Celebration #3: Family

We are incredibly blessed to have a little family here in SE Asia, a big family back in the States, and an even bigger family all across the world who love, support, pray, and bless us often! We are celebrating God's goodness and grace to us for the gift of family.

Below is just a glimpse of the goodness (warning: some of these pictures are old but memorable!) :

 

 

Celebration #2: Jesus is Our King

This Sunday is the second Advent Sunday. We celebrate Jesus as King over all the earth. We celebrate His Lordship over our lives and look foward to His coming again when He will redeem, heal, and reign. We are thankful for the peace He brings to our hearts during this Christmas season.

Celebration #1: Liv's First Steps

This Christmas season we are celebrating so many wonderful things as a family and will be letting you know of our reasons for celebrating in the coming December weeks! Here's our first reason for celebrating:

Olivia took her first steps!

It's workout time!

A semi-regular (wish it were more often) event: starring Mom, Emma, Olivia, and baby Livy Doll, working out to baby Pilates/Yoga, all on the same mat. My abs get the most exercise due to continual laughing. Love my workout partners!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Our family thankful tree...todays last thankful leaves say:
Thankful for...
Good food
God loves us
Family and friends
Sister Olivia and my purse.

Can you guess which one was Emma's? :)

Lookin forward to a little bit of this...







And a little bit of that...






 Ok, maybe A LOT of this and that. :)


Later.





P.S. Olivia took her first real steps this week!!

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Yeah! A "hoo-tell", Mom!

Some times living in a culture that's not our own, we enjoy little breaks away from our context to rest from the stresses of everyday life. Often times that means we go to a hotel that has nice grounds or a swimming pool for Emma. So for Emma, she knows when we go to a "hoo-tell" as she calls it, that means fun!

Enjoy the snapshots of our 48-hour vacation at a "hoo-tell" acually not too far from our house! It's hard to describe, but living in this city, there's not a lot of nature to enjoy. This is our little plot of grass which we are making the most of by planting a few trees. Growing up with a lot more green, this is one of the challenges for us as a family-- not having a big yard to run around in or a park to go to to play with the kids.

But at the hotel 20 minutes away, there's a beautiful campus of lush tropical vegetation. Ahhh, the fresh air, the birds chirping...no bustling city noises and away from all i-technology and texting. We loved every minute!

Yes, there is a mini amusment park in front of the hotel. Random but perfect for our family! This train went a little fast around corners. I was a little concerned I might tip it over! Thankfully, it remained stable.

Pool time!

Enough space to play and roll around!

Thanks Gardenia "hoo-tell"! Until next time.

More photos here.

"It's my happy birthday!"

Emma's 3rd birthday was a blast as she smiled from ear to ear the entire day. Old enough now to understand what the special day was about, Emma twirled, played, swam, danced, sang, played with friends and ate cake. She loved singing the Happy Birthday Song. Her little party with a "sweetheart" theme was too much fun to plan! She said she wanted everything pink and that's what she got!

We can't believe our sweeheart is 3! We wish friends and family in the States could've have celebrated with us!

Check out more birthday PHOTOS and our comments.

Daily Dilemma for Emma

How many of you readers think Emma is having fun in the photo? She's outside, playing in the water, has a smile on her face...what more could one little 3-year old ask?

Have you thought about your answer?

Now, look in the background of the photo...what do you see?

Here's a closer look at a similar photo to help you out.

Can you count how many people are carrying a camera? Wow.

Emma is actually running away from these people and is not happy that they are all staring at her and taking her picture.

Now, we know we are not the only foreign family in the world who has experiences like this on a daily basis, especially little kids. There's nothing special about us! But for some reason, the white skin poses a dilemma. What kid wouldn't like a little attention from some strangers? Well, at times, Emma.

So how do we love the people we live around in Asia and still honor and respect our little one's desire to just play and be a normal kid? We can't shoo away the onlookers...although at times we want to. We can only help Emma understand as much as she can at her age her "dilemma". We often say, "just play and have fun, they just like to watch you be cute and run around." Or "they like to take photos just like you do, Emma." But sometimes we get one or two people who just can't quite get the hint that she just wants to play and not pose for a photo, and we have to say "no." We also tell Emma that she can always say "no" if she wants and if they don't comply with her wishes, Mommy or Daddy step in to help.

Olivia, on the other hand, being so little, is very happy to smile for photos, endure the pinches on her cheeks, and laugh at those who make funny faces at her.

On a positive note, sometimes the attraction to these sweet kids can serve as a bridge to build new relationships or share with them the love of God. Pray we have the discernment and patience through each strange situation to see the opportunities.

Blessings from the B fam.

TV, FB, food...for rest?

Our awesome teammates sent a note recently on FB...thought those if you who still read our blog might find it as challenging as we did!


"Life can often be a real struggle. Lately, for us, life is making us very tired. B is out every day either sharing the gospel for a few hours, having meetings, or doing coaching with the church planters here. By the end of the day, he's really exhausted from the heat and having to be 'on his game' relationally. For K, she is finding herself at home with an increasingly difficult (but still a joy!) 2 1/2 year old and a growing 16lb 6 month old. She's often falling asleep at 8pm. In addition, there are the unique challenges of living in a different culture (even though, after 5 years, many things have become quite normal) and the spiritual attacks that have increased since we've been back (weariness, unexplainable sickness, and emotional stress). So, it is really easy after the kids are down to think, "Now, its time for ME! I've earned rest and relaxation."


