Happy New Year 2014

As I write this entry, I realize many of you have not ushered in 2014 yet!
We've had several busy days since we arrived in Kolkata.

A couple days ago, we spent the day with the girls at their home on the outskirts of the city. We have been humbled by their joy and spirit of gratitude for what they have. I believe there are 9 girls and there are two 3 yr. old boys living in the home.  Each child has a different story. Some have parents still living who cannot take care of them. Some are orphaned. It was inspiring to hear these children dream of becoming doctors and police. Yet, many of them are unaware of other options for careers so some of the work is be done is to help equip them with knowledge and resources to build into their lives as they grow up.
The new school year begins next week. Each child will be tested for class placement. The educational system starts at age three and there seems to be quite a lot of pressure to score high at a young age. Rebekah and I assisted the girls with reading/spelling in preparation for their exams.

Meanwhile, Randy went to the nearby boys home and assessed needs for some work projects. There are 21 young men living in that home (all recovering from some kind of addiction). Apparently they have tons of energy!!!

We ended that day going to a Rashatan fair (I think that's correctly spelled). By that time we were absolutely exhausted and experiencing sensory overload! There were so many people. The music was loud!  Rebekah did get to ride a camel. We saw dancers and acrobats and a man walking on fire.

We are still adjusting to the time difference and find ourselves waking up way too early. But we are slowly acclimating.

Yesterday Randy returned to the boys home to try to get some work done. It sounds like he had quite the adventure with a couple of the boys walking for miles, taking auto rickshaws trying to locate fluorescent tube light bulbs. He took lots of pics but I'm having a difficult time uploading them to our blog.

Rebekah and I accompanied the girls to the zoo. Again, the mass number of people was overwhelming. I experienced a lot of anxiety as I was constantly counting children and adults making sure our group of 20 didn't get separated!

We spent New Year's Eve in our hotel room and fella sleep early. I was expecting it to be "crazy" busy and loud but didn't find it any louder than our first couple nights here. Thank goodness for the a/c drowning out much of the noise!

Today we are supposed to go to brunch with Rachel and the other volunteers. I am not sure if stores are open today or not. If so, we are planning to go to an open market , shop, and take in the sights. We plan to be low key today and rest.

We've gotten reports of the extreme cold and mass amount of snow we've left behind in Canada. We are definitely grateful for a break from that!

I will keep trying to figure out pics on this.
We covet your thoughts and prayers as we continue our journey !
Happy New Year!

Touchdown!

Touchdown--Kolkata, India
December 30, 2013



We have never travelled overseas. Our perspective is already shifting.  What an awakening:  we were astounded by the high costs of food in the Franfurt airport (learning a little about euros), we were in awe of riding on "jumbo" airplane (as Bekah refers to it) from Frankfurt to Bangalore), we have been humbled (already) as we begin to walk the streets of Kalkota and meet people living in extreme poverty.  Upon arrival to our hotel, I was taken back by the "meager" accomodations but after only one experience walking through the local area, I feel like we are living like kings and queens. We have beds to sleep in, air conditioning, running water, a private bathroom.  We are thankful!
Want to take a guess where we ate supper?  Chili's!  Talk about irony...  There are several others volunteering this week with Tabitha's Heart. The group wanted western food. So we walked through the streets to a high end mall that just opened a month ago. Our first meal in India and we ate at Chili's!  Needless to say, Randy was pleased to have ribs and bottomless coke.
Finally we all crawled into bed and slept!!! We woke up part way through the night but managed to go back to sleep. We are hopeful to acclimate to the time change quickly.  We will be taking taxis out to the girls and boys homes today. We will deliver some of the clothes and toys we brought along and Randy will start assessing some of the handyman projects that need to be done.
Randy's diligently researching vehicles on the internet. We will be purchasing a secondary vehicle for Tabitha's Heart. I am grateful we won't be driving here. There are few rules of the road. Being passengers is plenty "experience" for me. The constant honking of horns seems to magically help vehicles (which are very close to each other), pedestrians, rickshaws, cows, and more all somehow get to their destinations.
Just thought I'd share a taste of our adventure--until next time...

