"All About Me"- Charlie's Pre-K assignment

Charlie started Pre-K on Monday and let me tell you, preschool is no joke. It is not all finger painting and snack time! My cute little baby came home with homework! She had to decorate her fish (her class is the "Fishes") with pictures that tell "All About Me." So we sat down together and went through pictures on the computer that she thought described her and that she wanted to print out. We decorated her pink fish with glitter and Disney princess stickers- the Modge Podge came out ya'll! When Josh came home, she was so proud. After dinner we practiced what she was going to say about each picture and this is what she said:

 

My name is Charlotte, but you can call me Charlie.

 

 

This is my mom Lori and my dad Josh.

 

 

 

 

I like Chick-fil-A. (seriously my child felt the need to share her love of the Chick!)

 

 

I like to swim.

 

I like to do crafts.

 

I like to ride in helicopters. (Like we do this all of the time!)

 

I like to go to the beach with my cousin Raynah.

 

I like Mud Mania. (Of all the things in her life, she thought this one event important enough to share!)

 

I like to dance.

 

 

 

I lived in Africa, but I am American. (The second part was a result from a previous conversation that we had where yes you lived in Africa and yes you are American, but no you are not "African American.")

 

And the best part....

 

I lived in Africa. I am American. We are going back to Africa and we are collecting money!

 

 

Seriously! She said that. Josh and I were dying laughing. We always said that she would be the greatest missionary out of all of us- apparently in the fund raising aspect too!

 

So she did her presentation today. Based on the lack of coinage upon her return home, I am guessing that she omitted the plea for money. Either that or those stingy 4-year-olds did not want to part with their milk money!

 

Nothing gets past kids. I don't think we ever really said to her that we needed to raise money, but no doubt she has seen us getting our support letters together. And they are finally done!

 

See this pic? That is approximately 150 letters on their way to the mailbox!

 

 

 

 

Girl Scout Cookies and missionary support raising!

Hey see that thermometer to the right of the screen? Yep, it is that time again! Time to do something Josh and I hate in order to do something we love. The thing we love: ministering to the people of Banyo, Cameroon- tending to their physical wounds, fixing their electricity so their children have light to do their homework at night, telling them about the love and hope of Jesus! And that is what we hope to do again starting January 2016!

The thing we hate: asking for money! I don't think there are very many people that actually enjoy begging from their friends, family, family friends, or random strangers for handouts. I here ya fund raising haters- I am a card carrying member of your committee (which is awesome because there are no dues since no one wants to ask for them!). When I was little, I only sold Girl Scout cookies and wrapping paper to my parents because I did not want to ask anyone else. I never ever won the cool bike for most boxes sold- not even close.

Then I became a missionary and I learned that one does not “go on a mission,” they are “sent on a mission.” The reality is that people have to give so that you can go. In the very beginning of our missionary story, Josh and I were bound and determined to work really hard at our jobs in America, be super frugal, save every penny, and support ourselves overseas. We did not want to ask for money from others! Three things happened: 1-we learned the real cost of being a missionary (who knew visas and residency documentation were so expensive?!) 2- we discovered those aspirations had more to do with our pride than God's leading and 3- people wiser and more experienced than us advised that we were robbing others of the joy of “radical generosity.”

In 2 Corinthians 8, Paul talks about the churches of Macedonia who begged “with great earnestness” for the “blessing and fellowship of helping the Saints”- those traveling around telling of Jesus. The Macedonians were begging to give to Paul the way I now search for little girls in front of grocery stores to sell me a box of Thin Mints! They were eager. They had a taste of the good stuff and they wanted more!

Ok, stop begging, stop begging. No really stop. Yes, you can donate to us! Here is how:

• You can send a one time check or monthly check or a biannual check or every fifth Sunday check- whatever is easiest for you to 8303 W Higgins Road, Chicago, Illinois, 60631
• You can give online here: http://www.covchurchgiving.com/p-298-missionaries-joshua-and-lori-shinar.aspx

We will be sending out our “support letters” soon. If you have ever received anything from us by mail, rest assured you will get one of these letters (unless you tell us otherwise). If you have never received Shinar mail or have moved and would like one (includes a great prayer reminder card) please give us your address and we will be sure that you get one!

*I just wanted to add that this post was really difficult for me. In fact it took me 3+ hours to work on it (yay for vacation Bible school occupying Charlie this morning). Money, giving, abundance, and need are all really BIG topics! I touched on everyone of these topics in the multiple drafts of this blog, but finally I rested here- a starting point for dialogue and musings on these topics. It is my hope to explore these more in following blogs.

Out of hibernation!

A few months ago, Josh and I went to conference for missionaries returning to the States. During the conference, we were asked what “season” we felt we were in. I responded by saying that I felt like I was in winter- in hibernation actually-a time of withdrawing, resting, and preparing for our next season of ministry. (Apparently there was some hibernating from the Blog too since there has been nothing new on here since August- sorry!) This time at home in Arizona has been really important for us to reflect on our last term in the Central African Republic and Cameroon, recharge our batteries, refill our cups, and prepare for the next season of ministry- we will be heading back to Banyo, Cameroon in January!

