Coxes Quarterly

posted by Britt on Aug 18

No this isn’t the hotel

Ah, Geeze… that’s really the only thing that can really cover it… actually the only thing that covers it is the name itself, GEM-K conference… Greater Europe Mission Kids (ages 13- when you finish high school) all piled together in a cozy little Hotel in Hungary for five days…

Our scavenger hunt required that we put ourselves into, well, different situations. Yes, we are all piled into a bathtub!

Just another jazzy picture of me and my GEM-K friends on our scavenger hunt…

Ah, Geeze. Last time I wrote to you I was talking about how I had to remember how to breathe in the first place, this time I’m struggling to catch my breath. I’ve been throwing myself into this sea-like culture, enjoying the way that the waves batter against every part of me in a delightfully foreign rhythm. Like a sea sponge I’ve been absorbing the pleasures and challenges God has laid out for me here. However, swimming is hard work. (Despite what some Michael Phelps might make it look like…) Conference was my refresher course with my personal Swim-Trainer, Jesus. And after treading in the deep blue sea it was fun to take a splash in the kiddie pool with all the other GEM-Ks at conference. In Hungary and Austria for five days filled with rather strange adventures and exploits I hung out with some of the most awesome people ever! We pulled crazy stunt after stunt, partied where there wasn’t even a party and laughed our way through each day and into the next. We pranked each other, played really weird games, stormed Vienna, dance until dawn (literally) and (in some ways) refreshed each other so that we might each return to our own unique Olympic-sized pool and continue to tread in the deep and often dangerous waters in our respective places that God has placed us. We all embraced in emotional parting. We had all bonded in astonishing ways. I blinked and now I catch myself wondering if it actually happened. Did I really truly learn to swing dance and didn’t even step on anyone’s toes? (More than five times that is.) Did I really run face-first into that wall that appeared out of nowhere in that glass maze? Did I lie awake all hours of the night playing match maker?

Me and my match-making partner in crime!

Did I really get up in front of that group of teens and perform a practically flawless impression of Larry in the VeggieTales favorite “I Love My Lips?” [ed: see the evidence on Facebook]  Did I honestly seek out Burger King for dinner in the middle of Vienna? Did I really play Ultimate Frisbee with a frozen pigs tongue? Did I… never mind. The answer is yes. Yes, I am one of those blessed things called a MK. We get to have so much fun it should be illegal. And it’s all because my God is looking out for me and loving on my soul in ways I can’t even imagine. He knows how much stress, newness, and down right scariness I can handle. He knows how much fun I can handle… maybe that’s why I had to come home so quick…

He wouldn’t shake my hand…

posted by Ted on Jul 17

click here for the entire thing

The two most common comments we receive on our newsletters are “I love the pictures” and “I always mean to read them, but never get around to it.” That said, this month there are a lot less words and a whole lot more pictures. I hope you’ll let us know what you think.

posted by Ted on Jun 4

Can you believe this is 510lbs of luggage?  How about that this doesn’t include our carryons in the trunk of the other car? 

Our first stop was Boston’s Logan International Airport.  You can see the sign above the kid’s heads, but it’s a bit hard to read.  Frankfurt, Germany, 3671 Miles.

Faith was very excited to change some left over birthday money into Euros.

Shortly before we boarded the plane, Faith asked me, “Daddy, is this real?  Because this happens to me all the time, and then I wake up and it wasn’t real.”

This is as real as it gets.  Somewhat the worse for wear after 15 hours of travel, we arrived in Basel, Switzerland, our luggage trailing endlessly off into the horizon…

We looked a lot better the next day after a little bit of rest.

Day two in Germany, after some settling, setting up a bank account, and registering with the town, we took the kids to see the storks in Holzen, a near by village.

One of the most incredible blessings God has provided for us as we arrived here, has been the tremendous support we have received from the Greater Europe Mission staff people.  In this picture, you can see Brandy with Sara Meyer, wife of my supervisor, Jim, admiring the storks.  Because we’re such a large family, the Meyers have been driving us everywhere in two cars, which since we’re running many errands trying to work out school for the kids, navigating the German buerocracy, and get heating oil for our house (which is preventing us from having hot water) the Meyers have been a tremendous help.  Not to mention they’ve been acting as interpreters for us.  But they aren’t the only ones!  Our neighbors down the street, the Bonhams, put us up in their home for several nights, and they and the Meyers have been taking turns feeding us since we got here.

