Famous?!?

If you're interested in seeing us in the local paper, go over to our adoption blog and read about it.

Teach

Can't Sleep...

It's 2 AM and I am supposed to be sleeping but I just can't slow things down in my head.  I kinda have a one track mind these days - any guesses as to what it is?!?  

Why is it that the BEST things in life have to be the hardest?  I know what you all are going to say - if they weren't hard to achieve, they would be the best, right?  It just really sucks that my kids are out there WAITING to come home to our family forever and there is nothing I can do to speed up this process.  I just want my little ones home, NOW!  I can't get adoption stuff out of my head.  Why does this process have to be so HARD?  Why are there so many HOOPS to jump through?  Why so much RED TAPE?  Why is it so stinking EXPENSIVE?  This is the fifth adoption process Cher and I have done and it never gets any easier - rules always change, requirements are different, legalities all over the place!  Can't the countries of the world get together and just streamline this process so it is universal around the globe and have one set of rules to govern it all?!?  That would make life SO much easier on adoptive families.  After-all, these kids need a home, a family, and we are ready, willing and able to give that to them.  

God, please make things go faster!  Please give me patience!  Please help me to trust your timing!  Please look after my babies! 

"But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."      

2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Teach

P.S.  If you remember, say a prayer for our babies in Uganda - Thanks!

Nesting

Okay, so my wife has it BAD.  She is nesting!  For those of you who don't know what I am talking about, nesting is what expectant adoptive mothers (and maybe all mothers) do when they are preparing for a child.  

I equate this to the closest I will get to a pregnant wife.   She has cravings, 

but in a different way.  For example painting.  She was stressing about and itching, no craving, to paint the baby room.  This began in the summer, so I thought I did well and helped her paint two walls "Chocolate Fondue", as seen here.  She was also craving "setting up", so I helped put up not one, but two cribs (also in pic), because we are 

"expecting" 2 precious little ones.  

Well the past week or so, her painting "craving" came back and she just did not feel like the room was right yet.  So like a good, supportive husband, I went and got the paint, "Green Gable", seen here, and even started taping the walls for more paint (I also got 6, that's right 6, big rubbermaid bins FULL of clothes from my sister for Cher to look through that night).  Today we painted and are just about done, only a few minor touch ups, a second coat on the dots and some words on the wall.  

Here are some "in the process" and "completed" pics

First coat of "Green Gable"

The cribs moved away from the wall.

Cher painting the dots.

The finished product (almost).

Just need to write/paint the perfect phrase Cher thought of on the bare space on the green wall (I'm not going to tell you what it is yet - I believe I learned this from my bloggy friend, Linn - keeping you in suspense for a bit :P )

Notice the "cozies" waiting and ready for our 2 precious ones on the dresser.  Just one more small part of the nesting going on here at the Schalk house.  Now I must say, I kinda like it... don't completely understand it because I'm a man, but I like it and I am glad to be able to help in some small way with my nesting wife.  

Love ya hun!

Teach

Sportsmanship and Fair Play

Okay so it's been a while since I posted.  Frankly, I have so many thoughts going through my head, I have not been able to write them down in anything that makes sense.  I've tried, erased, tried, deleted, tried and left sitting several times.  So, I hope you are still out there, waiting patiently for me to get my thoughts all lined up in a row, which may never happen, but thanks for being patient anyway!

A new school year has started up and is in full swing.  The problem is, school is in full swing, but I seem not to be.  Something is different.  Not my students (they stay the same on the colony), but me.   I still love being a teacher but I can't get things together and feel like I'm always running behind this year.  Things keep piling up and I have limited motivation to do them.  I think my mind is focussed on something else - go figure!

