"God is Good"

Last week, Jacob conducted his sixth funeral since moving here nine months ago. The month before we arrived, there were three deaths within the same family, three days in a row. The causes are varied: cancer, other health complications, construction accident, alcohol poisoning/exposure, miscarriage at 6 months, stillborn baby. Only a few years before we arrived here, Savoonga had the highest rate of suicides in Alaska. Death is no stranger to the people here. During a recent Women's Bible Study, the question was raised, "How do we continue to have joy when bad things happen?" One woman replied, "My husband was killed in an accident when my daughter was just a baby. Years later, both of my sons died. This was very hard for me, but God is good." Time and again since living here, I have heard people share heart wrenching stories of losing loved ones and almost every person has ended their story with "But God is good." I haven't heard one person display any hint of anger towards God for these often tragic and seemingly unfair events, rather they thank God for providing for them during these times and for helping them carry on. Their faith and attitudes have been quite humbling for me. A few days ago, a woman visited with me and our conversation led to the remembering of the 3 deaths in a row this past summer...one death was of her little sister. She said, "But I'm hanging in there. It's not easy, but there's nothing else we can do. I tell people, `You need to pray and trust God.'" This morning, I read the following passage from Isaiah 41:27-31: "Why do you say, O Jacob, and complain, O Israel, `My way is hidden from the Lord; my cause is disregarded by my God'? Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increaes the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strengh. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." After reading this passage, I realized that it is verses such as these that the people I wrote of above cling to. They seem to have an intimate understanding of the power and vastness of God. We do not understand why seemingly bad things happen, but we do understand and know that "God is good" and if we cling to that understanding, He will carry us through what we don't understand.

Favorite Phrases

I came upstairs last night to find Owen like this! He had moved the big table over to rest his feet and he moved the little table over for his books. Not the best picture, but it was pretty cute in person:)

Meanwhile, Logan was repeatedly jumping off of the potty stool. Notice his nice striped socks that he picked out to wear with his striped shirt:) As you've probably noticed from previous pictures, my children are opposed to wearing pants and socks. However, yesterday morning, that little table that Owen laid his books upon, fell over square on Logan's big toe. His toenail turned black right away and he cried off and on all morning until we discovered that his toe doesn't hurt if he has socks on. Imagine that! He walks normal with socks on, but has quite a limp when they are off! He wore socks all day today too and when I went to take them off for his bath, he cried:( Poor little guy.

So, I entitled this post "Favorite Phrases" because I thought I should write down a few of my favorites before I forget them. I think the boys have more sound effects than words! Some of the regulars are "whoa" instead of "big". We take a nap in the "whoa bed" and tonight instead of playing a little bit longer, Owen wanted to play "a whoa bit longer, Mama." They say "kaBOOMba" instead of "fall". This morning Logan reported, "Owen kaBOOMba-ed off his car." They describe their actions as "on poipose" or "accident" or "not thinking" which is usually followed with "Next time, me (will) think." And finally, last night as we sat down to dinner, Jacob looked at the food and said, "This looks sooo good." Owen looked at the food and said, "Sooo ooey." It was such a treat to hear that tonight the meal I slaved over was not just its typical "ooey" but "sooo ooey." (By the way, we are trying to break him of this table rudeness just in case we ever eat somewhere other than our own kitchen...fortunately, I think we still have a few months to instill some more manners!)

My Little Helpers

This evening, Owen was pretending to be my pet crocodile, which was fine until he ate my pretend pet goldfish. I said, "You can't be my pet anymore. I'm going to kick you out of my house!" Logan jumped up and said, "Me do it, Mama." He promptly jumped up and kicked Owen's bum in the direction of the door. Oops! I guess I should have anticipated that coming!

Earlier today, the boys were ready for lunch before I was so they climbed up into their seats and apparently Logan was snitching some food because as I was working at the kitchen counter I heard Owen frantically shout, "Logan! Stop eating! Pray!" This was followed by a pause and then Owen singing, "Ohhhh...yah, yah, yah...appleseed...Amen!" and then enthusiastically, "Okay Logan...Eat!"