Saturday morning, GemStone Media had our first team building event, as the whole crew traveled to nearby Switzerland to view some Roman ruins.  It was a nice time, allowing the kids to get a sense of Europe’s rich cultural history, and giving us a chance to connect with our new colleagues.

For Isaac and Faith, it was another great excuse to have an ice cream.

In so many ways this is such a surreal experience.  We wake up each morning and look out at the farmer’s fields on the other side of the hill, and the mists make everything hazy and dream like.  I keep having to remind myself this isn’t a dream.  Part of our training was to prepare us for culture shock.  We’re in the tourist phase now, where everything is charming and wonderful.  But lingering our there in the distance are the language barrier, all the little cultural snags we’re just beginning to learn, like always saying hello and good bye, and not calling people you see in the distance.  Little things we don’t think about, but which can be very rude here.

Because I’ve been here on several short trips the last five years, I keep having the same problem Faith had in the airport.  I keep forgetting we’re not leaving in a few days.  This is home now.  It’s an awesome feeling.  After five years of working, it’s finally real.  I can pinch myself and not wake up.  :)  Our God is so incredibly good.

Over the next several months, we have to balance the demands of language school, setting up our household, helping the kids get acclimated, and building working relationships with our team.  Unfortunately, it’s way too easy to make language our bottom priority, but we need to stay focused.  I hope you’ll pray along with us, that God will keep us focused.

Bless you all, and thanks for all the ways you have prayed us here!

posted by Ted on May 26

Some time back, the Women’s Fellowship here gave Brandy a membership to Mystic Seaport about 50 minutes down the road from where we’re living here. We enjoyed our trip to Mystic very much, and had been intending to go back for some time. On our final family outing in Connecticut, returning to Mystic seemed a fitting way to say goodbye to this place where so much has happened to us.

Because it was Memorial Day, Mystic was reenacting a Memorial Day ceremony from shortly after the civil war, complete with a church service, parade and floating flowers out of the harbor. It was more solemn than I expected, but it was great reminder of what Memorial Day is all about.

She’s so pretty.

Yep. Her too.

Yeah… And her.

What scheme is Isaac plotting here? I see rope… This could be dangerous.

Isaac wrestled a whale while Faith had a snack and Britt nearly became one.

It was a very nice day.

posted by Brandy on May 25

God is so good! I know in scripture the number 40 is significant. In Genesis it rained 40 days and nights in preparation for the world to have a new beginning. Moses was on Mt. Sinai for 40 days. When he came down he had the directions for making the tabernacle and the arc, in preparation for God to dwell among His chosen people. The Israelites were in the desert for 40 years before entering their promised land. Christ was in the wilderness for 40 days being tempted by satan before He began His public ministry. We left Colorado 40 weeks ago.

I have to believe that God had this move to Connecticut planned all along. Each of us has learned some extremely important lessons and some fun ones along the way. We were told over and over today that Britt was a very specific answer to prayer. The teen leaders had been praying for a “spark plug” to come and light a fire in the teen club. For all of you that know Britt and know her well, that describes her to a T. I was brave enough to take up playing the djembe. It’s great fun! Faith has learned how to make new friends and learned that “when you’re stuck and can’t really get out, God tries to help you.” Isaac has found a love for soccer and his exceptional trumpet talent while here. He also learned that he loves small communities, which is a huge benefit because our community in Kandern will definitely be small. We’ve all learned very exciting things, but what I can’t wait to find out is what was all this in preparation for? Each time in scripture the 40 days/weeks/years were in preparation for something. So what awesome ministry opportunities does God have in store for us? I can’t wait to find out and share with each of you.

But the first exciting thing we would like to share with you after our 40 weeks is this morning Pastor Paul challenged the congregation of Calvary Chapel to meet our last $95/mo need. We were hugely blessed by not only the $95/mo but $135/mo in new pledges! Our God is good. We are currently at 102%! It’s still 102% of our reduced budget which is very tight, but regardless it’s another amazing blessing from the Lord. We want to thank each of you for your prayers and support of us during these last couple of years while we worked on support-raising. God was preparing us for His work. We can’t wait.

posted by Ted on May 23

Since we announced our date, a lot of people have said to me, “you must be so excited.” And my response has consistently been affirmative. After five years of working, trusting, and hoping, we’re finally seeing God’s calling in our lives coalescing before us. What’s not to be exited about?