We're Leaving On A Jet Plane...

We’re leaving on a jet plane…

Friday, December 27, 2013

After much anticipation, the day has finally arrived—our little family departs for an adventure of a lifetime!  Kolkata, India—here we come!

(Lots of bug spray packed!)

The past week has been a whirlwind of activity and emotions.  We have so much to be thankful for.  We had the honor of hosting Christmas here for our family on the 23^rd.  We started our day with visiting Randy’s mom in the lodge (Carman) and then the crew came to our place for the rest of the day into the evening.  Many stories were shared and laughter filled the air! 

We had a leisurely Christmas morning at home, dedicated time to bible reading/discussion, and opened presents.  The “tone” of the day changed in the afternoon:  completed packing suitcases (weighing each one to stay within regulations) and took down all of our Christmas decorations (I did not want to return to that in February). We ended our Christmas festivities at my adopted parents’ place yesterday.

Of course there were additional “to-dos” that seemed never ending (I will spare you the boring details).  And now we are only a couple hours away from departing!

We ask for your thoughts as prayers as we travel.  Each of us is fighting a bit of a cold and it would be wonderful if they finished running their course upon arrival on the 29^th!

Now it’s time for me to rouse the two sleepy heads.  Looking forward to updating you on our journeys!

Until next time…

The Write Path: Resurrecting our blog in time for India!

A year ago I had good intentions to “chronicle” (blog) our ongoing home-schooling experiences.  As many New Year’s resolutions, I think I got to February and that was the end of that.  Why didn’t I continue on with our quirky stories?  No excuses just a year full of reasons as so many of you can relate.  Life happens and often the “extras” slip away without action.

How about a quick 2013-year in review?

Our dear Grandma Dot passed away a week after she turned 105 in April.  We miss her so much but are indebted to the legacy she left behind.

Kim, my sweet sister, moved to a new apartment much better suited for her.  She lives with 2 other very social ladies and continues to build community through her day-supports.  Kim has a small business called, “Kim’s Kandy Korner” and fills 3 sets of bulk candy machines for local businesses.  She has a recycling job once a week at Friendship, Inc.  And she is active in her church community.  I am so proud of her growth and encouraged independence.  I continue to assist her as her guardian (that ebbs and flows with busyness).

Randy and the boys keep active with Motorland.  Our small business continues to support two families, and three single guys.  We are grateful for our continued connections with many not for profit organizations and the ability to support them through helping provide vans, buses, etc.  Randy, of course, stays busy with the many responsibilities on our yard.  In addition, he and Rebekah built a wagon for our horses to pull last winter.  I think a sleigh is the next project…

Rebekah remains very active in life!  We have thoroughly adopted “SelfDesigning” as our rhythm of life, and specifically in her home schooling.  She just completed another art class with an amazing mentor, continues with weekly swim lessons, and started ballet lessons at home (instructed by an older friend)…don’t be too surprised, this is a step toward becoming more flexible to work toward her dream of trick riding (horses).  Rebekah and JJ (aka Jalapeno Jimmy) spent a lot of time together this year.  Rebekah’s confidence and abilities in horse back riding has soared!  Meanwhile, she continues to love to read, research random things (we don’t call her Random Rebekah for nothing), and has a good attitude toward working more on math.

In addition to driving to and from all of the activities, I serve on two boards of not for profit organizations.  A small group of us created a youth-led, mentor rich learning community for ages 11-18 called three65.  There was a lot of groundwork for this group.  It’s very rewarding to have our youth meeting now.  I continue on in an “advisory” role for Equine Oasis (equine assisted learning for at risk individuals).  I also co-lead our local 4-H group, Dacotah Equestrian Club.  However, the most impacting change for me in 2013 has been returning to school.  I am working toward my master’s degree in Self Design:  Building Learning Communities through the Self Design Graduate Institute out of Western Washington University.  My classes have been incredibly rewarding and enriching and I look forward to the rest of this journey!

A dream two years in the making:

As some of you know, we have been planning a trip to Kolkata, India for the past two years.  We were supposed to go a year ago.  However, we had a “glitch” with immigration when we renewed Rebekah’s and my residency.  I am firm believer that things happen for a reason, so this is now the perfect timing for our adventure.  We depart December 27^th.

