so recently I have been convinced that Julie and Lara will come to the USA when I go. I have not a shred of doubt about this...but the embassy hasn't called yet. The stress of life is building - preparing to move, say goodbye, adjust to a new life that we aren't sure of what it yet looks like...
my faith has been running dry. I've been filled will apathy, felt dejection, rejection, and in general sorry for myself.
This morning I was listening to music on the computer, and "How Great Thou Art" came on. Reflecting on the nature of God brought me to tears. "Oh Lord, my God, when I in awesome wonder, consider all the worlds thy hands have made..."
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
expeditious...
That's the manner in which the embassy is willing to handle Julie's visa. We received the following information from Congressman Pomeroy's office this morning:
Thank you for your e-mail dated October 11, 2007. Per correspondence from your office, the National Visa Center (NVC) forwarded an expedite request to the United States Embassy in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. The response from the Embassy indicates their willingness to process the case in an expeditious manner. The petition filed by Peter Barton Schott on behalf of Julia Dolores Julian De Schott will be forwarded to the United States Embassy in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic shortly. Peter Barton Schott and Julian De Schott will than be notified.So the application is being forwarded to the embassy, and we will receive an interview date shortly thereafter. Please continue to pray for this situation, and be sure to praise and thank God for this praise!
Saturday, July 28, 2007
Enough...
I was reading "My Utmost" again this morning and I learned something - I hate it when that happens. Oswald said, "We must never put our dreams of success as God's purpose for us; His purpose may be exactly the opposite." That flies in the face of my individualistic, goal-centered American upbringing! All too often I am focused on what is God's vision for my life, and even more so focused on what I want for my life.
What does God want? Obedience to him, utter and complete obedience in every way. What do we want? Obedience from God, that he would bend and bow to our every whim and fancy. For further reading, see Galatians 5:17.
After finishing my reading, I went "above and beyond" and read the Scripture passage that Oswald referenced. He referred to Mark 6:45-52. This passage talks about Jesus walking on water after feeding the 5,000. I went on to read the feeding of the 5000 segment, and was struck by something. (I learned two things in one day, I *really* hate that.) The people were and it was late in the day, so the disciples wanted to do the sensible thing - send them away to search for food. Jesus on the other hand, did not like that answer. He told them they should give them something to eat.
I'm a fan of sarcasm. At times it gets me in trouble, but when I see it I can appreciate it because it exposes a nastiness inside of me that gives me further proof that I need God. And yes, I do from time to time need proof. The disciples were being a bit sarcastic (in my opinion) when they responded: "Shall we go and spend two hundred denarii on bread and give them something to eat?" Since two hundred denarii was equivalent to about eight months wages, I don't think this was a serious proposition.
Christ responded by asking them how many loaves they had. The grand total was five (and two fish). You all know the end of the story - Christ divided the people in groups, and began to feed them. Everyone was fed, with leftovers to spare. "They all ate and were satisfied."
Here is what I learned and some thoughts/reflections on this lesson:
We have physical and spiritual needs.
God is aware of these needs and desires to provide for us. In this story, Jesus took care of the spiritual needs first, but did not neglect the practical physical needs of the people.
God provides exactly what we need for any given situation.
There are many references to this in the bible. Daily he provided manna from heaven for the Israelites. In James he tells us that no temptation in front of us is greater than what we can withstand. Paul talked about being content and satisfied in all circumstances. The examples are too numerous to list them all.
Sometimes, God doesn't provide all the earthly means to satisfy, so he might be glorified.
Imagine if the disciples had prepared food for everyone, or had exceeding wealth in order to buy the bread. This miracle would not have happened, God would not have been glorified, and many would not have come to truly know him. Imagine the murmurs in the crowd that day, as they were being divided into groups. I'm sure rumors were floating through the crowd like "they only have five loaves, how will they feed us all?" or "Who is this madman that thinks he can provide for us all with such little food?" even possibly "I'll never be fed, he'll run out before it's my turn."
How many times do we ask these same questions in our own lives? We look at our budget and think there's never enough money for it all. The same goes for the size of our house, condition of our car (or lack thereof), etc, etc. Perhaps you are in a mission or non-profit, wondering how all the services will be provided. Maybe you get angry with God for not providing, wondering why he sent you, wondering if you failed.
