Wednesday, September 7, 2011

The Eagle is Soaring

Drinking Boko
After 3 months serving the people of the Philippines, Maid Elizabeth has come home.  She has returned to us changed in ways I never would have expected.  She is quieter, more deliberate.  She is confident.  She is kinder and more attentive to her siblings.  She has grown up.

Being "done-up" by a local woman
Dewey from the heat

Three months away from home was challenging for a home-body, home schooled girl.  She learned to rely more on God than she did on me.  She learned to push herself when she wanted to curl up and block out the world.  She delivered babies, she cooked, she cleaned, she shopped and she walked...a lot.  She swam in the ocean, visited a crocodile farm and flew on the world's longest zip line.  She conducted pre-natals in a tiny church in the bukid (jungle) and sipped boko (green coconut milk, full of electrolytes) to regain her strength.  She laughed, she cried and she prayed.

Ready for the zip-line
A fellow midwife being the incubator
A Bajou lady (Sea Gypsy)
Doing laundry
A street festival
Cutting up Jack fruit
Saying goodbye!
And now she is home!!!  I'm pretty sure that it will be short lived.  She is 22 years old.  God will call her out of our home and into a home of her own.  But for now, I will rejoice that my sweet Maid Elizabeth is once again working and laughing by my side.

17 comments:

  1. Yay Maid Elizabeth! Your courage is truly admirable. Like you, my 17 year old daughter is anxious to get out and serve God's people. I hope she is as strong as you.

    -Nina

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  2. I left home warm and sunny West Texas on my way to boot camp at Great Lakes, Michigan U.S. Navy in January.

    That was shock!

    Sometimes shocks are needed to awake potential.

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  3. She really is an incredible young woman! I miss her a lot. God is going to use her in amazing ways.

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  4. Beautiful post. As a father of six girls, I'm not looking forward to any of them leaving our home but I can't think of a better reason than to serve a mission.

    Thank you for sharing.

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  5. Wonderful post, great pictures and a really special young lady. Thanks for the update. Even though she doesn't know me, tell her I asked about her return a couple of weeks ago.

    Did she like the tropics? I have lived all but 18 years of my 66 in the subtropics. I noted they ate missing her already.

    Terry
    Florida

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  6. God is SO good!
    May His Blessings and gifts of the Spirit continue to reward you bountifully Maid Elizabeth for sweetly touching many generations of lives, in His name!

    Big hugs and welcome home!

    notutopia

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  7. ARE missing her, not ate. So much for proof reading. I type a little better on a regular keyboard, but not much.

    Terry
    Florida

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  8. she has been tested. she has grown up. watch out world!

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  9. Maid Elizabeth is a very pretty and amazing young lady. I'm a single man, too. Lol!

    Jeff from Mississippi

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  10. Gee Jeff, have you read Maid Elizabeth's "Wanted" post? It makes for some good reading, although it is pretty far back in the archives!

    http://www.paratusfamiliablog.com/2010/09/wanted.html

    Enola

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  11. What a relief that she is home safe and ready to take on whatever God has planned for her next. Such a wonderful service she provided for those people, and she is such a fabulous ambassador for her family and for the USA.

    Welcome back, Maid Elizabeth!

    NoCal Gal

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  12. Enola,
    I remember that list! So I just took the time to browse it again. I fit the description somewhat: a Christian, an Army veteran, a hard worker, a man who at times in my life has had a good supply of food and other items stocked up. Unfortunately, though, I'm 43. Lol!

    Jeff from Mississippi

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  13. Jeff;
    I might have to draw the line on being called "mom" by someone who is older than I!
    Enola

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  14. Lol! That may be so, but I'll tell ya something: just by reading your excellent blog, you have taught me more about what a woman should be more than my mother ever did. And for that, I thank you.

    Jeff from Mississippi

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  15. Livng in another country for a time will-has- profoundly affected her outlook for the better.I lived in Turkey from the age of 6 to 9(my Dad was in the Air Force)and, quite frankly,the time there affected my outlook on more than a few things,even though in many cases I didn't realize it until much later.

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  16. Welcome back Maid Elizabeth! You know your cyber friends are still rooting for you no matter where you are in the world. Can't wait to hear about your next adventures.
    ~Clare

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