hospital visits

2 days ago, my parents stopped in Indiana to visit on their way to Florida for the winter.  We were thrilled to have them come and visit with us and Gideon.

At about 5 in the morning, I was surprised when my mom asked if I could take them to the ER.  Dad has had a lot of abdominal surgeries and he had herniated through his abdominal wall.  Turns out at the ER we found out that it was a strangulated hernia and need to be operated on.  

So it's been an intense few days.  The surgery went well and he's recovering.  I'm so thankful to The Lord that we were able to be helpful and that dad was close to a world class teaching hospital.  He could have just been somewhere in the middle of nowhere between michigan and florida!

We are relieved and thankful and still praying for good recovery.  They are anticipating a week in the hospital.

The view from dad's window at IU- West

Fall fun with Gideon!

Amy and our friend from Russia (via California) ran a half marathon today.  And afterwards we took in a walk in the park so Tammy could see the beautiful fall leaves.  It was so fun to see her amazement at the beauty of fall colors. 

God didn't have to make us see in color, but He did.  and I love seeing in color - especially in the fall.

World Outreach Member Care - the Murphy's

It's official that we probably did too much today, but it was all well intentioned and this was the perfect start to the day.  We loved spending the morning with the Murphy's and having a delicious breakfast.  They loved meeting Gideon!

Russians! Real live Russians! In Colorado!!!

We had such an amazing time in Colorado.  One major drawback, was that we couldn't have our Russian lessons for a whole month.  The time change was just enough that we didn't align with any times that our tutor was available.

But... God had different plans and we met Vera...

 (Left - Vera and Gideon) (Right - Vera teaching new missionaries Russian via the LAP system)

At Vera's house with her family!

Retreat is OVER!

Leaving the mountains might be just as beautiful as being in the mountains... Gideon slept almost the whole trip!

I'm a professional...

...sleeper.

Colorado Retreat!

After our time with Mission Training International, we took the opportunity to stay in a retreat cabin for missionaries...

seriously, we're not kidding.  this was the 'humble' retreat house.  At 11,000 feet 'near' Gunnison, Colorado.  It was incredible.  Check out the views!

I do think that Amy and Gideon are the most beautiful part of this photo, but the view isn't half bad.

I even got to pose with the little guy! 

 here's our stove... our first meal was pancakes... there was mix there and it was more than an hour to the store to buy groceries... we elected to wait until our second day.

We had to keep a fire going to stay warm as WINTER came early at 11,000 feet! 

Amy's quiet time was chilly, but beautiful!

Gideon loves Colorado

International Congress on Language Learning! - Presenters...

We had the incredible opportunity not only to attend, but to present and share about our work in Russia and how teaching and leading English groups has helped us to learn Russian!

It was a really cool opportunity.  We have had so many amazing opportunities to serve this year on home service - we're thrilled!!!

Best Breakfast Ever

Amy and I found this breakfast place in Colorado Springs called, The Egg & I.  Amazing.  Stuffed. French. Toast.  Sausage Goodness.

Thank you Jesus.

Missing Russia!!!

We've been back in America for 6 months... we miss Russia... so we started cooking up some Russian food!  This salad is called Vinegred.  So good.  Beets, potatoes, carrots, onion, pickles, and peas.  Just a hint of salt and (it's supposed to have, but doesn't have) sunflower oil.   Mmmmmm.    Thank you God for delicious Russian food!

At a Cross Country meet with mommy!

At Franklin College today the Cross Country team had an alumni event.  It was fun to meet some of Amy's friends from college!  Here we are enjoying the day together!

Homeschool tutor!

Today we had the opportunity to meet a recent high school graduate. She's taking a gap year to move to Tyumen and be a homeschool tutor for a family moving to work with a Muslim group from our region.  

Kate and her mom had a lot of great questions about Tyumen and Russia.  She's already started learning to read Russian and she'll likely move in December or January. 

It was really cool to meet a young person who is on fire for The Lord and already willing to commit of her time, energy and talents!

Following us... (facebook)

If you'd like to follow us on facebook, friend us and then once you're already our friend, you can click these links...

Gideon Philip James Brake - born today!

We joyfully announce the adoption of our baby boy, Gideon Philip James Brake, born June 15, 2013. 7 lbs., 20.5 in. long. We couldn't be more thankful!

Amy waiting in Labor and Delivery with the birth mother

  Here we are with our bundle of joy!

Gideon in the crib at the hospital

 Pastor Tom Robinson from Knox EPC in Ann Arbor, praying over Gideon

 The family prays over Gideon

 

 Cute little feet

Nehemiah House!