None of this is true! God has called you to be right where you are. He provides you with just enough for each day. Think of the manna from heaven - the Israelites received just enough for that day, every day (with the exception of the Sabbath when they received enough the previous day.) Remain obedient to God. Each day wake up and proclaim your obedience to him, then live it out! Look to him (See: Col. 3:1-2; Matt. 6:25-34; Exodus 16:14-35).
What does God want? Obedience to him, utter and complete obedience in every way. What do we want? Obedience from God, that he would bend and bow to our every whim and fancy. For further reading, see Galatians 5:17.
After finishing my reading, I went "above and beyond" and read the Scripture passage that Oswald referenced. He referred to Mark 6:45-52. This passage talks about Jesus walking on water after feeding the 5,000. I went on to read the feeding of the 5000 segment, and was struck by something. (I learned two things in one day, I *really* hate that.) The people were and it was late in the day, so the disciples wanted to do the sensible thing - send them away to search for food. Jesus on the other hand, did not like that answer. He told them they should give them something to eat.
I'm a fan of sarcasm. At times it gets me in trouble, but when I see it I can appreciate it because it exposes a nastiness inside of me that gives me further proof that I need God. And yes, I do from time to time need proof. The disciples were being a bit sarcastic (in my opinion) when they responded: "Shall we go and spend two hundred denarii on bread and give them something to eat?" Since two hundred denarii was equivalent to about eight months wages, I don't think this was a serious proposition.
Christ responded by asking them how many loaves they had. The grand total was five (and two fish). You all know the end of the story - Christ divided the people in groups, and began to feed them. Everyone was fed, with leftovers to spare. "They all ate and were satisfied."
Here is what I learned and some thoughts/reflections on this lesson:
We have physical and spiritual needs.
God is aware of these needs and desires to provide for us. In this story, Jesus took care of the spiritual needs first, but did not neglect the practical physical needs of the people.
God provides exactly what we need for any given situation.
There are many references to this in the bible. Daily he provided manna from heaven for the Israelites. In James he tells us that no temptation in front of us is greater than what we can withstand. Paul talked about being content and satisfied in all circumstances. The examples are too numerous to list them all.
Sometimes, God doesn't provide all the earthly means to satisfy, so he might be glorified.
Imagine if the disciples had prepared food for everyone, or had exceeding wealth in order to buy the bread. This miracle would not have happened, God would not have been glorified, and many would not have come to truly know him. Imagine the murmurs in the crowd that day, as they were being divided into groups. I'm sure rumors were floating through the crowd like "they only have five loaves, how will they feed us all?" or "Who is this madman that thinks he can provide for us all with such little food?" even possibly "I'll never be fed, he'll run out before it's my turn."
How many times do we ask these same questions in our own lives? We look at our budget and think there's never enough money for it all. The same goes for the size of our house, condition of our car (or lack thereof), etc, etc. Perhaps you are in a mission or non-profit, wondering how all the services will be provided. Maybe you get angry with God for not providing, wondering why he sent you, wondering if you failed.
None of this is true! God has called you to be right where you are. He provides you with just enough for each day. Think of the manna from heaven - the Israelites received just enough for that day, every day (with the exception of the Sabbath when they received enough the previous day.) Remain obedient to God. Each day wake up and proclaim your obedience to him, then live it out! Look to him (See: Col. 3:1-2; Matt. 6:25-34; Exodus 16:14-35).
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Christianito and other thoughts
I had several thoughts this morning that I felt are worth writing down...
This morning I woke up in a sleepy haze - my cousin and I played WoW last night. In a previous life as teenagers, tweens and below we would play computer games for hours upon end. At times we would go all night conquering the monsters or saving the universe. WoW has been a refreshing journey back to those days, allowing for us to reconnect - to talk, to play, and be spontaneous. Anyways as I woke up this morning, I sat on the side of the bed to collect my thoughts and make sure I didn't fall over when I stood (I'm a little slow for the first hour or so normally). Sitting on the side of the bed, I noticed my protruding belly and thought to myself "I am fat in all areas of my life." My discipline for prayer, studying the word, exercise, and more are all but non-existent. As I read "My Utmost For His Highest" I was reminded of sanctification and our purpose.
In American culture, we are very goal oriented. Job performance, church growth, etc are all measured with various metrics. We seek to quantify everything, reducing our pursuit of relationships, identity, career, etc. into "To Do" lists. It's only natural that this would spill over into the "spiritual component" of our lives. I believe this very idea to be a fallacy - compartmentalizing our spirituality into another area which is either partially or fully separate from our work or home "life".