Anyways, today was not good to say the least.  Don't get me wrong, colony teaching has perks, lots of them but it also has quirks, LOTS of them.  It is frustrating that students get pulled whenever, for whatever reason.  School is the last priority and this year parents haven't even been giving me the courtesy of letting me know when a student will be gone - frustrating!  Frustrating because often it's more than one student and that affects the others I am trying to teach - do I continue on and make the students missing fall behind (which punishes me in the end) or do I hold where we're at and try to find something (spur of the moment because I never know who will be missing) that everyone can do instead that is still somewhat educational?  When I do hold, and try and have fun with the students that are there, it never seems like it is enough and the ones missing ALWAYS complain that they missed it - which is not MY fault they were gone.  I don't know, it just gets to a point where the complaining gets to me. 

Well, today was one of those days and in PE (the last class of the day) it REALLY got to me.  I have been busting my butt for over 2 years now to try and teach some sort of fair play and sportsmanship to my students, especially the boys, especially the older boys.  I don't feel like I'm getting through, and today I hit the WALL.  How do you teach fair play and sportsmanship to a culture of boys who are taught, right from birth, that the oldest, strongest, biggest & fastest ALWAYS go first/win/get the best/have the most privileges? AND if someone lower in the "pecking order" has/gets something you want you just take it by any means necessary?  AND if someone lower in the "pecking order" wins or does better, you can always solve that by ganging up on that person and put them back in their place? Any suggestions?  I tried something today that I have never done before, so I will see if it works, but I didn't feel too good about it.  I have always tried to lead/teach by example and make a conscious effort to display good sportsmanship and fair play VERY purposefully so everyone can see, but today I did not do that.  It had an immediate affect, but I am not sure if it will be lasting.  We'll see.  I would love any comments/advice anyone has on how to teach this kind of thing to kids/teenagers who have not been brought up with or taught this before.

TEACH

Prayer

Lately, God has been doing some VERY amazing things in my life and those around me because of the power of prayer.  I have talked about this during my Uganda trip and seen SO MANY prayers answered while I was there.  Prayer is something I sometimes take for granted.  I know God knows what I need, He is all knowing, but some times I forget to ask Him.  Prayer is something God tells us to do, not because He doesn't know already, but because (I think) He wants to be asked.  He wants us to humble ourselves, even get off our high horses and acknowledge that we can't do it on our own.  Of course He can do it for us, but we live in a world of people who feel like they are in control of their own lives and can do everything on their own.  Asking God for what we need, even what we want, acknowledges that we know we are not in control and that we do need His help to do it.  I need to be reminded of this sometimes, even in the "little" things in life.  Its easy (easier) to pray about "big" things but even the "little" things need prayer too.  The more I realize this, it seems, the more peace I have about even the day-to-day.  God is a BIG God and cares even about the sparrow (Luke 12:6 & 7).  I love reading Mark 11, especially verse 24, "Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours."  It's the belief part that I think I need to work on.  BUT I know God is working in my life and can see very visibly by the answers to prayers He has given, especially lately.  

With that in mind, can I ask you to join me in praying for a few things?  I am learning more and more what a powerful tool the internet can be and how it can be used for good, so I am writing a list of prayers on my blog for those that want to pray.  I know there are literally millions of things you can be praying for, but if you remember, think of this list while you pray:

The entire Saunders family - they have been through an INCREDIBLE amount of stuff in the last year and I cannot believe how unswerving they are in their faith.  Their house burned down, their son is going through MAJOR procedures to correct his legs, their daughter has a brain tumor.  The father, DW, is the pastor of the River Church and led the team I was on to Uganda.  He is struggling with some VERY serious health issues since returning from Uganda and they are in the process of adopting a little girl from China and need prayer for that too!  (I probably even missed something) Just pray for them.  If you are interested, you can read more about them here: A Place Called Simplicity  Make sure you give yourselves a HUGE chunk of time if you want to read about everything - it is an amazing blog!

Cindy - she is battling cancer and has a family of 10 kids!  I know when I was going through my cancer almost 11 years ago, that the prayers of others is often all that got me through!  You can read about her story here: Faithful Promises  and also about a fast Linn Saunders (from the above link) is organizing this Monday, July 27.