However, God has been working on us lately to really examine that common desire to see if it is really true. We often think that TV, Facebook, or other such things will give us rest. Meaning, after we do those things, we will be re-energized to engage in the hard work of ministry and raising kids - which requires grace, humility, and purity. It didn't take long to realize that those activities were not, and would not, ultimately give us the rest we needed. For instance, on a typical day reading through our Facebook updates, I might read an update that makes me feel sorry for myself or feel envy because I didn't get a brand new gadget or household appliance because I don't have the money or it's not available over here. But depending on the day, that same post might make me feel proud and arrogant, because I've sacrificed so much and that person hasn't. Or, I might read a news article or a political opinion that makes me angry...etc, etc, etc. And then while simply browsing the internet or watching a DVD of a show we brought over here, we might be exposed to all sorts of things haphazardly, like: clothes we want, music we want, kids toys that we want, a music video that has a little too much skin in it, or a scene in a show of people about to have sex (which opens a whole new door or thoughts and struggles).

Whew! Does any of that seem restful? Instead of being re-energized to love our family sacrificially and give our children grace-filled words instead emotional and angry words, we instead have let things into our hearts that will put us on edge and will require some serious prayer to put behind us. You see, we're learning that the spirit of indulgence that we feel when tired, is just another thing that is evidence of being tired (like our body feeling tired, being a little bit more emotional than usual, or losing sight of real perspective). However, it is extremely difficult to teach ourselves how to deal with this.

We are just beginning to see that when we indulge (with internet, food, TV, etc), we are no more well rested than we were before those activities. And we are beginning to learn that when we take that free moment to read the Bible and center our hearts on our deep, deep need for Jesus' Spirit to meet us and guide us, we are much more fun to be around, much more joyful, and much more in control of our actions, our thoughts, and our words. And that is what we really need to be good parents, spouses, and pleasing workers for our King.

It really is true, when Jesus says, "Come to me all you weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28)



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Celebrating 5 years in SE Asia

Five years ago, we ventured across the world with a heart to share the love of God to a people who had never heard of Him. For Todd and I, it was our dream/calling since we had first met, before we were married in 2003. In 2006, we moved.

See the blog posts from our first year in SE Asia in our 2006-2007 archives.

In these past 5 years, we have had joys and challenges. We are thankful for every experience. We are truly different and hopefully better people because of them. It has been an awesome adventure so far. We look forward to the next 5 years!









What's a celebration in SE Asia without a little mango pie!






Our SE Asia family/teammates. (excluding our wonderful local friends)






Our newest teammate, Caleb.






At the airport when the Coughlins returned from furlough in the States just a few weeks ago. Abi and Emma enjoying the reunion.





























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Emma's First Day of "School"

Click here!

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Mosquitos to Green Slim?

 

 

We had hundereds of mosquitos breeding in the drainage area in the front of our house last month, since it doesn't really drain. However, we are so thankful that God sent a 'green slim' to prevent their breeding and thus biting! What is this stuff? It seems a lot safer than Malaria, so we are not complaining!!!

Six Months of God's Faithfulness

It's been 6 months since we returned to SE Asia from our furlough and 6 months we've been "teammate-less". We weren't sure how it was going to go adjusting to being back, figuring out how to be a family of four, and continuing to press on with our work here. But God is always faithful and while we had many challenging days, He has proven over and over to us that He is trustworthy and provides for all our needs, even when we fail at giving Him the credit. So this is just a note to say that we are celebrating each step along the way as we strive to grow closer to Jesus and live out what we feel He has called us to. And if you're reading this blog, you have probably been a huge part by supporting us through prayer and friendship. Thank you.

Another update will come soon as we are celebrating 5 years since we moved to SE Asia!!

Love,
Bs

He is Risen!

Happy Easter!

River City Snow

The dry season can be tough here. Heat that sucks the energy out of you, and if it doesn't rain at all for several weeks, many locals begin to burn their fields. This leads to a constant shower of "River City Snow" as they call it: ash. Every morning you have a layer of ash on your car and anything else you left outside. The air is smokey and many don't even like to be outside during this time. But when the tropical showers come, all is washed away and everything blooms like it's Spring time. Everything becomes beautiful. The millions of people that live on our island often experience oppression, poverty, disease, and corruption. Smoke clouds their vision and a spirit of heaviness rests on them. Please pray that they would encounter new life in Jesus and experience the blessing God wants to give them: beauty for ashes.

Isa 61:3
To all who mourn in Israel (to all God's people), he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the LORD has planted for his own glory.

Short Update

We're back in SE Asia. No snow here! Just rain and lots of sunshine/sweat. :) We had an amazing few months in the States. The highlights being the birth of our sweet daughter, Olivia Grace Lillian Bates, and spending the holidays with family and friends.

Emma loved discovering parks, slides, the children's museum, making some new friends, and time with family she hadn't seen since she was 3 months old. She also discovered jackets, long sleeves, grass, and dogs...all things she wasn't used to experiencing in SE Asia.

Now that we've been back a few months, we're easing into the rhythm of life here. A typical day for Katie and the girls is mostly at the house playing, cooking, and getting creative with activities for Emma and helping her adjust to being around the local people and speaking the language. For Todd, it's meeting with local partners to go out and share the Good News, pray with them, support and encourage them in a variety of different ways, as well as do a few clean water related things. God is opening the hearts of the Kali people. Please keep praying!

Again, thanks to those who hung out with us while on furlough, prayed for us, blessed us with a meal, gave a baby gift, etc. We feel very filled up and ready for the next term.

Family Christmas Celebration

South Padre Fam Vacation