My Utmost said this today:
My challenge to you and me today is this: What are the pursuits, the passions of your life? Are you striving to be a good worker, husband, gamer, mother, etc but not striving to be righteous? If so any one of those pursuits has become an idol!
These two people are my little glimpses of Christ each day. They work with a humble spirit, cheerful heart, and dedication to their task. Unassuming, they would never call attention to the difficulty of their job. Maria and Tobias smile, they have joy in their circumstances, and they share that joy with others. I was honored to be called "Christianito" (little Christian, or inferred as being called Christian in an affectionate way) by them this morning.
This morning I woke up in a sleepy haze - my cousin and I played WoW last night. In a previous life as teenagers, tweens and below we would play computer games for hours upon end. At times we would go all night conquering the monsters or saving the universe. WoW has been a refreshing journey back to those days, allowing for us to reconnect - to talk, to play, and be spontaneous. Anyways as I woke up this morning, I sat on the side of the bed to collect my thoughts and make sure I didn't fall over when I stood (I'm a little slow for the first hour or so normally). Sitting on the side of the bed, I noticed my protruding belly and thought to myself "I am fat in all areas of my life." My discipline for prayer, studying the word, exercise, and more are all but non-existent. As I read "My Utmost For His Highest" I was reminded of sanctification and our purpose.
In American culture, we are very goal oriented. Job performance, church growth, etc are all measured with various metrics. We seek to quantify everything, reducing our pursuit of relationships, identity, career, etc. into "To Do" lists. It's only natural that this would spill over into the "spiritual component" of our lives. I believe this very idea to be a fallacy - compartmentalizing our spirituality into another area which is either partially or fully separate from our work or home "life".
My Utmost said this today:
The characteristic of a disciple is not that he does good things, but that he is good in his motives, having been made good by the supernatural grace of God. The only thing that exceeds right-doing is right-being.We must seek to be holy, not act holy. We must be righteous, not act righteous or simply do righteous things. When our actions supersede our motive (which should be to glorify God and draw closer to him) we become like the Pharisees.
My challenge to you and me today is this: What are the pursuits, the passions of your life? Are you striving to be a good worker, husband, gamer, mother, etc but not striving to be righteous? If so any one of those pursuits has become an idol!
But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.The title of the post is "Christianito" because I was called that by two wonderful elderly Dominicans today. Tobias stands at our gate during the day. He is in his 70s but walks up the hill to our campus every day. He always opens the door with a smile, friendly wave and "a su orden" (at your service). Maria (who called me Christianito first) is also in her 70s. She comes to the school several days a week to clean the campus, but each time I see her I am inspired. Maria is, without a doubt, the strongest woman and hardest worker I have ever met. It amazes me to watch her go above and beyond her duties to keep our campus clean. Though it is not part of her responsibilities, she will scrub the sidewalks to get rid of mold. I see her carrying large carpets, moving logs, and smiling with a strength that is not found in most people. You would never know it by looking at her, but she suffers from brain tumors. There are times they give her terrible headaches that bring tears to her eyes. But her lips and heart smile.
--Matthew 6:33 (NASB)
These two people are my little glimpses of Christ each day. They work with a humble spirit, cheerful heart, and dedication to their task. Unassuming, they would never call attention to the difficulty of their job. Maria and Tobias smile, they have joy in their circumstances, and they share that joy with others. I was honored to be called "Christianito" (little Christian, or inferred as being called Christian in an affectionate way) by them this morning.
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Travel Plans
For those of you interested, here are my travel plans:
11 August: Fly to Minneapolis
12 August: Possibly speak in Forest Lake
13 August: In Minneapolis, then travel to Rochester, MN
14-17 August: Rochester, MN then travel to Buffalo, MN
18 August: Travel to Kulm, BBQ for my HS class
to be continued...
11 August: Fly to Minneapolis
12 August: Possibly speak in Forest Lake
13 August: In Minneapolis, then travel to Rochester, MN
14-17 August: Rochester, MN then travel to Buffalo, MN
18 August: Travel to Kulm, BBQ for my HS class
to be continued...
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Update from Mayo
The Mayo clinic reviewed the results. They said some of the lab results are conflicting, and further evaluation is necessary. A kidney biopsy is likely, but they will not be sure until they evaluate me.
Thus, I requested an appointment for August 8th, and they are going to let me know if that works. If it does, I will fly into Minneapolis on August 6th and travel to Rochester on the 7th.