Dan and Melody - this is a couple from my church.  Dan has been diagnosed with a variant of prion disease.  The doctors are baffled by his case, but it has been over a year now and no clear help or improvement has been made for him.  They have 3 young kids and Melody is carrying their family for over a year now.  Dan's memory is not good and he has lost a ton of weight and the outcome for prion disease is not good.  Doctors say he will continue to deteriorate until his body shuts down.  It could be months or years BUT God can change all of that!

My Family - We are adopting from Uganda and need prayer for it all - details to be worked out, paperwork to come in a timely manner (Alberta is causing some problems), a speedy court date, finances, trips, care for our other kids when we travel - just that everything around this whole thing work (more on adoption stuff in a later post).

I know these are just a few of the things that I am praying for, but they are on my mind right now in the forefront.  If you will/can, please remember these requests when you pray.  I appreciate you taking the time to even read them now and SO appreciate you praying with me for them!!

Teach

Off Again...

Boy, it seems like I was just getting settled at home again and now me and my whole family, are off to camp!  Life is crazy busy sometimes, and I feel a little overwhelmed at times, but God is in control and makes ALL of this possible.  If it were up to me, it would all flop, I'm sure - I haven't even begun to wrap my mind around doing a staff meeting tomorrow night for the staff that are coming.  This year for some reason (maybe a couple reasons, see previous posts) I am taking more time to gear up.  Don't get me wrong, Crow is one of the most favorite things in my life that God let's me do!  I love Crow and this definitely is a highlight in my year, every year since I can remember - if I counted correctly, this is my 22nd year involved with Crow, first as a camper for many years, then as various different staff positions and associate board member.  Crow IS a BIG part of my life and I credit it, through God, for much of the man I am today.  Crow has influenced my life SO greatly and I love it SO much.  God does amazing things through this ministry and I am humbled just to be a part of it.  God uses even a lowly sinner nobody like me to do His kingdom work there.  It is truly INCREDIBLE!  God even brought me and my wife together at Crow - that is one of the greatest gifts He could have ever given me, and He used Crow to make it happen!!!  Thank you Jesus!

Anyway, I am supposed to be sleeping but have way too much on my mind right now, so I am blogging :)  Mostly, I am just writing to ask for your prayers.  If you remember, can you please pray for me and my family over the next couple of weeks.  Although it is usually a VERY good time out there, there is a spiritual battle going on and we are doing God's work there, which the devil HATES, so he does try to bring it down however he can - through Cher and I fighting, staff conflicts, camper problems and behavior, lack of staff or supplies, vandalism, sickness, whatever he can think of.  Your prayers go a LONG way to helping provide an umbrella of God's protection over the camp and work being done there!  You are awesome!!  Thanks in advance!  God is ALWAYS good and faithful to us and camp and I KNOW He will be again this summer.  I know that prayer works and felt it so REAL in Uganda, so this is no different except for the setting.  Ephesians 6:18-20 says, "And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should."  This is my request of you.  Thank you!  Be well and be blessed!

Teach

I'm Back!

Actually, I've been back for a few days, but I seem to have hit the ground running.  I thought I would have some time to recoup and gather my thoughts, but that doesn't seem to be the case.

Anyway, I thought I better do an update for my 1 or 2 readers that I have :)  I don't think I could ever write about everything I saw, experienced and felt during my time in Uganda.  Instead, I will just tell you that never before in my life have I seen God move so QUICKLY, so FORCEFULLY, so AMAZINGLY, so INCREDIBLY, and so VISIBLY in my life.  God was AWESOME and VERY present on my trip!!!  Mountains were moved, enemies were crushed and chased away, hearts were changed and MIRACLES happened!!  YAY GOD!!!

One of the biggest and most amazing miracles for me was God leading me to our new daughter!! 

