Overall, a Good Journey…

It was 44 hours from our home in Spokane to our friends’ home in Kathmandu.  This time we had no layovers long enough to rent a room for sleep.  We did catch an hour or two of sleep on airport seats, but there wasn’t much opportunity for good rest.  Maybe that is why we all slept pretty well the first night in Kathmandu, even though we forgot to take the melatonin: we were all completely exhausted.  The luggage trials all turned out quite well; when we reached Seattle, we were only checking six bags for Beines and two for Ana, but nothing was overweight (according to Asian standards)…but then they weighed our carry-on bags.  They declared those overweight and made us check three of them.  Nick looked a little like a hobo with his few items retrieved from his bag (computer, slippers, camera and hat) placed in a large plastic bag (usually used for car seats) slung over his shoulder, as he was adorned in his recently torn jacket that was held together with duct tape.  In the end, we did not incur an extra charge for baggage and everything made it all the way to Kathmandu.  We feel so fortunate; and then our load on the plane was very light, and the in-flight entertainment (movies and games) kept everybody quite occupied.  

The flight was a great weight-loss program for two Beines.  We got placed at the very back of the plane between Seattle and Seoul, and all the motion led to the filling of at least seven of those little bags that you find in your seat-back pocket.  And jet-lag finally got the best of Joshua at the end, so that he basically sleep-walked from the final flight, through the airport, to our taxi, where he got a good nap all the way to our friends’ home.  Really the challenges of the flight were few and we were incredibly blessed by how great all seven travelers did over that 44 hours.  Thank you for praying for us.  Today, we celebrate with our Nepali “family” the birthday of their two-year-old daughter.  And we seek God’s guidance to do His will during our few days here in the capital city of Nepal.

Kimberly, for the whole nomadic group

Final day before departure- Leaning on God!

Hi all:

Less than 20 hours now until final departure!  The kids are (hopefully) enjoying their final day at school and Kimberly and I are progressing through our final packing check list items and finishing up last minute tasks around the house.  Tonight we go out for our final hamburger (remember cows are holy in Nepal) for six months, get a good night’s sleep and then are on our way!

I wanted to get one more update out before we take to the air.  I had intended to do so yesterday, but due to an unforeseen electrical issues (the power company was putting an electronic meter on our house and discovered deeper electrical issues in their main) we were without power for most of the day yesterday.  This also meant that besides the update, several other items (like clothes washing, house final house cleaning, etc.) got postponed until today. 

At church on Sunday I shared that one of the biggest challenges we face in South Asia is not having control of so many things in our environment.  Here in America we really have developed a comfortable and controlled life so contrastive to life in South Asia.  I shared that this biggest challenge is also our greatest blessing as it forces us to lean on God for EVERYTHING (which is what our hearts really desire to do).  Frankly (and honestly), this is just harder for us to do in a place where everything is comfortable and controlled.  Perhaps our pursuit of safe and convenient lives has led to our spiritual atrophy as a nation?   

So, as yesterday’s unexpected power cut hit, I just had to smile and say “okay, God, what do we do now?”  How ironic to be in a place with such steady and regular power (power cuts are rare and almost romantic here) and be reminded of this fact, while we are headed to a place with half day power cuts are still the norm! 

We also have one more upcoming known “opportunity” to lean on God tomorrow and we would like to ask you to join us in praying for God’s provision.      We will be attempting to check our luggage (with US limits) from Seattle all the way to our final destination (Kathmandu).  We have done this before but are flying a new airline from Bangkok-New Delhi-Kathmandu and our Asian carrier tells me that we may have to collect our luggage in Bangkok and re-check it in with the second airline.  If we have to do this 1) we lose our US luggage allowance (2 bags 50 lbs each) en route and will only get 1 bag at 44 lbs each from Bangkok (which means having to pay overweight charges for some and for extra bags as well) and 2) we will need to pass through immigration to collect our bags (and pay visa and airport tax fees) and re-check our bags paying all of the extra costs noted above.  And we will also have a time factor to worry about as well (we only have about four hours in Bangkok). So, please pray 1) that we lean on God in the process, 2) that we could find favor and grace from the staff in Seattle and Bangkok who may be able to facilitate seeing our luggage checked all the way to our final destination without further cost, 3) for provision if they can’t do this, and 4) for wisdom about how hard to push at Bangkok if necessary. By the way, one of the bags contains refrigerated lab supplies for the hospital, so there is particular urgency that our luggage not get lost. 