**Update** The earliest appointment at Mayo is on August 14th. This might affect my flight dates, but I will keep you posted.
I am excited and nervous at the same time. On one hand I'm anxious to see the Mayo clinic, spend time with family, and know what is going on. On the other hand, knowing what is going on is proving to be stressful. Please pray that I continue to rely on God for my strength.
Thus, I requested an appointment for August 8th, and they are going to let me know if that works. If it does, I will fly into Minneapolis on August 6th and travel to Rochester on the 7th.
**Update** The earliest appointment at Mayo is on August 14th. This might affect my flight dates, but I will keep you posted.
I am excited and nervous at the same time. On one hand I'm anxious to see the Mayo clinic, spend time with family, and know what is going on. On the other hand, knowing what is going on is proving to be stressful. Please pray that I continue to rely on God for my strength.
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Seeing the Dr. in the D.R.
Let's face it...I'm used to the medical system in the U.S.A. Admittedly, it's not the best in the world, but it is what I'm accustomed to. So, for better or worse, I wade through the Dominican health care system.
Several months ago, I noticed that my legs were swelling. I would notice it at the end the day when I took my socks off. There would be an indentation around my leg at the top of where my sock was. I thought this was odd, but because I wasn't in any physical pain, I ignored it. Eight weeks later, I went home to the USA for my grandmother's funeral. My brother Andrew noticed this one night and recommended I go to the doctor to get it checked out. Here is a summary of that journey:
Visit #1 -
I went to a trusted doctor in Jarabacoa. She recommended doing some blood/urine analysis. The following day I went and peed/bled/waited for results.
Visit #2 -
We reviewed the results. Cholesterol and triglyceride levels were high. They also found trace elements of blood in my urine in the microscopic exam. Combined with the blood pressure reading of 130/88, she recommended an ultrasound on my kidneys.
Visit #3 -
Went to get the ultrasound that afternoon. Found out I wasn't supposed to eat beforehand. Told to come back tomorrow.
Visit #4 -
Went again for the ultrasound. Found I had large kidneys (enlarged, the doctor said).
Visit #5 -
Follow up visit with the original doctor. Referred to a kidney specialist in Santiago.
Visit #6 -
First visit with kidney doctor. More bloodwork, urine sample, another ultrasound. One of the more exciting aspects of this visit was the up coming 24 hour urine sample (more on that later).
**24 hours of pee**
Basically I had a gallon jug given to me by the lab in Santiago. I was to pee in this everytime I had to go for 24 hours. It was to remain cold, thus it stayed in our fridge in between. Two ways my life was changed by this experience: 1) I've never had urine in my own fridge, sitting next to the OJ, etc. 2) I've never had to plan daily events around my pee schedule.
Visit #7 -
Brought the sample back to Santiago - in a cooler on ice. Went over other test results with doctor. Kidneys are normal size, cholesterol/triglycerides elevated, low protein in blood.
**In the meantime**
Test results came back for the 24 urine sample. In the DR when you get lab work done you:
1. Get a referral for the tests
2. Pay in advance for the work
3. Have the tests done
4. Wait 24-48 hours for the results
5. Go to the lab yourself, pick up the results (in an envelope), bring them to the doctor
6. Doctor hand copies them into her hand-written file for you (despite having a laptop on her desk)
Visit #8 -
Doctor had recommended biopsy. I called the Mayo clinic in Rochester (#2 kidney place in the USA, have relatives that work there), Mayo told me the doctor needed to make the referral. Doctor didn't want to make the referral call without me in the office, and oh - I needed to bring some phone cards so the doctor could call. So we came down to Santiago again. Waited for several hours, went in and made the call. They barely spoke to the doctor and spent most time getting my info.
*In the meantime up to present time*
We are waiting for the Mayo doctors to look at the results. Odds are I'll need a biopsy and will be flying back to the USA soon. Keep us in your prayers! God has been good to us throughout this ordeal, in spite of my hatred of doctor visits.
Several months ago, I noticed that my legs were swelling. I would notice it at the end the day when I took my socks off. There would be an indentation around my leg at the top of where my sock was. I thought this was odd, but because I wasn't in any physical pain, I ignored it. Eight weeks later, I went home to the USA for my grandmother's funeral. My brother Andrew noticed this one night and recommended I go to the doctor to get it checked out. Here is a summary of that journey:
Visit #1 -
I went to a trusted doctor in Jarabacoa. She recommended doing some blood/urine analysis. The following day I went and peed/bled/waited for results.