 That's right, I said new daughter.  God had Kaysia Elizabeth James (called Elizabeth by the orphanage) picked out just for our family and made sure EVERYTHING would fall into place and NOTHING would stop me from beginning the process of adopting her into our family and setting the path to bringing her home in His time (hopefully soon, if it is God's plan).  People ask how I "picked" her, but I must quickly correct them because I did not pick her, God chose her for our family and led us to each other.  He gave me some very clear signs that she was my daughter - like her calling me daddy when putting her to bed one of the first nights and her running and finding me after me asking God for my child to come to me (no other kids came to me that day!!).  

God is SO good and I praise Him for all He did on this trip!  I am so humbled that He chose to use me to serve the people of Uganda.  I am forever changed by what I saw there.  I am SO blessed by the people I got to serve and serve with.  What a Uganda Go team!  What an AMAZING group of guys from African Hearts ministry that we got to work with! AND what a BIG God that came through time and time again for us while we were there!!!  Thank you Jesus!  And thanks to all of you who prayed for me while I was gone!  Your prayers were felt constantly and were very real to me!!  Maybe when you have time, I can tell you some more stories.  

Teach

All Set

Well, it is finally May 27 and I am ready to go on an adventure of a life-time!  I have dreamed of this day for a long time and now God is allowing me to fulfill this dream.  I don't know all the He has in store for me but I know that I will never forget it!  I can't wait to meet the child God has picked for us at Sanyu.  I can't wait to do the work that God has planned for me there and I can't wait to get home and share my adventure with my family.  

I have a lot of emotions right now: excitement, nervousness, sadness (I will miss my family and especially my wife!), anxiousness to get there and get started, happiness and a whole pile of others.  I have never been away from Cheremi since we were married.  Even through my cancer treatments, she was always there.  I know she is going to do great, but if you think of it, can you pray for her?  I would appreciate it and I know she would too!  Could you pray for me too?  Thanks!  God bless!  Here I GO!

Teach

Something a little different...

I've been posting so much about my upcoming trip to Uganda lately that I thought it was time for something a little different.  Cher and I are working on finishing a new table for our family.  We've always had kind of a small table - it barely fits 6 people around and then there is no room for the food to sit on the table too.  The table we are finishing is a lot bigger and has 2 additional sections you can ad to extend it.  

I love this table and all it stands for in my mind!  It means we can actually have friends and family over and all sit at the same table, with the food there too!  It also means we have space for many more kids :)  I don't know how big God wants our family to be, but I'm pretty sure we could fit 12 people around this table, so I think we're ready for more!   It also stands for something Cher and I are doing (and in the future - did) together.  I love doing projects with my wife!  The stuff that we do together just comes out better.  I don't know what it is, but I know that we work well together and I cherish the memories of the process with her.  That's kind of how it's been our whole marriage.  The process of things we do together just seem to work out better.  Isn't it amazing how God can bring two people together from totally different backgrounds and up-bringings and have them just fit and complete each other?  Cher is definitely someone VERY special to me and I am truly blessed to have a wife like her!!  So, this table is more then just a table to me, it is a journey and a process I get to share with my wife.  I love you, Cher!  I can't wait to share many memories with you (and our family) around this table!!

Teach

Counting Down...

T minus 12 days and counting!  I cannot believe how fast the day is approaching for Uganda!!  The list I have of things to do doesn't seem to get any smaller.  In fact, it seems like it is growing as the day gets closer.  All the little details that need to be taken care of, it's enough to drive a person crazy!!  The more I can get done, in terms of the adoption paperwork, the better and faster the process will go in Uganda.  I am praying that God make things like only He can and that He help me not to forget or neglect anything!!  Sometimes it is hard to just let things go and TRUST Him for everything - that is something I have be working on in my life - trusting God.  It is one thing to say you trust God, but another thing to then actually live like you do.  

On a VERY positive note, we had our last meeting for our homestudy done last night, so a big YAY GOD for that!!  I always hate being under the microscope like that and having a complete stranger ask you questions that really are none of their business.  The process is getting more intrusive then when we first did it with our oldest, and the questions far more personal.  This time seemed different too because we are not using a Christian agency (long story) to do the homestudy BUT this is one area I do trust God in.  I know that He will make the homestudy how it needs to sound to bring our child home to us.  