Okay, that’s all to report for now.  I am sure other things will arise during the journey (they always do) so pray that we will use those opportunities to lean on God!

Dave (for all the Beines)

Progress… Six days and counting

First of all, to answer the most common question, no, we are not ready yet; but we are on schedule.  We will be ready next Thursday morning.  This time we more smartly (and realistically) scheduled our time, events and packing.  This has even left us significant relationship time to spend with friends and family in these final days.  Our goal has been to be “all here” in both of our homes on the globe, thus limiting the transition time (and stress) it takes to prepare.  And it feels like we have finally struck a good balance in this endeavor.

Kimberly’s surgery and ensuing recovery went very well.  Thanks for praying!  She is healthy and cleared for “take off.” The vascular surgery was 80% successful and she has had far less discomfort than before the surgery.  We will likely follow up on the remaining 20% upon our return next July, although there is also a chance that the remaining vascular issue may spontaneously resolve with time.

Ana update-   Ana reports that she is now approaching about half way to her needed financial goal (and this amount does not including some promised gifts that have not yet reached her).  She has a speaking engagement at her home church this Sunday and we have a feeling that it will all come together in the end.  Keep praying! 

Nepal  update- We just learned that the day we arrive to Nepal (January 29^th) there will be another national strike and so ground transportation will likely not be running that day.  This means we will need to figure out how to get seven people and 12 bags 5 miles across town (you may recall that I have had to walk much of the distance in similar situations in the past).  Likewise, the power cuts are now up to 12 hours daily in the capital city.  And the political stalemate continues.  In one way this is what I love about Nepal.  Life is so out of my control there that it forces me to rely on God to figure things out (and that is what my heart desires most deeply) rather than taking things into my own hands (which is my tendency here).  Our overly-controlled life in America (as comfortable as it is) seldom pushes us to this level of absolute dependence on God. 

 

And for those of you who continue to express concern for our safety, thank you.  Today there were several accidents across town when freezing rain turned the streets into a skating rink.  And last Monday there was a bomb diffused down town that could have created massive devastation.  Don’t worry, in just six days we will be out of this dangerous place!  :)

Dave (for the Beines)  

quotable quote

Dave took the boys out to a restaurant this weekend.  Josh came back to the table and asked, "Dad, are we Jews or Gentiles?"  Dad answered "Gentiles."  Josh replied, "Good!  I went into the one that said 'GENTILEMEN.'"  I give thanks for laughter, and sweet little boys who bring it on.

:-) Kimberly

Nepal 2011- 21 Days and counting!

The "staging area"

Wow!  We depart just three weeks from tomorrow (January 27)!  The final push for Nepal 2011 is well underway!  As the days get closer we will try to get better about updating our bog on a weekly basis.  We are now busy packing, preparing the house and making preparations for our arrival on the other side. 

 

In regards to the other side, as is the constant norm throughout South Asia, things are still politically unsettled as the UN’s peacekeeping mission  prepares to pull out of Nepal in two weeks (see http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-12120981 ) and infrastructure remains challenged as power cuts are back up to eleven hours daily in the capital city.  For those of you who worry about such things, we remind you that it has been like this for most of our 23 year history with the region.  Take heart, God is still in control and He will guide us. 

   

Things are progressing well toward our departure, but you can remember us in prayer in a couple of ways over the next three weeks:  1) Kimberly has a small surgery scheduled on January 07th to repair a troublesome vein in her leg.  Following surgery she will need to stay off her feet (and avoid lifting) for about ten days.  Pray for our packing (and for me as I try to play Mr. Mom for everyone WHILE we are making the final preparations).  2)  Anastasia our teacher is still in need of support (she is currently at 12%of needed funding for her entire trip). Let us know if you want to help Ana get to Nepal (and back)  :)

The Beines

Chritmas 2010

Dear friends and partners:

Five weeks from today we will be back on an airplane headed for the second part of our strange nomadic life that has us splitting our time on two very different halves of the globe each year.  Lots of people have been asking us if we are excited to be returning to Nepal.  Although we are, to be honest, we haven’t been spending much time yet dwelling on our impending departure;  our goal in this new transient lifestyle has been to “be all where we are.”  In fact, beyond securing our tickets, our attention has been more on our lives and ministry here.  I just finished teaching a busy semester last week and still have a bit of grading to complete and then some “clean up” of the semester to have my courses in good shape for next year.  After the holiday we will “change” hats and begin to ramp up for Nepal. One of our missionary friends has aptly noted, “life overseas is hard, but simple; life in America is easy but complicated.”  Because of this all too true fact, you haven’t heard much from the Beines in the past six months.  What follows is an attempt to bring you all up to speed on the “second half” of this strange life the Beines lead:

Dave kept busy with various projects.  His primary responsibility for the past half year has been teaching anthropology, intercultural communications and linguistics at Moody Bible Institute, Spokane where he serves as Professor of World Missions.  Dave loves the opportunity to infect students with the mission bug (we know firsthand the huge remaining need for others to join in the task) and to equip them for that task through these practical offerings.  Dave also published a couple of academic articles within his specialty (medical anthropology) and presented another professional paper on HIV/AIDS in Nepal at the American Anthropological Association annual meetings in New Orleans in November.  Beyond this he taught a course in applied linguistics at Western Seminary (Portland) and led several workshops on culture, generational differences, Bhutanese worldview, and development for Moody, Prairie Bible Institute, Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF), and several local churches and organizations working with refugees.  Beyond teaching, the highlight of his year was keeping up with our Bhutanese refugee friends here in Spokane and hanging out with his family.  
      

Musings from Kimberly

I am reminded this year of how little control we have over our circumstances in life.  Not so many years ago, I was striving to keep my sanity while caring for my mother (as she faded away), caring for little ones in my home, keeping our home running smoothly while Dave traveled, keeping my medical license and contributing to our income through part-time work, and investing in many valuable relationships.  Some nights I would drop into bed wondering if God would provide enough energy for the trials of the next day.  AND HE ALWAYS PROVIDED AND SO OFTEN ASTONISHED ME.  It was a time of great spiritual growth, seeing God be more through me than I could have ever imagined.  Those were the years that taught me to embrace suffering (even though mine was small) and my eyes were opened to how often the Scriptures encourage us to expect and be prepared for suffering.  These days, my life is utterly different.  My mother is safely under the care of Christ, in heaven, free from all trials now.  My boys are no longer little and they all go to school for six hours a day, five days per week.  I was laid off in a massive closing of urgent care clinics in North Idaho.  Since new clinics have begun to open, I have not been able to secure a job; I am told that because we go back to Nepal every year, I am not a favorable candidate for hiring.  Furthermore, the fact that I chose missionary medicine before completing my board certification in a specialty is now playing against me in the job search.  Some colleagues with whom I used to work have told me that they would love to hire me, but those with the power to hire have not yet been convinced.  So it seems that my career has come to a screeching halt.  I do hope it is temporary.  I have spent many hours getting educated online, in hopes of moving into the area of preventive care should I find my niche in medicine again.  With our nomadic lifestyle, I do not really have the option to complete board certification at this time in history, and I do not feel ready to embrace 80-90 hours per week again while my kids still fill my home with so much joy and so many opportunities for interaction, guidance, and simply enjoying one another.  I cannot express what a joy it is to walk with my kids as they grow into the young men whom they are meant to be; what a fantastic journey of discovery!  I am so pleased with the men they are becoming.

So, I am on a new spiritual journey.  The trail is not nearly as arduous, but the exact focus of my destination is not so clear.  Should I be striving harder to find work?  Can I handle it, given the far more demanding job that Dave has, when I firmly believe that our boys need a parent on the home front?  I have had wonderful opportunities to help some of my dear friends whose journeys are very challenging right now.  I must admit, also, that I have experienced loneliness while everyone around me is so busily working.  At times I have taken this phase as pure gift, a chance to dawdle, when most of my life journey has been a full out run.  At times I have questioned if there is a place in this world for me to expend myself fully, using my skills and passion.  In the end, it has been a season of surrender.  I am learning to surrender (again) my hopes and dreams so that I can wait to see what the Master has for me.  I also have this deep desire to mother some daughters.  We have progressed with Home Study and hope to submit our paperwork to the Nepali government upon our return.  Others have advised that this is futile.  Yet, we have felt compelled to do it.  In the end, I cannot see that I can pursue both a career and the unique opportunity to nurture some orphaned children, so I have expended energy pursuing both, not being sure of the course marked out for me.  I trust that it will all become clear soon.  I am truly open to the next adventure that God has for me; I wonder what it will be.  In the meantime, there are some wonderful Beine “men” for me to support and enjoy, so I will close these musings with this wish for you:  wherever you are on your journey, may you find friendship, purpose, passion and a love for your Maker that cannot be extinguished.  God bless you, my friends.