Visit #2 -
We reviewed the results. Cholesterol and triglyceride levels were high. They also found trace elements of blood in my urine in the microscopic exam. Combined with the blood pressure reading of 130/88, she recommended an ultrasound on my kidneys.
Visit #3 -
Went to get the ultrasound that afternoon. Found out I wasn't supposed to eat beforehand. Told to come back tomorrow.
Visit #4 -
Went again for the ultrasound. Found I had large kidneys (enlarged, the doctor said).
Visit #5 -
Follow up visit with the original doctor. Referred to a kidney specialist in Santiago.
Visit #6 -
First visit with kidney doctor. More bloodwork, urine sample, another ultrasound. One of the more exciting aspects of this visit was the up coming 24 hour urine sample (more on that later).
**24 hours of pee**
Basically I had a gallon jug given to me by the lab in Santiago. I was to pee in this everytime I had to go for 24 hours. It was to remain cold, thus it stayed in our fridge in between. Two ways my life was changed by this experience: 1) I've never had urine in my own fridge, sitting next to the OJ, etc. 2) I've never had to plan daily events around my pee schedule.
Visit #7 -
Brought the sample back to Santiago - in a cooler on ice. Went over other test results with doctor. Kidneys are normal size, cholesterol/triglycerides elevated, low protein in blood.
**In the meantime**
Test results came back for the 24 urine sample. In the DR when you get lab work done you:
1. Get a referral for the tests
2. Pay in advance for the work
3. Have the tests done
4. Wait 24-48 hours for the results
5. Go to the lab yourself, pick up the results (in an envelope), bring them to the doctor
6. Doctor hand copies them into her hand-written file for you (despite having a laptop on her desk)
Visit #8 -
Doctor had recommended biopsy. I called the Mayo clinic in Rochester (#2 kidney place in the USA, have relatives that work there), Mayo told me the doctor needed to make the referral. Doctor didn't want to make the referral call without me in the office, and oh - I needed to bring some phone cards so the doctor could call. So we came down to Santiago again. Waited for several hours, went in and made the call. They barely spoke to the doctor and spent most time getting my info.
*In the meantime up to present time*
We are waiting for the Mayo doctors to look at the results. Odds are I'll need a biopsy and will be flying back to the USA soon. Keep us in your prayers! God has been good to us throughout this ordeal, in spite of my hatred of doctor visits.
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
kidneys, cold jelly, and paper work.
kidneys...
so my legs have been retaining liquid (edema, I believe it's called). I'm one of those "if it doesn't hurt I don't go to the Dr." kind of guys, but my brother who is a nurse talked me into it. One check up led to another...and another. First checkups said my blood pressure was high (130/88) and my kidneys were enlarged (found in a sonogram.) Also, my cholesterol is 222 and my triglyceride level is 270 (both high). Plus the fact that I'm about 40 lb. over my "ideal" weight...anyways the Doctor thought it was kidney stones (wasn't, as revealed by the sonogram), so she referred me to a kidney-ologist in Santiago.
Well you may or may not know...I *love* going to the Doctor's office. In my opinion, it's about as fun as cavities, paying taxes, and shopping for insurance. Nonetheless off we went for a fun-filled day at Union Medico in Santiago. We waited...and waited...and waited some more. All the while without eating, mind you, as I was going to get lab work done. The Doctor wanted further lab tests done (about 20 things in blood/urine).
Thankfully, this visit revealed several things: #1, my blood pressure is perfectly normal (120/80)
cold jelly...
after the lab work, we went to the sonografista's office. One thing I really, truly love (no sarcasm here...really) about this country is the price of medical care. A sonogram (ultrasound) is about 15 bucks. but, the jelly they put on your belly, is cold! I've been in many a time (7) for Julie to get ultrasounds of Lara, but never experienced it myself...so this week I had the honor of receiving two! Turns out, my kidneys are not enlarged as the jarabacoa doctor says...he's just comparing them to the average Dominican (who is, admittedly, much smaller than I).
paper work...
above all, I love bureaucracy, paper work, and waiting. I got my share of this preparing Lara's paper work. One would think having a child overseas would be easy. well, *having* the child is easy but making her an American is a bit more difficult. copy this, don't sign this (or this) yet., get the in extensa this, report all times out of country. prove you were in country, prove you are the father, prove you are the husband. et cetera, et cetera.
well, I dotted my i's and crossed my t's (twice) and, lo/behold, I did it right! (yay!) Lara'a paperwork was accepted, and we have an interview on September 28 to get her officially "American-made."
