The Miller Family in Mexico City

Back to Work

This evening, I finally took a moment to look at the statistics for this blog.  The fact that several of you continue to look at our blog when we are so slow to update it is a testimony to the faithfulness with which you've supported us over these last 4+ years.  So pull up a chair and get comfortable as I ramble through an update on us and on the ways that God is leading us.

My job as a fulltime Family Doctor in Jackson, Michigan is going well.  There are so many things that I am having to remember/relearn after spending more than 5 years out of the U.S. medical system.  Drug names have changed and some new procedures are available now.  But thankfully, old fashioned conversations with patients and a willingness to listen are still great tools for today's doctor.  The longer hours away from the family are difficult but we are capitalizing on the times we do have together and are thankful for this opportunity for me to get back up to speed with U.S. medicine.

Janette is spending A LOT of time with the four kids.  She is slowly renewing old friendships in Spring Arbor, MI and making new friends as well.  Last week, she served as the missionary pirate for the local VBS (click here for the picture and story).  Once school starts for the kids, we hope that she'll be able to plug in even more in community and church opportunities.

Hannah starts first grade in September and Leah will be starting kindergarten.  They are looking forward to it but also a little fearful about the new school and having to make new friends.  The girls' comfort level in their Mexico City school is one of the things that made it most difficult to leave.  Thank you for praying for them as they adjust to a new school culture and to the idea that we won't be going back to Mexico City this year.

Samuel will be attending three days of preschool at the church.  He is especially glad to be able to put his Thomas the Train and Lightning McQueen backpacks to use and be like his older sisters.  Sam is enjoying a sandbox that Grandpa Thompson set up this weekend.  Josiah loves playing outside in the big backyard and continues to be a very happy baby.

We are struggling to find enough time in our schedules to do the physician work as well as the missionary partnership building time.  Janette has started trying to schedule some churches for this fall.  We are trying to combine visits to churches so that we can see as many of you as possible.  We have several emails requesting us to come visit churches in the Wabash and Pittsburgh conferences.  If you haven't heard from us, feel free to remind us or bug us about it.  We are not going to be able to get to all of the churches but will do our best to at least be in the neighborhood.

Some of you have already heard us talk and picked up on the uncertainty in our future.  We want to be available for God's purposes and work. Period.  We always thought it would be in Latin America but there are other needs that God seems to be putting in front of us as well.  Thank you for praying with us for clarity and vision.  We don't want to do anything because it is the easiest or most convenient choice.  And so we are exploring other FM medical options these days- Central Africa and Haiti among them.  We'll let you know when we can be more specific.

Camping

 Oh, man!  This U.S.-based blogging is going to be a struggle.  We find that our days are full and there isn't as much time to spend communicating via blog.  We've just spent the majority of the last 2 weeks either in a tent or with our whole family in one bedroom.  Joel's family gathered in South Haven, MI (pictured) and then Janette's family had a big reunion in Ludington, MI.  After a few days in Spring Arbor with her two sisters and families in the house, we headed out to the Southern Michigan Conf. Family Camp at Somerset Beach Campground.  We had an opportunity to share a couple of missions moments and connect with people we've known for many years since Janette grew up going to this camp.  It was fun but is just the beginning of a whirlwind Free Methodist camp tour we are making this month.  Tonight we are sleeping in our beds (Yes!) and then leaving in the morning to spend the next 4 days in 2 different Pittsburgh conference camps.  We'll then drive from Pittsburgh to beautiful Clay City, IN for the Wabash Family Camp.  We'll be staying with Joel's parents at the Clay City camp.

We're looking forward to seeing many of our friends who have supported us over the last 4+ years as we served in Mexico City.  We'll also be making new friends and look forward to that.

The kids are making some new friends and we are thankful for that.  When we tell them we are getting ready to go on a trip they still ask every time if we are going back to Mexico City.  These are emotional times for them and we are praying that God gives them peace and a sense of security as we face more days of transition ahead.  Pictured is Leah blowing out 5 candles for her June 26 birthday.

Thanks for your patience as we continue settling in and finding our routine.  We'll let you know how things went when we get back from this Camp trip.

Stop the Roller Coaster, I Want to Get Off!

We've been in the United States (Michigan to be exact) for almost a week now.  We had some delays on the flight home but all of that was forgotten when we finally came "home" to Spring Arbor and had Grandma and Grandpa Thompson to help with the kids.

The kids are settling in to the new routine and the new location.  We are so thankful for those of you who have been praying for their adjustment.  Grandpa made new bunkbeds for the three older kids so they are enjoying their new beds.  There is also lots of grass and wide open spaces in which they can run and play.  On Sunday, they all went to their new Sunday School classes and really seemed to fit right in.