Before we talk about what is next for us, here's a recap of what we've been doing since returning from Cameroon:

• Lots of great time with family and friends! We have enjoyed living close to Josh's parents and vising my family in Georgia. Charlie has had great visits with cousins. And we have really loved catching up with our good friends!
• Charlie started preschool and LOVES it! She asks everyday if it is a “school day.” She has also made many new friends.

• As Charlie is getting older, we have been experiencing a lot of fun kid activities like going to birthday parties, taking trips to the zoo, learning to ride a bike, and being obsessed with Frozen! Knowing that some of these activities cannot be experienced in Cameroon, I especially enjoy them and try not to take simple things like playing at the playground for granted! We are trying to pack in all of the fun that is for sure!                                          

• Josh started working for the company that he sold before we went to Africa- Adopt Technologies (formally Directrix). He does not like to be idle for long so he is happy to be back in his IT element.

• I am also doing what I love- being a mom! It has been such a blessing to be able to stay home with Charlie and get to enjoy all of these fun childhood moments.

• And of course we have been enjoying all of the restaurants, shopping, movie theaters and other conveniences of America. Oh Target, how I love thee! And let's not even talk about the food! Cheese, cheese, and more cheese for sure!

Stay tuned for more frequent updates! Don't forget you can check out our page on the Covenant website here: http://www.covchurchgiving.com/p-298-missionaries-joshua-and-lori-shinar.aspx You can even donate there is you wish!

Home again, home again!

Home again, home again jiggity jig! We have been back in the US for over 2 weeks now and it has been a whirlwind of fun and crazy. The reverse culture shock has not been too bad- so far Charlie has not pulled down her pants and peed in any public location- or at least that I know of.

I think the transition has been so easy because we have been blessed by people who have taken care of us and doted on us in so many ways. Our first US blessing came when our plane landed in Chicago. Dear friends of ours picked us up, let us take showers at their house, fed us, and supplied a plethora of toys for Charlie to play with. It was the best 8 hour lay over we have ever had! Then when we arrived in Phoenix, Josh's parents picked us up at the airport and have been blessing us non-stop since. They have graciously let us stay at their house until Josh gets a job and we find a place to live. They have also taken on the role as "the most funnest people ever" according to Charlie. As soon as she wakes up, she wants to play with Grandma and Grandpa and amazingly they usually want to play with her too! This provided me lots of time for my consigning project.

(Notice the outfit Charlie is wearing- 6 month old outfit that should have gone to the sale, but is perfect for "tea" with Grandma).

Much of my time so far has consisted of getting Charlie's old baby items ready to sell at a consignment sale, working at the consignment sale, and buying new fun toys and clothes at the consignment sale. There was also a few shopping trips thrown in there- ok more than a few and also several dining out experiences.

Josh has been keeping busy looking for a job in the IT field- searching for openings, networking, and brushing up on his skills. And lots of Myth Busters watching.

Charlie has been having a blast playing at the playgrounds and splash pads. We have gone to the library and the Children's Museum also. Add to that swimming and new toys- we have worn her out every day. She is having a blast, but almost everyday asks when we are going back to our home in Banyo because "she misses her friends."



We have transitioned back to the American lifestyle quite easily, but occasionally I look at the things around me like one of my African friends might. The first time I went to the grocery store, I was overwhelmed by the abundance of produce- and how clean it was. There was no dirt on the carrots! When I walked through the mall, I thought about how crazy/amazing it is that there are so many brightly lit, beautifully decorated store there were that just sold clothes! When we first drove on the roads in Chicago, Charlie kept on saying "whoo, whoo, whoo." She was so excited by how "fast" we were going.

Thank you for all of your prayers! We are so thankful to be home with family and friends.

No place like home...

There is no place like home, there is no place like home....

Sorry for the Wizard of Oz opening, but Charlie loves this movie and it is often in my head- as is Annie, but I will spare you my singing “Tomorrow” because it will most definitely get stuck in your head for all of eternity.

I digress.

This time next week, the Shinars will be back in the States! Maybe I should say we will be “home” in a couple of weeks, but really Banyo feels just as much like home to us now. Maybe the best thing to say is that we will be at our other “home” in a few weeks!

 

As a missionary, you learn to get used to dichotomy. We are American, but no longer like we once were. We are African, but not really. We are foreign, but familiar. Everything around us is familiar, yet foreign. We feel at home in 2 different places. So naturally, our feelings are split when it comes to returning to the States. There are many things we will miss and many things we that make us excited about returning!