Some thoughts from the teenager, Nick (Mom hopes he will use the word “pulchritudinous.”)

Hello everybody!  Nick here!  I just want to tell everybody Merry Christmas and Happy new year.  I have had a very busy year full of all sorts of activities, both in school and out.  I am playing the tenor saxophone in jazz band at my school.  I really enjoy jazz band!  I wake up an hour early on Wednesday and Friday to play in the jazz band.  We just went to Eastern Washington University for a competition and our band did very well.  I enjoyed running in cross country for Chase Middle School.  I finished ninth in the city for 7^th grade boys.  Running was lots of fun.  I also did a giant project for school on global warming.  I enjoyed putting it together to present and I hope all you guys are not burning lots of unnecessary greenhouse gasses!  Just kidding.  Besides playing saxophone, I am also playing my guitar, and I enjoy messing around on our new keyboard.  I like school over all, but the best part is having friends to hang out with.  I am glad we have a two week break from school.  I am planning to go skiing, which I enjoy very much.  I also published a book about Nepal on lulu.com, which includes pictures and thoughts about our six month stay there.  I am very much looking forward to going back to Nepal in January.  I hope you all have a great Christmas and an excellent new year!

(Oh well, he did not use that word that we hear him use all the time; expand your vocabulary and look up “pulchritude.”)

A Note from Nate

Merry Christmas from Nate! Thank you to all of you who support us or pray for us.  It was fun going to Nepal this year and I am glad that we are going back soon.  I enjoy my friends there.  I am going to a new school this year, in Spokane, and I am really enjoying it, even being on Student Council.  I hope that your Christmas is as good as mine.

Contemplations from 9-year-old Jason, a.k.a. Jake

Merry Christmas to you all!  I have enjoyed my friends and family this year.  I am very glad for all of you who support us.  This year, I was in a civic theatre play called “The Legends of Sleepy Hollow.”  I enjoyed being Ichabod Crane.  I have also enjoyed developing a better relationship with Jesus this year.  These days, I like sports a lot.  I can often be found outside re-enacting great football plays I have seen on the field.  I am really enjoying school where I like my teacher and where I have many friends.  Again, Merry Christmas!

Thoughts from 6-year-old Joshua

I do not like the toilets in Nepal.  I think it has been a fun year.  I love to play soccer with friends at school and to play football with big brother Nate at home.  Actually, I love to interact with all of my brothers, and people say that I seem much older than six (sometimes).  For some reason, people like to laugh when I am around; they call me Jovial Josh, and I like that.  Merry Christmas!

Anastasia
No, we do not (yet) have a new daughter, but Anastasia (Ana) Carlson is about to become an honorary part of the Beine clan as she spends the next half year living with us and teaching our kids in Nepal.  We introduced Ana in our last newsletter (let us know if you didn't get this) and Ana will gladly send you a prayer card (anastasia.j.carlson@gmail.com) so that you can pray for her.  And for those interested, Ana is still seeking financial partners to help get her to Nepal (and back!).  Write her at the above email address for more details.
         

And Finally, the holiday season is often a time for giving thanks: we give thanks first and foremost to our God for making a way for us to know and enjoy Him forever through the coming of his son, our Savior.  Also we are thankful for family and friends who have spoken into our lives in so many ways throughout the past year.  And certainly we give thanks for those of you who have partnered with us through prayer and/or financially during the past year.  We are grateful!  Our sending mission, Wycliffe Bible Translators, is also thankful for you, and has put together a short video which wonderfully expresses our thankfulness for your partnership in reaching the Bibleless peoples of the world with the greatest story ever told.  To see this short clip either click on this link or copy and paste it into your Internet browser. http://www.wycliffe.org/Give/ChristmasGreeting.aspx.  Please consider this Christmas Greeting one from our hearts to you as well.   

Thanks for your interest in our lives!

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and bon voyage from the Beines!

Wanna join us in our adventure financially?

Give online at:

http://www.wycliffe.org/Give/MissionaryMinistries.aspx

Or snail mail to:

W.B.T.

P.O. Box 628200

Orlando, FL 32862-8200

(Please earmark for Dave and Kimberly Beine

Or contact us personally at:

Email: david_beine@sil.org; kimberlybeine@gmail.com
Facebook: dave.beine; kimberly.beine

Phone us (rings to us both in the USA and Nepal): 509-228-8973