Archive for the ‘Family’ Category

Teach What I Don’t Know?

Posted by Elijah and Moira Hall on Wednesday, June 1st, 2011
Kids in class with "Tía Cony" (Aunt Cony), learning the days of the week in Spanish via puzzle.

Kids in class with "Tía Cony" (Aunt Cony), learning the days of the week in Spanish via puzzle.

    So you’re the mother of 4 small children all still at home – your new home, that is: a foreign country where most things are new and strange and you are all spending most of your time learning how to talk to the people you want to minister to.
    The months go by and your hours studying the language begin to pile up; you can understand more Spanish and handle common situations, but you realize that your children are still looking blank and confused when people greet them and are struggling to have good attitudes about spending so much time with other people when they hardly understand anything. It begins to worry you a little when they burst into tears at the very thought of visiting someone. Oh, what’s a mother to do?

    How can I teach my children something I don’t know well myself? (more…)

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6 Cures for Homesickness

Posted by Elijah and Moira Hall on Monday, February 28th, 2011
Elijah drinks tereré with our neighbor and brother in the Lord, Lucho

Elijah drinks tereré with our neighbor and brother in the Lord, Lucho

Homesickness: an almost daily reality in the life of every new missionary. Perhaps we will never be completely cured (perhaps we don’t even want to be) – but here are a few remedies we’ve found that help. The best is last!

  1. THANKFULNESS

Taking every homesick thought (“Oh, I miss my family so much today!”) and turning it into a thankful thought somehow! Yes, at times this means doing some mental gymnastics, but it is possible (“I’m so glad I have a family that is lovable enough to miss! Besides, I know they miss me too, and it’s much better to be missed than not.”) We thank the Lord for our families and friends and enjoy remembering all the wonderful time spent with them. Of course, it always helps to recieve letters from home and we enjoy the wonderful blessing of Skype!  (more…)

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Tickets and a lost laptop

Posted by Elijah and Moira Hall on Sunday, May 2nd, 2010

“He has no ticket, he can’t get on the plane.”

We had just arrived in the Miami airport and were checking in…Israel is under two, a lap infant, and we had no idea that internationally every infant must have a ticket. The airline workers couldn’t help us, so Elijah went to a pay phone to call the travel agency.

“You must buy a last-minute ticket for your baby…that will be one thousand dollars,” said the travel agent. “But the plane is already full, so we cannot sell you one anyway.”

We were praying, needless to say, as Elijah asked the agent to talk to the supervisor. (more…)

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“I’ll never see you again”

Posted by Elijah and Moira Hall on Wednesday, April 21st, 2010
Moira, her Grammie and the kids

Moira, her Grammie and the kids

Last week we visited my (Moira’s) grandmother in the hospital. She was sleeping soundly when we entered, still wheezing a bit from her pneumonia; I leaned over the bed and gently shook her. “Grammie, it’s Moira!”

   Her eyes popped open. (more…)

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Three days and counting…

Posted by Elijah and Moira Hall on Wednesday, April 21st, 2010

Three days until our departure to Florida – eight days until we arrive in Paraguay! Luggage and tickets are such a part of our daily vocabulary these days that when someone asked Elisha (age 5) if he needed a ticket to go to Paraguay he replied, “Yes, because I am over two years old. Israel doesn’t need a ticket, because he’s just a carry-on!”

   Almost 500 pounds (more…)

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Glimpse of a tribal funeral

Posted by Elijah and Moira Hall on Tuesday, November 17th, 2009
Elijah 9second from L) and Kanuka friends, 1992

Elijah (second from L) and Kanuka friends, 1992

Loud wailing greeted the boy as he neared the village – screaming sobs that announced the death of a Kanuka man. Elijah had hiked for hours with his father, who was a missionary to the this tribe in the dense interior of Papua New Guinea, to observe the funeral. They were hoping to see deeper into the minds of the Kanuka* people in order to better communicate the Gospel with them.  

The ceremonial wailing continued long into the night. Part of the weeping was genuine sorrow for the dead; part of it was driven by fear, because the Kanuka believed that the spirit of the dead man was still lingering in the village. They were hoping to to appease the spirit so it would leave.  Elijah wondered what else they believed… many of the rituals performed by the tribal people were motivated by the fear of spirits…but he was only thirteen years old, and fatigue was beginning to overtake him… (more…)

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Eight tiny feet

Posted by Elijah and Moira Hall on Tuesday, November 17th, 2009

Six small feet – a pair of wide ones, a pair of narrow ones, and one set of chubby soft feet – peeked out at me from under the covers. Elijah worked late again tonight, helping a friend move in, so the kids and I made it a “special time”. Soft classical music played, three candles burned and three bright sippy cups with peppermint tea were busily slurped as I gave each of the kids a foot rub. (more…)

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Rest in Christ

Posted by Elijah and Moira Hall on Saturday, May 30th, 2009

A mother reading with her children.

   Finishing school. Back home for two months. On the road with our three children for two months, back home busily getting ready for the baby to arrive the next month. Looking on to the summer, mountains of paperwork, preparation, construction jobs, ministry opportunities… then field preparation as we hope to be leaving before the end of 2009 – does this sound something like your busy life as well? So much to do and seemingly so little time? (more…)

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Snow camping and upcoming events

Posted by Elijah and Moira Hall on Friday, February 13th, 2009

2607_52978   The Halls are back in chilly Maine doing the kinds of things that winter dwellers do…

   Sledding on the icy hills as winter breeze whips by; snowball “tosses” with the kids, hauling firewood and enjoying hot spiced apple cider with family.

   Elijah and Elisha even camped out in the snow cave for a night! (more…)

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Forest Camp

Posted by Elijah and Moira Hall on Saturday, November 1st, 2008

Elisha makes toast at our \

   What to do when jungle camp is canceled?

   Substitute another camping experience!

   Traditionally New Tribes Mission students have spent six weeks at a “jungle camp” where they build their own pole frame homes, cook from scratch, and other activities associated with simple living. Since there was no jungle camp for us this year we decided on the next best thing: forest camp! (more…)

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