We had an amazing week staying here at the Nehemiah house.  It is a ministry that caters to people in ministry to provide an opportunity for rest, reflection and restoration.  The weather was gorgeous and we really enjoyed our time reading and just preparing for the arrival of our little one!

The new Russia - new smoking laws

We love living and serving in Russia.  It is really so interesting to live in a country with such a rich tradition, whether it be the age and architecture of the buildings, the fact that this culture has changed and adapted for so many centuries, the food, the people, the language, I could go on.

Politics, now that's something that I don't really know much about and is a topic to be avoided.

I'm just not an expert... even though I teach in the International Relations department.

There are some laws that have really adversely affected us (Russian ban on adoption by Americans).

But there have been some good ones too.

As of yesterday.  There is a beginning to smoking reform in Russia!  40% of Russians are smokers according to this article, and the affects smoking has on the Russian population (including a declining population growth) are astounding.  I'm actually happy to see that the government is doing something for the people and not to the people.  Now, for smokers, I'm sure it feels like their rights are being infringed upon.  If there was a ban on coca-cola or sweet chai or the internet... I'd be up in arms.  Or a ban on too much sugar or overeating, but I'm glad to see that something that is known to cause cancer, emphysema, and other illnesses is being curtailed.

I've had a problem with smoking since I was a child and it affected my life so profoundly when my mother died from complications from cancer.  My father has also been visited by cancer.  I know that cigarettes and smoking are not the only causes for cancer, but they are A cause.

http://www.voanews.com/content/russia-smoking-law/1673346.html

Nehemiah House

This week, we're in Owosso, Michigan at the Nehemiah house.  It's a ministry that provides an opportunity for rest, reflection, and spiritual renewal for people in ministry.  Amy and I are here for a little over a week.  It is peaceful, and ... quiet here.

In the mornings there are folks here working on the grounds.  But the noise is comforting.  It feels like dad is out cutting the grass and I'm just slowly getting out of bed on a Saturday morning as a child.

The days are alternating chilly and hot.  Amy described the smell like this, "...if I could ask God to create exactly the smell of how it should be outside...this is it."  Some combination of 'after-the-rain' mixed with 'freshly-mown-grass' and a twist of 'lilacs-blowing-on-the-wind."  It's really lovely.

We have an amazing thing here.  Time.  I can't remember the last time I had time.  Just to do what we need to rest and reflect.

Thank you God for Nehemiah and the ministry here.  Help us to be wise in the use of the time you've given us here.

Encounter World Outreach 2013

 Amy sharing at Encounter

What a cool opportunity to spend 3 days with like-minded people.  We were invited to attend Encounter World Outreach and share about how we landed in Tyumen and what it is that we do there.  Well, we had an experience that was not what we expected!

We were able to connect with some incredible folks, we had the opportunity to serve as connectors for others and we learned a TON!  Here's some highlights!

We met Jaroslaw Lukasik, who is working with Bruce Anderson and the International Theological Education Network.  They train pastors!  We're hoping that we can make a good connection with them to help find a pastor for Holy Trinity Church in Tyumen!

We met Kristina, who has been learning Russian for the past 18 months in St. Petersburg, Russia with hopes to serve in Russia.

We got to hear Steve Moore speak from MissioNexus.  He had awesome stuff to say.  I think it was especially interesting to hear him talk about how the internet and access to knowledge has changed power.  He referenced the book The End of Power by Moises Naim.

I was blown away when he shared with us about how accessible information is now.  In fact, children don't go to their parents as the main source of information anymore.  The can first go to the internet and find whatever they need.  The problem is that they get the CONTENT, but not the CONTEXT for the information.  Really thought provoking.

Jeff sharing at Encounter

Drinking in Russia - new laws

http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2013/02/07/f-russia-alcoholism.html

This is an interesting perspective about drinking in Russia.

Furlough Day One

today is the first day of our stateside furlough. as we woke up this morning, there was an overwhelming sense of peace in the house where we're staying. we can hear the litter patter of children's feet upstairs.

Gavin, our nephew when he sees me says, "I have to show you something." he takes my hand and leads me to the door into the basement. "you're going to sleep in the basement!"

we walk down the stairs and he says, "it's through here." we stare at the bed a moment, then he says, "now, I have to show you something else. the PLAYROOM!" and off we go.

God provides for us exactly what we need and when we need it. He knows best. I think I know what I need, but I don't always

as I sit down to read for my quiet time today, this is the message that greets me in Jesus Calling:

COME TO ME FOR REST and refreshment. The journey has been too much for you, and you are bone-weary. Do not be ashamed of your exhaustion. Instead, see it as an opportunity for Me to take charge of your life.

Furlough Day One.

come to me for rest. well amen to that. I pray that this furlough is exactly the rest and refreshment that we need.