Anyways, just a few thoughts again today from this lowly teacher.  Blessings!!  Praying for God to work in me TRUST in HIM!

Teach

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.  You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:11-13

Tribute to the best Mom!

I hope I don't offend anyone reading this, but I am posting this because my wife is the BEST mom.  Today we had the first part of our homestudy.  As the social worker was going through her questions, I couldn't help but think that not only do I have the BEST wife, but my kids have the BEST mother.  Yeah, there are good moms out there, I will not deny it, but my wife is the BEST mom. 

So Cheremi, here's a tribute to you!

Cheremi (mom) is:

affectionate, beautiful, caring, diligent, engaging, friendly, great, honest, industrious, joyful, kind, loving, marvelous, nice, organized, patient, quintessential, role-model, selfless, tactful, unique, vital, warm, eXcellent, youthful, zealous (about her family).

Love ya!

Teach

Malaria Pills

Okay, so my last post sparked some discussion about malaria pills and I think that I will definitely NOT take Lariam and its "cousins".  So, I actually have 2 other choices that no one has mentioned yet, and want to know if anyone out there knows about the downfalls to either of these.  The first is Doxycycline (Vibramycin, Vibra-Tabs, Doryx) and the second choice is Atovaquone/Proguanil (Malarone).  I have a sheet that list some side effects, but it also said that night mares was low risk for the Lariam, so not sure how much I trust it.  Anyone with real experience with these two drugs for malaria, I would love your comments!

Teach

OUCH!!

I think I am officially immunized with every major disease out there.  Today I had my "health consultation for international travel".  I went fully expecting to get a couple of shots - one for yellow fever, one for tetanus, and Hep A & B (wasn't sure if it would be one or two).  Anyways, apparently Uganda is a "hot spot" for every major disease the world has ever known - Polio, Typhoid, Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Influenza, Meningitis, Diptheria, Yellow Fever, Hep A & B just to name a few.  Those are all things that I am now immunized against!  8 shots in all!! My arms are sore right now.  =(  AND, as soon as I see my Dr. to get my pills, I will be "safe" against Malaria and armed with a general antibiotic to do "self treatment of severe diarrhea" caused by bacteria too.  My goodness!  Health nurses are VERY good at convincing you that you are going to die if you go to a third world country without being immunized for EVERYTHING!  On top of that, I need to "watch out" for biting insects of EVERY kind including ticks, chagas (kissing bug) & mosquitos, and also little parasites like hookworms and schistomomiasis.   With a list like that, I'm not sure how anyone can live in those countries! 

Boy, those nurses have a way of making you paranoid!  I know it is good to be concerned about health and make sure you wash your hands, eat well cooked food and drink only safe water.  But honestly, I walked out of there feeling like I'm a goner (not really, but you get the picture).  Anyway, I'm hoping I can lift my arms tomorrow because they are sure sore right now!

Teach

Pleasing to God...

May the things I do

be pleasing to You.

May the things I share,

show Your love and care.

May the places I go,

bring people to know,

the God of Love,

in Heaven above.

And may the things I do

be pleasing to You!

Amen

On My Mind...

For some reason tonight (and lately) I have a ton of stuff on my mind. I just need to get it out and maybe then I can think more clearly on the stuff I should be doing. Cher is really good at listening to me harp, whine and complain about stuff but I don't think it is always fair for her to bare the brunt of that stuff. So I will attempt to "dump" it here and see if that helps =)

I am totally geared up for my mission trip to Uganda but in the same sense I feel like I am running out of time! I have so much that I feel I need to accomplish before then, sometimes I feel like I don't know how to get it all done.