But today our routine changed again.  Janette flies to Santiago, Chile to attend fellow missionary Kay Stotts' wedding this weekend.  When she returns on Monday, we'll have a day before driving down to Indianapolis for our debriefing time with the World Missions staff.

There are also lots of "re-entry" issues to tackle like bank accounts, dentist and doctor visits, and preparations for the kids' schooling.  Despite all of this running around, we feel God's peace and his presence and thank you for the ways you are praying and for the ways you have welcomed us back.

We're looking forward to seeing many of you in the next few weeks as we travel to several different summer camps.

Traditions, Traditions!

I (Janette) was quite excited when I saw the gingerbread house kit at Costco for a reasonable price.  Baking gingerbread is not my specialty but I do try to incorporate American traditions whenever possible so my children get an idea of some of the things we do different there.  Now I understand that not everyone assembles a gingerbread house - but after reading the story of Hansel and Gretal I bet nearly every child has dreamed of one!  And, the best part for me was that if timed right, we would enjoy the house for a few days then share it with the guests at Samuel's birthday party (see Janette's blog for lost of fun pictures of the party).  This would give us an opportunity to show our friends something new and decrease the amount of candy to be consumed by our family.  Our Mexican friends really enjoyed it and I remembered why I don't usually do gingerbread houses...I don't really like gingerbread!   Hope you and your family enjoy some wonderful holiday traditions this year.

"I will make you fishers of men"

We enjoyed a fishing trip with the mission team to La Marquesa on Friday.  It was rainy and overcast but the stocked trout pond made the experience fun for the young and older ones alike.   Sam was really hoping to catch a whale thanks to one of his favorite stories by Richard Scarry.  His disappointment was short lived as he loved casting his line into the water (sans hook!) time after time.  For more pictures see Janette's blog.

Our Family Is Growing

No, we aren't announcing another baby on the way!  Rather, we are glad to welcome Julianne Gilmore to our home this week.  Julianne is a recent Greenville College graduate who is going to spend the next 10 months or so in Mexico City.  She'll be helping out with English ministries, gaining exposure to and experience in the clinic (she starts med school next fall), and pitching in wherever there is a need.  You'll probably see her showing up in our newsletters and pictures in the months ahead.

Back to School!

The girls went off to school this morning.  Leah is in Kinder 2 this year and Hannah is in Kinder 3 (there are 3 levels of kindergarten here so Kinder 3 would be kindergarten in the U.S. and Kinder 2 would be preschool).  They are very excited to see their friends again and meet their new teachers.  Samuel is already adjusting well to not having his sisters around - they often leave him out of their girlie games anyway so he enjoys just playing with his trucks and tractors.  He is eager for Josiah to grow up and play with him. It will happen soon enough!  Thank you Grandma and Grandpa Miller for the new backpacks!  See Janette's blog for a mother's perspective of what it takes to get kids ready for school here in Mexico.

Meet the Miller Family

Report on Leah

We are thankful today for the good report from the doctor that he was able to remove the googly eye from Leah's ear canal.  There was no damage to her eardrum and her hearing is fine.  Now she'll have a week of ear drops.  Hopefully, this is also a lesson learned for Leah about the correct use of craft supplies!

We left the house yesterday at 6 a.m. to get to the small clinic where the procedure was to be done.  The pediatric anesthesiologist arrived at 7 a.m. and gave Leah sedation so that Dr. Carlos could painlessly remove the foreign object.  By 8:00, Leah was waking up and we were preparing to head back home.  Thanks to Gary and Jann Allen, we were able to leave the other 3 kids here at the house to sleep.

Thank you to those who encouraged us and prayed for us during this time.

We also saw the local church come together during this week.  The day after Janette requested prayer for Leah, we received 4 different family visits and several phone calls expressing support for Leah and our family.  We praise God for the opportunity that we had to invite several people into our home and to allow them to serve us in this way.  Sometimes as missionaries, we forget to allow others to serve as well and so keep them from experiencing the blessings that come with serving.

Googly Eye Gone Bad

Somehow, Leah ended up with a googly eye (you know, the little white and black plastic ones that you used to glue on your grade school projects) in her ear.  After several attempts at removing it, Janette and I had to admit that it was beyond the scope of our practice.  Any little movement of the plastic eye in her ear causes real pain.

So I took her to a Mexican ENT doctor yesterday afternoon.  The whole trip took about 4 hours and the eye is still in her ear.  Now, we're going to be putting anti-inflammatory drops in her ear until Friday when Dr. Carlos will take another look.  The worst-case scenario would be if there is no improvement in the situation by Friday and we have to sedate Leah to get it out.

Thanks for praying with us that God gives us wisdom and comforts Leah.  It is pretty traumatic to be held down in a doctor's office and have your ear messed with.