Surprise!!! New Addition to the Marshall Family!

So Lauren and I got a very special Christmas surprise this year. That's right, you guessed it! We got our first Duffy Bear! Lauren's sister, Madelyn, got it for us as a Christmas present. (I know, I'm not the most up to date blogger). 


Here is a picture of us getting our first ever Duffy Bear.

I realize that our American friends and family may be wondering "what in the world is a Duffy Bear?!" Here is a picture of us with our new family member.

Duffy was Mickey Mouse's teddy bear, which he used to carry around in his duffel bag. Mickey was going on a long sea voyage, and Minnie didn't want him to feel too lonely.  So, she made him a teddy bear for good luck, and put a message in a bottle around it's neck.  Mickey took the bear with him on his boat, and the bear visited Mickey in his dreams and read Minnie's message to him.  When Mickey woke up, the bear had a sailor costume on, and the message was out of the bottle, and in Mickey's hand.  This was some special teddy bear!  When Mickey got home he told Minnie, and all of his friends, and they wanted a special bear too.  Minnie made everyone their own "Duffy", but couldn't keep up with the demand.  Mickey's friends all helped her and they made many Duffy bears for everyone. 

Long story short, Duffy is apparently very big in Japan. Families over there take pictures of him doing different things and they even set a place at the table for him. If you don't believe me, look at this picture! http://twitpic.com/3763re We decided that we had to do the same, just to fit in, not because we have the sense of humor of middle school children... yeah that's it. If you want a more complete history check this out.  http://duffythedisneybear.blogspot.com/2010/08/who-and-what-is-duffy-i-know-you-were.html

Here is Duffy learning how to drive. Don't worry, we were on back country roads with no traffic. Lindsay, you may recognize your brother's new car!

Here is Duffy talking to his friends on the cell phone. Luckily it was after nine o'clock so the call was free.

And here is Duffy hanging out with me after a hard day of work. He takes after me I think!

He destroys me in Call of Duty: Black Ops and he likes to rub it in when he wins too. We're really looking forward to traveling with Duffy. And have no fear because more pictures of him will be coming soon.

Sad To Leave An Awesome Church

Kris and I have been so fortunate to be a part of a wonderful church for several years -- in fact it's where we met!  I began attending Orchard Hill Church with my family when I was 5 years old, began serving in Children's Ministry at the age of 12, and began serving with the Middle School ministry when I was 17.  I became part of the Student Ministry Staff 3 1/2 years ago.  Leaving my position there feels like an end of an era, as I do not see myself working at the church again when we return but going into teaching.  That being said, I remain confident that teaching at MeySen and living in Japan as we share our faith with the people there is what God wants for us.  


It's hard to leave behind the kids and my small group girls -- especially when the other female middle school ministry staff member resigned the same week that I finished working at Orchard Hill.  I'm sad to leave under that circumstance, and part of me wishes that I could stay and care for the girls until someone else is hired.  But I know God will use this situation for his good.  That volunteers -- high school Collide leaders and adult small group leaders -- will step up and play significant roles in the girls' lives.  And I truly believe that God has someone in mind to take over the female middle school staff position who will be absolutely amazing.

Me and one of my awesome 8th grade ladies

The whole church has been very supportive of our moving to Japan.  The senior pastor called us on stage and had the congregation pray for us.  The staff has been very supportive and excited for us.  Even students and their families, while sad that I will no longer be on staff and part of the student ministry program, are excited about how God is using us next.  We were also given a very generous financial gift from the Eleos Ministry, a ministry designed to meet the needs of people in Haiti, the Pittsburgh community, and in the local and church community, to help us cover the cost of moving and plane tickets.


What a tremendous blessing it is to know that while we are in Japan, we will have the prayers and love of our large, wonderful church family supporting us.  How cool to know that we have such a large support system behind us, encouraging us to fulfill the call of God in our life!

Me and my absolute favorite person to work with at OHC!

Our Time In America Is Winding Down

In just 15 days I will be finished with my employment at Orchard Hill Church.  In 25 days we will be on our way to Japan!  I can't believe that the trip that we've been praying and waiting for since May is almost here!  I'm very excited about our upcoming adventure, but with each day that passes, I grow increasingly sad about leaving the people I love behind.  I feel pressured to make every single moment of every single day used in the most effective and resourceful way.  To an extent, it's good to live with that mindset because our days really limited and life should be lived abundantly; however, I am placing so much pressure on myself to make the most of every opportunity that I cannot possibly live up to that standard.  For goodness sakes -- I even stress about what meals to cook since I can only cook so many before we move and I want to make the very best ones!  Really, when I step back and look at it, I am approaching things with the mindset that I will  never be in America again or see people I care about again.  This is not the way I should be approaching this move.  But with my anxiety disorder and perfectionist mindset, viewing things in a healthy perspective is sometimes difficult.


This really is an odd emotional state to be in: to be excited and happy yet sad and anxious at the same time.  To be running towards this new adventure with arms wide open yet leaving this chapter of my life somewhat with my feet dragging.


My anxiety isn't rooted in fear of a new culture and the unknown, but in fear of loss.  I worry about losing touch with friends.  I worry about not having my mom close by to confide in -- and I worry about her being alone once we move and my sister goes to college in the fall.  I'm worried that something might happen to my loved ones when I am gone.


I suppose this is where trust comes in -- where I need to give these worries and these concerns over to God and trust him.  I will probably lose touch with some friends, but the really close ones, who really care about and love me, are people I will stay in touch with and who will make an effort to stay in touch with me.  My mom will probably be lonely with no one else in the house -- but I couldn't save her from that ache even if I were in the country.  I need to allow her experience that, come to terms with it, and experience God's grace and mercy amidst it.  As for losing a loved one, I don't know if this will happen or not.  But I need to trust God with that and remember that the end of this life is not The End.  There is an eternity with a Savior and those who belong to Him.


Which, after all, is why we are even going on this journey.  To share our faith and help lead others into a relationship with Him, so that they will share in that eternity.  It is how God is using us.  When we trust and follow Him, He will honor that.  It doesn't mean that things will go smoothly or that there won't be times of hardship and sadness, but He will be with us every step of the way.  We can trust in Him.  I can trust in Him.  Even with my anxiety.