We will be serving along side a friend of mine with Tabitha’s Heart not for profit organization.   There are two youth centers (academic help, life skills building, and a large mid-day meal) and two children’s homes (boys with addictions/orphaned girls).  We are not certain how Rachel (my friend and executive director) will have us serve.  We are going with open hearts and a willingness to work however needed.

Randy can only join us for the first two weeks.  He will be seeking out a car for the group.  He is so excited for Motorland to purchase and donate its first truly international car.  Don’t worry we won’t be driving there! The rules of the road are very different and the sheer congestion will be enough to motivate us to walk!  Randy will also be intentional in helping with any “handyman” projects that are needed.

Rebekah and I will be staying on for another three weeks.  By then, we should establish a “rhythm” and feel more acclimated to our surroundings.

This trip is my main reason to resurrect this blog!  We will do our best to chronicle our adventure with stories, pictures, and videos.  Hopefully this will give you a “window” into our journey.

Until next time…Merry Christmas and a very happy 2014!

Education...Our Rhythm Of Life!

Sometimes I am asked why we homeschool?  That’s a loaded question…

At the beginning of our journey, my answer was quite academic.  Rebekah has dyslexia (which manifested quite severely when she was younger and she continues to struggle with various areas of this sequential memory disorder).  We were happy with her private school she’d attended from kindergarten to grade four.  Her school had become like family and was definitely a source of rich community in our lives.  However, the further along Rebekah’s educational path, it became more apparent that her learning style was like trying to “fit a square peg in a round hole.”  By the end of her fourth grade year, she resented schooling and I knew we couldn’t lose this child at such a young age…there had to be a different approach to education for our family.

Now when I am asked why we chose to homeschool, I have so much more to share.  As I reflect on the past year and a half, sometimes I feel like we’ve only just begun this journey.  Yet, we have embraced an educational philosophy and rhythm of life that so well suits us, traditional schooling seems a lifetime ago.

For us, the Self Design Learning approach has been life transforming. I have to be honest that I have had the more difficult learning curve as we embarked this journey.  I have been challenged to let go of many of my preconceived biases and prejudices concerning education and how to prepare for “life” as an adult.  I am a traditional learner and I’ve had to release Rebekah to a world of learning that is not traditional according to North American ideology.

Rebekah has completely embraced Self Design.  She directs the majority of her learning (yes, truth be told, I still influence some of the math and spelling curriculum—yet, I try to be much less rigid and be creative in the approach to these subjects, as well...such as our micro-finance unit).  She is a transformed kid—a happier student compared to a couple of years ago!

Her learning is experiential.  This is how she learns best!  And, I must admit—this is how I learn best!  I am learning right along side my (soon to be) 12-year-old daughter.  I have a renewed passion for learning and am truly inspired as I join Rebekah’s educational journey.

At first I felt the need to “defend” our choice in home schooling.  Now, I do not make any apologies or put up any defenses.  I realize education looks different for each of us.  I am grateful for the numerous teachers who so willingly give of themselves to educate this generation and the generations to come.  I am also grateful that we can choose the best path for Rebekah’s learning and I am more than willing to share our journey with those around us (the joys and the trials).  In addition, we are blessed to be surrounded with friends who embrace this educational approach.  They have added a rich component to our lives and are on this journey with us!

So that you may have a “sneak peak” into the eyes (perspective) of our home-schooler, I will share Rebekah’s 4-H speech with you (keep in mind that for her age level, she is limited to a 2-3 minute speech--there's  a lot to pack in a short amount of time).  May you be inspired to cease the never-ending learning opportunities around you!

The World Is My Classroom

What on earth do pajamas,

Zip-lines, and Calcutta, India

Have in common?

Living in an environment where

Imagination is encouraged

And creativity is constantly inspired…

Sounds wonderful to me! 

How about you?

Good afternoon chairperson,

Judges, family members, friends,

And fellow 4-H members.

I am home-schooled and

The way I’m taught is

The WORLD is my classroom!

