learn from.

Today when I hung up the phone, I sat for a few moments just to offer a grateful heart to the Lord for giving me such a wonderful family member and spiritual friend. I pray God has placed people in your life to be for you what my uncle has been for me.

Articles on Occupy Wall Street and Federal Programs that help the Poor worth further reflection...

"Why Blacks Aren't Embracing Occupy Wall Street"
washingtonpost.com

See also: Gallup's latest poll on support for "Occupy"
www.gallup.com

and

New Poll: Majority of White Evangelicals Oppose Cutting Federal Programs that help the Poor
www.sojo.net

*These are recommended by Randy as food for thoughtful musings.

scarcity of U.S. healthcare? and free prescriptions for people with low income...

 Since September, we've had the privilege of leading an adult education class at our church, North Hills Church in Brea. We love getting more involved in this community and have felt God's hand involved in each step that we take towards partnering in ministry with Pastor Doug, Brenton and the rest of the wonderful people there. Pictured above is Randy on our very first week of the class... (No, we didn't teach the parenting class... we left that to professionals.)

The last two weeks we've discussed the topic: Scarcity in U.S. Healthcare. After last week's more informal intro to the topic, where we shared personal experiences -- both positive and negative -- with the more current healthcare programs in place, today we dove into some Biblical teaching and dialogue about the problems with scarcity of access, finances and a few other main things.


We always enjoy it when Dave Gable (former National XA Director) sits in on the class. He never ceases to contribute insightful and authentic thoughts to the discussion, especially today as we looked at the story of the Good Samaritan in comparison to thinking Biblically about caring for the needs of the less fortunate along our paths. Might we learn anything from the Good Samaritan that could apply to our thoughts on healthcare for all humans? (We really aren't trying to get political here -- just thinking about real life people who struggle to get the bodily care they need for one reason or another.)


I realized that God has blessed Randy and I in a few ways that might benefit others to know about:

•  With my current preexisting conditions, prescription coverage is hard to come by, so I've resorted to applying for patient assistance programs and have now received free brand-name medicines straight from the manufacturer. Try googling the manufacturing company of a prescription you are on to see if this could help you out. For an example, click here.
• We have also sought more information on public and county health clinics.
• Also, if you aren't the one dealing with a struggle getting proper healthcare, think of a practical way you can help someone access healthcare or finance the healthcare they need. If there is a single mom in your church or neighborhood, why not offer to watch her kids while she goes to an appointment? 
• I hope to add more and more ideas to this list in the future, but that's all for now.

Cajun Cookin' & Thanksgiving

I woke up to the sound of Randy cooking a Cajun dish -- rice dressing -- and listening to Zydeco music... at one point he was dancing Zydeco style around the kitchen because his dressing tasted SO good!

It must have been the most peaceful dinner preparation on a holiday that I have ever experienced. The food was ready on time... I think it was all warm when we sat down to eat... The bird turned out great -- juicy and moist... The pies were great, too!

                                   My nieces & nephews made napkin rings:  

As well as a paper turkey centerpiece:

It was a fun day to spend time with our dear family who have had a rough several weeks... and to share our friendship with Bill & Mary -- long time friends and supporters -- with my sister and the kids. We laughed a lot at Mary's jokes and the kids' creativity. The girls made drawings and then bedazzled them with pretty jewels. We even had most of the dishes washed and put away by 5pm.

Happy thanksgiving to all! 

things we are grateful for:

• our marriage -- the laughter and love we share 
• the opportunity to continue ministering to college students through chi alpha and the Dikaios project -- spreading awareness of God's compassionate and righteous character in relation to the injustice and suffering in the world today
• our prayer and financial supporters -- every month we are grateful for the partners you are in the ministry that we do
• our opportunities to pursue master's degrees at great schools and among lovely people
• our families -- especially videos of nephews dancing to funky beats and failed attempts at snapping to the music
• our friends -- old and new, near and far; especially when skype makes it possible to chat with a dear friend in Italy for a few moments... just long enough to walk away feeling loved and cared for
• our church community -- the warm embrace we've had to join in doing ministry with a fantastic pastor and amazing staff
• and for the moments of connection we savor -- where we find companionship with one another or a loved one, moments of prayer and connecting with God, moments of seeing God's awe-inspiring creativity in nature, moments of hilarious laughter over silly things, and moments of being present with a family member or friend amidst sadness and pain...

grandma's apple pie...

It's become a tradition... I make pies for Thanksgiving. 

It started with learning to make pie crust from my mom's best friend when I was homeschooled back in the day (pre-junior high).