Here's SOME of what needs to get done: medical stuff (shots, pills, etc.), VISA and other travel paperwork, fundraising, gear getting (for me and for stuff to take to the orphanage) -- side note: anyone with a trumpet or other brass instrument that you want to donate to the African Hearts boys home, please let me know ASAP -- communicating with team leaders from Colorado, figuring out money to take along (Canadian and/or American), Adoption paperwork, Sponsorship paperwork, finish taxes, sub plans, regular school work, yard work (hopefully planting a tree and grass seed plus the prep work to do so), Colony teachers' convention, Math Resource project for colony teachers, begin PAT review, begin photocopying and prepping for next year and most importantly making sure Cher and the kids are set for me being gone and PRAY, PRAY, PRAY!

Speaking of praying, it sure seems like people we know are going through some very tough stuff right now. Please pray for Dan and Melody from our church. They are very heavily on my heart. Dan has been struggling with a VERY serious brain disease and medically it is not good BUT God can do anything, including heal Dan's brain. Pray for strength & endurance for Melody as she cares for Dan and their 3 kids through it all. Also pray for Pastor Dwight (the Pastor from Colorado leading the Uganda team), his wife Linn and their family. They are going through some major trials in their family! - house burning down, son Isaiah going through casting for his legs every week, daughter Autumn diagnosed with a tumor on her pituitary gland and more. You can read all about it on Linn's blog: A Place Called Simplicity Pray for me and the rest of the Uganda mission team that I am going with - pray for God's direction, open hearts, willing hands and God's safety while we seek to do His work in Uganda. Pray for Cher and the kids while we prepare for me being gone and while I am gone. I have never been away from Cheremi (except when she went to Jesse's wedding) since we were married and I have never been away from the kids for more then a day. This is pretty major, especially for Trae, who is already fretting about it! Pray for us as we plan for and carry out adopting one of the orphans at the Sanyu Babies Home in Uganda, where I will be doing some work. Pray for government favour both in Canada and Uganda as we go through the process. Man, there is so much more I could ask you to pray for, but if you even do some of these, it would be awesome!! Thanks! =)

What else? Well, some stuff has been bugging me about school lately - specifically some of my students. I just don't seem to be getting through to some of them and this can be quite frustrating! Some days I feel like "Why bother?" I need to find something that grabs their attention and makes them see that the things they are doing are not okay or acceptable. I believe their character is just as important as their academic achievement (probably more important) and try to teach them good character traits but it feels like an uphill battle daily sometimes. I will keep trying, but a glimmer of hope sometimes would be nice (and I do get these from some students sometimes, so that is good. It would be nice from other students too though).

Swine Flu is a huge topic right now. My question is: Why do they call it Swine Flu, if it didn't even come from pigs? (at least that's the info I am getting from some news reports - I haven't actually verified that myself) This has huge repercussions for anything involving pigs and the pig industry. For you non-meat eaters, it probably doesn't mean too much, since you weren't eating pig meat before this, but for those that do, it instills an unfounded and unnecessary fear of pork (at least for many, look at how different countries are reacting to North American Pork - closing imports completely until further notice). One thing I do know from my University days is that viruses, like the Flu, cannot survive when meat is cooked properly, so it is virtually impossible to get the Swine Flu from eating pork, unless you practice eating raw pig meat, which is disgusting and unsafe even before Swine Flu came around.

Anyways, that's what's on my brain tonight. I know I jumped around A LOT but the most important stuff to me was really the whole prayer part. God has really been putting praying for others on my heart lately, so thanks for listening!

Teach

A New Beginning

I have tried to blog before but have lost interest or motivation or just didn't have time - probably a combination of all three. Whatever the reason, I am now at a point in my life (again) where writing down the stuff in my head allows me to think more clearly. Also, some pretty major things are happening in my family right now and blogging seems to be a good medium to get the message to the people I want to receive it. So here we go again - a fresh start, a new beginning. Hope you'll follow along and hopefully I'll actually make it worth following along, only time will tell =)

For now, welcome and thanks for coming along!

Teach