Keep that in prayer. In other news, Julie's paper work is trudging forward. We received some good news today, she only needs a police certificate from one place rather than three. other good news, she really isn't a criminal! her paperwork came back clean. :)
we'd love to hear from you. feel free to: comment! e-mail! call!
so my legs have been retaining liquid (edema, I believe it's called). I'm one of those "if it doesn't hurt I don't go to the Dr." kind of guys, but my brother who is a nurse talked me into it. One check up led to another...and another. First checkups said my blood pressure was high (130/88) and my kidneys were enlarged (found in a sonogram.) Also, my cholesterol is 222 and my triglyceride level is 270 (both high). Plus the fact that I'm about 40 lb. over my "ideal" weight...anyways the Doctor thought it was kidney stones (wasn't, as revealed by the sonogram), so she referred me to a kidney-ologist in Santiago.
Well you may or may not know...I *love* going to the Doctor's office. In my opinion, it's about as fun as cavities, paying taxes, and shopping for insurance. Nonetheless off we went for a fun-filled day at Union Medico in Santiago. We waited...and waited...and waited some more. All the while without eating, mind you, as I was going to get lab work done. The Doctor wanted further lab tests done (about 20 things in blood/urine).
Thankfully, this visit revealed several things: #1, my blood pressure is perfectly normal (120/80)
cold jelly...
after the lab work, we went to the sonografista's office. One thing I really, truly love (no sarcasm here...really) about this country is the price of medical care. A sonogram (ultrasound) is about 15 bucks. but, the jelly they put on your belly, is cold! I've been in many a time (7) for Julie to get ultrasounds of Lara, but never experienced it myself...so this week I had the honor of receiving two! Turns out, my kidneys are not enlarged as the jarabacoa doctor says...he's just comparing them to the average Dominican (who is, admittedly, much smaller than I).
paper work...
above all, I love bureaucracy, paper work, and waiting. I got my share of this preparing Lara's paper work. One would think having a child overseas would be easy. well, *having* the child is easy but making her an American is a bit more difficult. copy this, don't sign this (or this) yet., get the in extensa this, report all times out of country. prove you were in country, prove you are the father, prove you are the husband. et cetera, et cetera.
well, I dotted my i's and crossed my t's (twice) and, lo/behold, I did it right! (yay!) Lara'a paperwork was accepted, and we have an interview on September 28 to get her officially "American-made."
Keep that in prayer. In other news, Julie's paper work is trudging forward. We received some good news today, she only needs a police certificate from one place rather than three. other good news, she really isn't a criminal! her paperwork came back clean. :)
we'd love to hear from you. feel free to: comment! e-mail! call!
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Immigration Reform
*sigh* My wife has been waiting for over a year, and we are only in the middle of the visa process. She has been unable to see my hometown, missed my grandmother's funeral, and continues to miss out on family gatherings and the opportunity to see things and people that mean so much to me.
I ask that you take a moment and send a revised copy of this letter to your senators and representatives, on my behalf, and on behalf of all those American citizens who are stuck waiting for permission to bring their spouse home. Please send this letter on to those that you know so they can send a copy too. Let's bring this issue to the forefront of American politics!
To contact your senator, go to this page: http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
--
Honorable Senator:
I am writing this letter to call to your attention the issue of immigration reform for American citizens who marry foreigners. This process is marred with inefficient procedures, a severe shortage of staff, and a large backlog of cases. It is my hopes that after reading this letter you will take the appropriate action, and raise this issue to the forefront on behalf of all the American citizens you serve.
Consider the example of Peter and Julie Schott (NVC Reference #: SDO2006705033):
Their paperwork arrived at the National Visa Center in August. They had to then wait six to eight weeks for the paperwork to arrive. Much of this information was redundant, and had already been given to the US government on previous paperwork. Several months after the NVC received the paperwork, Peter and Julie were notified that they required more information. The NVC would not tell them what this information was over the phone, fax, or e-mail! They were required to wait another six weeks to receive this information package!
Senator, the way American citizens and their foreign spouses are treated by this system is disgraceful. It disgusts me to think that American citizens should be required to wait several years before his/her spouse can travel to the USA. Recent attention has been given to countless Americans whose travel plans have been affected by the new passport requirements. However, Peter's wife recently missed his grandmother's funeral because she was unable to travel. Many of Peter's friends and family have yet to meet their newborn child, because his wife cannot travel to the USA.
