Mike's Blog

Letters, stories, and other stuff

Long hauls, short months

We'll I've officially been busy enough to neglect our blog. I spent the month of May with AIM AIR getting current in the airplane and back flying operationally. I had one long trip into Sudan before I retreated to the media office and jumped back in to a really busy...

A wife of noble character

(I started this entry last week on Mother's Day. But the week's flying, and a few bad days with our internet connection have delayed it being posted. But I think it's worth it even a week late.) I found Renee just the other day sitting on the floor in front of the...

Brave journey

Some months ago the kids begged us for a "special night" together. So we pushed back the couch and laid their sleeping bags on the living room floor. Then we all crammed close to one-another watching a movie and eating snacks. For our kids, any time dedicated to "be a...

Downsizing

For more than a decade, our lives have been packed and repacked, re-arranged and uprooted, with the help of a humble plastic box known as the "Action Packer." On a recent home-assignment, I felt some kind of tribute to the container was due. The essay also helped me...

Bless ’em real good

We're back "home"--rolled into NY a few days later than planned. Most of the family caught the flu toward the end of the trip, and it seemed wise to extend our stay in Virginia to recover and make up for some lost days. They were sunny and warm ones, so we were...

Life on the road

Life on the road

Hard to believe we've been doing this for twelve years... the missionary road trip. Back in 1997 we drove Renee's little red Cavalier over ten thousand miles on our first "deputation" trip—raising up our support before the big move to Africa. I can hardly remember...

Newsletter – January 2009

It's been seven years since we've been home for Christmas. And even though we caught some February snow two furloughs ago, Zach never remembered it. So we all had a blast this past week when eight inches piled up outside our window. We took it all in. Sledding,...

How to waste a weekend

I squandered my weekend. I had intended to tackle that overdue prayer letter among other things. This Saturday was supposed to get me further ahead, but my best-laid plans went up against Zach's puppy-dog eyes. Then Renee started singing a line from "Cat's in the...

Where I’ve been

I have on several occasions tried (started and stopped more than once) to figure out what sort of things to write here. Here in this blog which looks altogether the same. In this world which looks altogether different to me since a month ago. I think I've been at a...

Unforgettable

On Friday we gathered for a memorial service for dad. It was simply amazing. A slice of heaven. I have spent the past two days hearing people tell me what kind of man he was. How he helped their marriage or their wayward son, or even how he saved their life. Young and...

Heaven’s gain

Dad passed away on Monday; not unexpectedly, but sooner than we thought. I was sleeping at the time, while Renee kept watch over him. She phoned me to tell the sad news. And her voice revealed a tenderness and awe in the moment; Dad just stopped breathing, she said....

The envy of angels

The envy of angels

I remember a night years ago when I woke up to the sound of a little whimper outside our bedroom door. I recognized it instantly. Amelia was sick. She had probably picked up another amoeba or something – an easy thing to do out there in Africa – and it hit her in the...

A welcome burden

On Friday morning I drove into New York to spend the day with my father. It was a surprise for him. One that he seemed to cherish. For me, it was a mercy from God. ~~~ I crossed First Avenue with a downtrodden face. An eight-dollar sandwich in my hand, and the weight...

Smalltown girl in the big city

Renee is one in a million. The kind of girl who never really wants anything for her birthday, except a surprise. And it doesn't matter much what secret gift is bestowed, only that it is planned in advance. Because all she really wants is to be remembered, and made to...

Reporting from the mothership

We’re officially New Yorkers now, and I’m not sure how I feel about that. We were in the state a mere ten minutes when I got a speeding ticket. I was rocketing along at a reckless 32 MPH as the officer explained it to me. I think the Jersey tags on our borrowed car...

Remembering

I cannot remember the last time we were stateside for Memorial Day. I never forget the day, even as it passes completely unnoticed in Kenya. I married my pretty wife over this weekend thirteen years ago. She told me I should never forget our anniversary since it was...

Ever wonder why

Mom and I sat together in the waiting room, leaning toward each-other in whispers, both of us a little sad. We did a lot of waiting on Thursday at Sloan Kettering. Dad had a full day at the cancer center in New York - his home away from home. There’s been some...

Newsletter – April 2009

Dear friends, Hoping this letter finds you well. We are, somewhat unexpectedly, in the United States right now. In case you didn't already know that, this letter should fill you in on some of the "why and where, and what next?" Our family arrived in New Jersey on...