 I’m going to share my 3 favorite

Areas of being home-schooled:

I can learn wherever and whenever

Spending time with my friends

And hands on projects and field trips.

 I have learned that every experience

Can be a learning experience.

Sometimes we are driving somewhere,

A question pops into my mind, I ask it, and we talk

About the topic and sometimes I have to do research

To answer my question.

I used to be uncomfortable with the computer

But since I started home schooling, I enjoy looking

Up random things (like 80s music videos, singing and dancing,

And even learning about the culture of that time).  I’ve noticed

That my typing is getting better because

of all of my fun research.

Another area in home schooling

which I love is spending time with my friends!

I often get to hang out with my friends.  I really enjoy

playing outside with them…we get creative!

We pretend we are pioneers,

Climb trees, cook together, and sew.

Sometimes we are really adventurous

(like riding the zip-line)!  I also get to be

with my other best friends—my animals!

I work with and ride my horse, play with

The cats, and our goats.

We keep each other company!

Because we have a more relaxed approach

To schooling (and yes, there are days I get to wear

my pajamas all day), mom encourages lots of

Hands on projects and field trips for my learning.

Some of my favorite projects have been:

Learning to weld with my dad, making a zip-line across

our front yard, making a HUGE play house out of

an old grain shed and making a gate for an obstacle

course for my horse trainer.

Field trips are so fun!  I’ve learned to kayak,

I’ve been to plays, a historical walk

In Winnipeg, and the orchestra.  But

The ULTIMATE field trip of all is what

We are now preparing for!

At the end of September, my family is

Going on a mission trip to Calcutta, India.

We will be serving at a non-profit tutoring

Center run by Tabitha’s Heart. 

  

We will stay in Calcutta for 5 weeks.  I can hardly wait

To meet everybody, go to the open market, wear their

Traditional clothes and work in the tutoring center.

My mom’s friend, Rachel, runs the center for

Street kids in Calcutta. She says I can help out

with the young kids (playing with them,

teaching English, and crafts).  I also get to help cook.

I want to make them a traditional north

American treat, applesauce! 

I can’t wait for this wonderful experience!  I am

So excited for this trip because I know I will

Be sharing God’s love and helping others!!!

  

I used to attend traditional school

And it was good but not the best way for

Me to learn…I would never have imagined back then

That I could learn in a way that the entire WORLD is

My classroom!!!

"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it."  Proverbs 22:6

Out Of The Mouths of Babes--What Motivates Your Actions?

How often do you pause to think about what motivates your actions? 

Before our schedule got a bit busier with Christmas and family gatherings, Rebekah and I were chatting about a chapter in her devotional, The Walk the Walk Book—It’s a God Thing!  The focus of our discussion was about acts of service.  Rebekah has a beautiful heart to serve others.  Acts of service naturally flow out of this eleven-year-old girl.  However, I wanted to challenge her to search her heart as to what motivates her to seek out opportunities to help those around her and the community abroad.  Rebekah took my challenge seriously and didn’t give me a quick response to merely place a “check mark” by a proverbial to-do list (i.e. math—check, reading—check, chores—check, motivation to help others….hmmm???)

As a parent, it is my privilege and duty to raise my daughter and hopefully impart knowledge and wisdom to her.  Yet, God often chooses to use Rebekah as His vessel to impart His wisdom to me.

This morning Rebekah came to me (completely unsolicited) and shared her inspiration with me.  “Mom, do you remember when you asked me why I like to help others so much?”  “Yes,” I replied.  “I realize I like to help others because it gives me an opportunity to share God’s love, of course.  But even if I don’t have a chance to tell someone (directly) about God, when I help them I can offer them HOPE!” 

I am proud of Rebekah for taking the time to search her heart about her motivation to help others.  She certainly offers a lot of hope to those around her. 

May we be challenged (by this young girl) to take the necessary time to pause and think about what motivates us in life! 

To help those around you, offers HOPE!  I have nothing more to add to this beautiful wisdom—thank you, Rebekah.

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life. 
Proverbs 13:11-13

(This verse is special for Rebekah…she is an inspiration to offer HOPE, as well as the symbolism of the TREE of life…she loves trees!)