The Yupik Language

We have heard that the Yupik language is one of the last of the Alaskan native languages to be retained. Some think the reason is because Yupik people have remained so secluded and isolated on St.Lawrence Island. Still, today, even on St.Lawrence Island, Yupik elders are watching their native tongue fade away. The pastors who lived here 20 years ago had a 2 year old daughter who spent the first years of her life here. She recently visited and is still fluent in the language. The elders tell us that will not be true of Logan and Owen because, as we have discovered ourselves, many of the children in the village do not even know the language themselves. Many adults are being very proactive to only speak Yupik to their children and beginning this year, it is supposed to be really taught in the school again. I wanted to let you view the song, "Jesus Loves Me" in Yupik so that you can get an idea of the difficulty of the language to this English speaker's ear!

Jesus piniqaanga liisimakaqa inqun Bible-et apeghvikaatnga;
mekestaaghhaat ellngan pikii; taakut kayaatut elnga iknaquq.

Chorus: Aa, Jesus piniqaanga, Aa, Jesus piniqaanga, Aa, Jesus piniqaanga,
Bible-et tawaten apeghvikaatnga.

I believe everyone in the village speaks English, but most adults still converse in Yupik. Thanks to a couple who has lived in Gambell for the past 50 years as Wycliffe Translators, we have a songbook that was created in 1983. It contains 43 hymns that were translated into Yupik and the other 110 songs are original Yupik songs written by natives living on St.Lawrence Island. Most Sundays, people from our church will share a song or two with us and some or the songs are also played on the radio station that comes out of Nome.

Logan and Owen, being twins and boys(that's my excuse, anyway!), have been rather delayed in developing their verbal skills. We joked that our fear was that they would begin speaking Yupik rather than English and then we would be in big trouble! For a few months, after first moving here, Owen would only say, "Dobboo" and "Dobbeddee". He said these words very consistently and one day, Jackson, a 12-year old boy who visited often asked what those words meant. I told him that I thought they were Yupik and I also wondered what they meant:) He assured me they were not Yupik words. I assured him they were not English words. Jackson decided that Owen was "Dobboo" and Logan was "Dobbeddee." He has called them by these names ever since. We hadn't seen Jackson for a few months when we saw him again last night. He said, "It's Dobboo and Dobbeddee!" Logan said, "No! Logan and Owen." I guess maybe their English language skills are developing after all:)

Ohhhh Appleseed

Before we eat lunch, we usually sing the Johnny Appleseed Prayer. Logan and Owen LOVE to sing. When they talk, they use many words now, but when they sing, they usually just sing, "Ya,ya,ya" or something of the sort very loudly. Today, I watched them set up a lunch party. They brought in a table and two chairs. They set the table and both sat down. I watched as they both folded their hands, bowed their heads, and sang, "Ohhhhh appleseed...Ohhhhh appleseed....Amen!" They clapped their hands and began "eating." :)

Before I sign off, I just thought of another story. Some girls came to visit today while I was busy hanging our clothes on clotheslines strung all over our living room. One girl said, "You have a dryer." I replied, "It broke." A big smile swept across her face and she said, "Now you have to dry your clothes like us." Fair enough:)

More Photos

Owen was very excited to have a 6 month old in the house. We have a lot of older kids visit, but not many under the age of 8.


I went into the church Sunday afternoon to find Owen "preaching" (so he told me!) and I guess Logan was the praise band??:)



I think it would always be a joyful thing to see your child enjoying his/her first greens, but extra exciting when you live in Savoonga where you don't see many fresh fruits or veggies. These were our first greens from our AeroGarden. After their first bites, both boys said, "Mmmm!" and finished the entire leaf asking for more. Yeah:)...now if only we cold grow mass quantities!! (Note: Apparently greens are more enjoyable with your eyes closed.)

Happy Birthday Mama!

Jacob and the boys helped me celebrate my birthday yesterday. The focal point this year was the cake! I promised some of you that I would post photos of the process. Papa let the boys crack the eggs...he fished out the shells and salvaged the egg off the table! But the final product was beautiful and quite tasty!







Logan and Owen gave me kisses for my birthday:)


We had impromptu visitors after dinner, so I called them my party guests!