Senator, I ask you to consider this for a moment. Imagine your wife was not able to leave her home state because she was waiting over a year for permission. Put yourself in those shoes and ask yourself if you would be outraged, and what you would do about it. Then I beg you to take those same actions on behalf of myself, the countless other American citizens who are wading through this hopeless and degrading system. Take this issue to the forefront, call for action in the following areas:
1. Improvement in the application process.
2. Decreased waiting times for completion.
3. Increased staffing levels to end the case backlog.
I appreciate your work as my state Senator. Your record reflects a commitment to the values of our state and a listening ear to its residents. Thank you for your attention to this letter.
Sincerely,
I ask that you take a moment and send a revised copy of this letter to your senators and representatives, on my behalf, and on behalf of all those American citizens who are stuck waiting for permission to bring their spouse home. Please send this letter on to those that you know so they can send a copy too. Let's bring this issue to the forefront of American politics!
To contact your senator, go to this page: http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
--
Honorable Senator
I am writing this letter to call to your attention the issue of immigration reform for American citizens who marry foreigners. This process is marred with inefficient procedures, a severe shortage of staff, and a large backlog of cases. It is my hopes that after reading this letter you will take the appropriate action, and raise this issue to the forefront on behalf of all the American citizens you serve.
Consider the example of Peter and Julie Schott (NVC Reference #: SDO2006705033):
Their paperwork arrived at the National Visa Center in August. They had to then wait six to eight weeks for the paperwork to arrive. Much of this information was redundant, and had already been given to the US government on previous paperwork. Several months after the NVC received the paperwork, Peter and Julie were notified that they required more information. The NVC would not tell them what this information was over the phone, fax, or e-mail! They were required to wait another six weeks to receive this information package!
Senator, the way American citizens and their foreign spouses are treated by this system is disgraceful. It disgusts me to think that American citizens should be required to wait several years before his/her spouse can travel to the USA. Recent attention has been given to countless Americans whose travel plans have been affected by the new passport requirements. However, Peter's wife recently missed his grandmother's funeral because she was unable to travel. Many of Peter's friends and family have yet to meet their newborn child, because his wife cannot travel to the USA.
Senator, I ask you to consider this for a moment. Imagine your wife was not able to leave her home state because she was waiting over a year for permission. Put yourself in those shoes and ask yourself if you would be outraged, and what you would do about it. Then I beg you to take those same actions on behalf of myself, the countless other American citizens who are wading through this hopeless and degrading system. Take this issue to the forefront, call for action in the following areas:
1. Improvement in the application process.
2. Decreased waiting times for completion.
3. Increased staffing levels to end the case backlog.
I appreciate your work as my state Senator. Your record reflects a commitment to the values of our state and a listening ear to its residents. Thank you for your attention to this letter.
Sincerely,
Thursday, May 24, 2007
fatherhood
People often ask me what it's like to be a father. While it is hard to put exactly into words, I will do my best to highlight a few of the emotions, etc. that come with being "Dad". Even as I try to write this now, I find myself stopping. This sense of heaviness, joy, gratitude, and responsibility fills my chest.
I love my daughter more than anyone or anything (with the exception of God.) It is humbling to know that God has entrusted you with one of his children. There is joy in her smiles, my heart breaks when she cries, and I am filled with pride and admiration for my wife as she becomes a mother (a darn good one, at that!)
I don't know what my daughter's future holds. She is healthy and thriving, and for that we have been blessed. On the other hand, if she had been sick and feeble, we would have been blessed in that, too. As I watch her grow I am amazed by how quickly she changes. I understand now why parents are so thrilled by the little developments made by children. I've felt the fear of sleeping half-awake during Lara's first days in case she choked. I'm beginning to understand the awesome responsibility of motherhood.
Being a father increases my awareness and understanding of God's love. I would gladly lay my life down for Lara, and have a small glimpse at the pain God must have felt in watching Jesus suffer.
I want my daughter to grow up fearing and loving the Lord. Being around her challenges me to live out my faith authentically. At the same time, I must be prepared for the thought that she may, for a season, rebel against faith and truth. In those moments, I must love her the same as when she is good. My humanity rebels against unconditional love (both giving and receiving) but being a father puts that issue right in the forefront of my life.