But then my brother and I somehow began learning to carry on the tradition of making apple pies for Thanksgiving... but not just any apple pie. 

Grandma Sachi's apple pie. 

Two years ago, I even made it in Louisiana when I went to meet my future in-laws... 

Here's this year's scrumptious pie:

Actually, it was this very recipe that I used to capture Randy's heart on his first visit to California. Thanks, Grandma!

Seriously, though, making this pie every year for Thanksgiving is a way that I feel connected to not just my grandmother, but also to my brother (who is now responsible for the apple pie for the Fu-gatherings at grandma's house), as well as to the rest of my family when circumstances require missing the big party at grandma's house. 

But at least this Thanksgiving, I get to be with some of my favorite people:

 My sister Tiff and her kids, Alyssa, Hailey and Jordan,

my hubby (of course!), and our friends Bill & Mary.

there's something about knowing their names...

I remember in the safety portion of training to be a community coordinator, there was a high emphasis on knowing your neighbors as a means of ensuring a higher level of security. 

That seems so simple... so 1950's... and yet, it's so easy that it seems today 

people forget the power of knowing their neighbors. 

Again, I'm reminded that the basic fact is: if there is a high level of knowledge of and recognition of who lives in your area, there is a much higher chance that unusual people or activities will be noticed and given attention to... it's no wonder this tends to lower instances of crime and theft.

And then I realized how much Jesus emphasized this same principle -- love your neighbor as yourself. Do for those around you what you would want them to do for you. But it starts with a desire to love and then that being extended to the neighbors in your life.

I love that straight up facts in regards to crime and how well people know their neighbors directly affirms and shows the truth of Scripture and why loving our neighbors is worth our time. I believe if we begin to seek to know and love our neighbors -- even with an initially "selfish" motive in that this will help provide more security to my home and belongings -- it's the beginning of a wonderful process...

Now that I know my neighbors, I know some wonderful things:

*That Koreans are not all that into baking (probably because moms are busy making so many other yummy dishes!)... and young Korean girls want to learn to bake... so we have baking parties.

*That praying with my Korean friends is a gift, even when I have no idea what they are saying.

*That one family has a heart to use their seminary training and other vocational skills to go back and minister to the people of North Korea.

*That everyone can learn a name... even if it's difficult to pronounce in one's own tongue... 

sometimes I'm called "Rindsay"

*That despite being "poor" grad students, neighbors know how to make a way to host another in their home for a meal, share groceries, share internet, give free haircuts, offer engineering consulting and babysit each others kids.

Christian Art and the Devotional Life...

Nothing moves me to worship quite like Christian art, particularly stained glass windows and ancient Christian symbols of the Church. They remind me of the communion of the saints – the sacred bond of fellowship that we in the Church today share with the countless thousands who have gone before us. Long before the walls of my modern church building were erected ancient sisters and brothers in the faith would stare for hours at visual representations of the teachings of Holy Scripture – the only Bible that this primarily illiterate church would ever read. Somehow when I think of them as I pour over the artistic detail of their ancient version of the Scriptures I am reminded that Christ and His Church are much more substantial than what can be seen in the visible world at any one time. In remembering that I am but a newcomer to a faith that they have handed down to me inspires me to live it all the more faithfully.

The church pictured on the right is a local place where Lindsay has found some quiet space to ponder the particular beauty of architecture and stained glass windows, drawing her into a unique posture of worship to the God who created human abilities with which to build such things.

-- Randy

The Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like children...

When Jesus saw what was happening, he was angry with his disciples. He said to them, "Let the children come to me. Don't stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children." -- Mark 10:14

 
This verse continues to ring true in my heart lately... especially as I spend time with the neighbor kids in our apartment complex. The latest way of connecting with the many Korean-speaking neighbor families has been through baking parties with the young girls of our community. Who knew baking was such an exciting thing for the little girls to do with an American who doesn't mind letting them come and hang out for a few hours?!

So far, we've made: banana nut muffins, vanilla cake with whipped cream topping, wheat vanilla bundt cake with a frost-your-own-slice with buttercream and sprinkles, chocolate cake, and chocolate muffins. It's been a blast!

These are some dear ones that the Father in Heaven loves and delights in -- it's a pleasure to love on them, spend time with them, and be a blessing to their parents by keeping them busy for a few hours each week. Many of these kids have parents in full-time ministry (and some sort of school commitment at Fuller) and hope to continue to minister state-side or abroad in Korea and other places.

I find that there is absolutely no better way to show love to a mom or dad than to dote on their kids. Pray for continued creativity and patience as I seek to continue connecting with the kids and developing deeper friendships with their families.