Food- Almost everyday, Charlie will say, “When we go to Grandma's house, we will have lots of....”
99.9% of the time she fills in the blank with food- cheese, blueberries, ice cream, etc. (Once she said we will have lots of toothpaste and tooth brushes!) We all are looking forward to foods we can only dream of while in Africa like sushi and tender chicken, but at the same time we are going to miss our 20 cent humungous, creamy avocados, the exotic guavas that are just starting to produce, and local foods like egusi (pumpkin seed soup).

Clothes- Surprisingly, Josh thinks my African mumus leave something to be desired, yet I have to admit I am going to miss the joy that is loose, comfortable tent-like clothing. And having only 5 outfits makes getting dressed easy. But I get his point. We have a running joke amongst the missionaries about Josh and his never ending supply of gray t-shirts. They are all he wears. My eyes wouldn't mind seeing him in something a little more fashion forward! But like me and my mumus, he thinks his gray shirts are sublime. So an immediate trip to the mall is in store for us upon arrival! Also related to the clothes thing, on the top of my “things I am excited about having in America” list is a dryer. Rainy season weather is not very conducive for drying clothes outside on a clothesline. I cannot tell you how many hours a week I spend hanging clothes, moving clothes in and out of rain, in and out of the sun, in and out of the house, etc. On average it takes 2 days to dry clothes! And often, the clothes start to turn ripe smelling. To have warm, fluffy clothes that smell like Tide and Downy straight out of the dryer sounds dreamy.

Weather- If there is one thing we are not split about, it is weather. Rainy season is not great for clothes drying, but it is gorgeous and the temperature is perfect- not too hot in the day and cool at night. The sound of the rain at night when falling asleep is amazing. Now, the weather in Phoenix at this time- not so amazing. Boo. Hiss. Not looking forward to that at all.

Activities- On the flip side, we are not going to miss the lack of things to do (especially after dark) here in rural Africa. I realized the other day that we have not been anywhere after 6pm in almost a year! When we get back to the States, I am going to go to the movies or out to eat at night and I am not going to wear a head covering. I know, scandalous!

People- Of course what pulls our hearts in opposite directions the most are the people we love. We are beyond excited to see friends and family. I can't wait for Charlie to interact with her grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins again. I can't wait to be with them either! But, when I think about our friends we are leaving behind, my heart aches. I know that we will see most of them again, but when I think of my elderly patients and the fragility of life in Africa, the what-ifs make me teary. Today when I said goodbye to a patient and good friend of mine, we were both in tears. Me crying is not that big of a deal, but these people rarely even cry when a loved one dies so to see her crying was special and heartbreaking!  

 

On that note, maybe now might be a good time to break out in Annie's “Tomorrow!”

Mango Mania!

 

 

 

I don't know if I ever ate a mango in the States- perhaps the occasional Mango Strawberry Smoothie at some smoothie shop, but never a whole fresh, juicy mango in all of its glory. When we first moved to Cameroon 2 years ago, we arrived in the middle of mango season. Wow, I had been missing out! We feasted everyday on them. Little baby Charlie LOVED them to the point where they caused an unfortunate increase in diaper changes! We would tell our house help not to give her anymore, and of course she would cave and give Charlie a big bowl after the slightest whimper of “maaango pwees.” Notice the mango bits all over her face and bib! Who could deny such a cute babe?! 

 

 

 

 Last year, we evacuated Africa and missed most of the mango season, but this year the mango party is on again! They are everywhere. Almost everyone has a tree near them. There is a road near all of the municipal buildings in town that is lined with mango trees. The air is permeated with the smell of fallen fruit that has fermented. We also have a mango tree in our yard, but sadly ours has only produced like 5 whereas most trees produce hundreds. Luckily for us, we can buy 3 mangos for 20 cents at the market! We have eaten so many, I am surprised we are not orange. Almost everyday we eat mango slices. But I have also embarked on some mango recipes- green mango pie (unripe ones taste like apples when cooked), mango cobbler, a botched attempt at mango sticky rice, and the latest recipe- mango Italian ice. Oh yum. Two years after being introduced to mangos, Charlie still is obsessed! Here favorite treat is to get every last bite off of the mango pits!

 

 

 

The Beach!

Josh went to Central African Republic in May and all of the other expats in our area were either home in the States or on Yaounde (12 hours away) for a meeting. So as not to be the only missionaries left in Banyo, Charlie and I headed down to Yaounde as well to hang out with friends. We thought Josh would be in CAR for a month, but he was able to get the work done earlier than expected. He returned to Yaounde and we had a week to wait before our ride back to Banyo would be finished with his meetings, so we decided to drive a few hours to the coast of Cameroon. You may remember that last year when we evacuated, we went to Kribi to “wait out the situation” in hopes of a quick return. Well, a year later we returned to Kribi with a lot less stress and worry. All we had to worry about was this:

Ah, the beautiful ocean was just steps from our hotel door! (So close in fact that one night our room flooded- water, sand, seaweed, crabs, and all!) We lounged and played and ate so much fish and shrimp! It was a great break and we are thankful for the time to rest and play as a family!