I love my daughter more than anyone or anything (with the exception of God.) It is humbling to know that God has entrusted you with one of his children. There is joy in her smiles, my heart breaks when she cries, and I am filled with pride and admiration for my wife as she becomes a mother (a darn good one, at that!)
I don't know what my daughter's future holds. She is healthy and thriving, and for that we have been blessed. On the other hand, if she had been sick and feeble, we would have been blessed in that, too. As I watch her grow I am amazed by how quickly she changes. I understand now why parents are so thrilled by the little developments made by children. I've felt the fear of sleeping half-awake during Lara's first days in case she choked. I'm beginning to understand the awesome responsibility of motherhood.
Being a father increases my awareness and understanding of God's love. I would gladly lay my life down for Lara, and have a small glimpse at the pain God must have felt in watching Jesus suffer.
I want my daughter to grow up fearing and loving the Lord. Being around her challenges me to live out my faith authentically. At the same time, I must be prepared for the thought that she may, for a season, rebel against faith and truth. In those moments, I must love her the same as when she is good. My humanity rebels against unconditional love (both giving and receiving) but being a father puts that issue right in the forefront of my life.
Monday, March 12, 2007
Total Surrender (My Utmost for His Highest, March 12)
Our Lord replies to this statement of Peter by saying that this surrender is "for My sake and the gospel’s" (10:29). It was not for the purpose of what the disciples themselves would get out of it. Beware of surrender that is motivated by personal benefits that may result. For example, "I’m going to give myself to God because I want to be delivered from sin, because I want to be made holy." Being delivered from sin and being made holy are the result of being right with God, but surrender resulting from this kind of thinking is certainly not the true nature of Christianity. Our motive for surrender should not be for any personal gain at all. We have become so self-centered that we go to God only for something from Him, and not for God Himself. It is like saying, "No, Lord, I don’t want you; I want myself. But I do want You to clean me and fill me with Your Holy Spirit. I want to be on display in Your showcase so I can say, ’This is what God has done for me.’ " Gaining heaven, being delivered from sin, and being made useful to God are things that should never even be a consideration in real surrender. Genuine total surrender is a personal sovereign preference for Jesus Christ Himself.
Where does Jesus Christ figure in when we have a concern about our natural relationships? Most of us will desert Him with this excuse—"Yes, Lord, I heard you call me, but my family needs me and I have my own interests. I just can’t go any further" (see Luke 9:57-62 ). "Then," Jesus says, "you ’cannot be My disciple’ " (see Luke 14:26-33 ).
True surrender will always go beyond natural devotion. If we will only give up, God will surrender Himself to embrace all those around us and will meet their needs, which were created by our surrender. Beware of stopping anywhere short of total surrender to God. Most of us have only a vision of what this really means, but have never truly experienced it.
--
I read this selection from My Utmost for His Highest, and it put this simple truth of the Christian life into a completely new perspective. Please prayerfully consider how God might use this message to change your perspective too.
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
Happy BDay Lara Esther Schott!
She was born today. I'll get to the details later, but I wanted to post some photos.
Lara Esther Schott
Born around 5 am (C-Section)
8 lb
22 inches long
a healthy screamer, fortunately she is consolable.
also check out her first video, taken when she was about 10 min old:
http://www.theschottfamily.org/movies/babyvid.mpg
Lara Esther Schott
Born around 5 am (C-Section)
8 lb
22 inches long
a healthy screamer, fortunately she is consolable.
also check out her first video, taken when she was about 10 min old:
http://www.theschottfamily.org/movies/babyvid.mpg
Thursday, February 08, 2007
prayer requests
Please pray for:
- Continued safety for Julie's pregnancy. Things have been fine thus far, and the baby appears healthy. We hope that continues! Pray for peace, rest, good relationship with her mother, and less pain on her back and stomach.
- Blessings on the ND Prairie Partners. The trip has been fruitful, they have overcome challenges and are continuing to grow.
- Peter's health and sanity. I have a lot going on! Don't pity me, though - I brought it all on myself. I'm taking a challenging Seminary class, working full-time, being a husband, preparing to be a father and much more! Please pray for my relationships with the children. I will write more about this later, but it has been very challenging lately.
- Financial concerns - Please pray that God teaches us to use wisely the resources he has given us. This is a new perspective for me, I would previously pray for more support, etc. Now I want to be a better steward of what we have.
Feel free to e-mail or call us: peteyjulie@gmail.com or 701-526-3331
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