Today we hit one of the hard parts. For literally years, we’ve been saying goodbyes. One of the downsides of living in limbo is you never really know when the next time you’ll see someone is. I’ve said goodbye to my brothers and parents many times now, and while each time is difficult, I know that it really isn’t a goodbye because I’ll see them again. Even if I don’t see them again in this life, I know they’ll be there with me in the next.

That isn’t true in every case. Tonight we had to say goodbye to our dog, Aslan. She’s been with us for nine years, since she was just a few week old puppy. While she hasn’t always been the best behaved dog, she has been a fierce lover and protector of us. She’s going to live with some wonderful animal lovers here in Connecticut. But will we ever see her again? At nine years old, it’s doubtful.

That wasn’t the only goodbye of the evening though. Just across the way, the Calvary Chapel teens have put together what they’re calling a coffee house. I didn’t actually see any coffee, mostly soda, and junk food, but the idea is similar. They all hang out in a big room and take turns performing, and — in this case — trying to share the gospel in innovative ways.

Not surprisingly, Britt managed to bring together not just her church friends, but a large contingent of unchurched friends as well (which seemed to be predominately made up of male admirers). She had a great time, and refrained from being even slightly dramatic. (wink).

Note: this isn’t one of the skits. This is just a candid of her chatting with friends.

Amid the skits, contests, speeches and even a girl solving a scrambled Rubick’s cube in just over a minute, Britt sang her goodbye.

She chose a song by Barlow Girl called Here’s My Life. It’s a song that explores fairly deeply the feeling of loss that we experience when we have to sacrifice for God while reaffirming the commitment to make the sacrifice. The chorus says:

And God I’m crying out tonight
Cause I’ve given You my life
But I’m tired and I’m missing what’s behind
So once more here’s my life

If you know Brittany, you can imagine the passion she poured into the song as she sang it.

She’s wrapping up the evening with a sleep-over/friend-a-thon at Aslan’s new home, hopefully easing our dog’s transition, and giving her a chance to say a longer farewell to some of her dearest friends here.

In truth, we have it so easy compared to so many of our brothers and sisters in Christ, it’s almost silly for me to be writing about this. However, coming from our comfortable American life, giving up our beloved dog, and saying hard goodbyes is tough stuff. God keeps asking me this week, what am I unwilling to give up? I fear to even answer the question. The perversity of my human nature wants to respond “haven’t we given up enough already?” And yet I’ve a dear brother in Africa trying to balance the safety of his family against the calling God is laying on his life. My sacrifices are pretty petty, but they still hurt.

Bless you all.

posted by Ted on May 18

I’m predicting there may only be 9 more posts in the “When do we leave” and “Progress to the field” categories.

Our May newsletter went out today on email. I’m uncertain what we’re going to do for print, but it’s likely to be disappointing by comparison this time (and somewhat late), so if you have a chance, check it out online here:

http://www.coxesquarterly.com/cq-email/cq-2008/May.html

posted by Ted on Apr 29

“We’ve got 29 days to make it a foreign shore…”

Today is a big day. Brandy and I are driving in to Rhode Island this morning to pick up the rental I’ll begin driving back to Colorado tomorrow. We have to

get the rest of this house packed up, and loaded into whatever they give us at the rental place, but we also have to pack all our suitcases for Germany (so that we can be sure everything not in the car, or in the suitcases, is stuff we intend to leave behind).

It’s a big day for other reasons as well. Brittany is turning 15 today. She had her party last Saturday, a medieval murder mystery that she insisted I write, complete with a costume sewn by her Grandmother in Missouri and shipped next day so that she could wear it. Personally, I’m still struggling to get a handle on how to be a Dad for the fourteen year old, and she’s already moving forward before I’ve even gotten the hang of it.

posted by Britt on Mar 7

Hi ya! Here in CT (and all over New England) the youth groups all participate in the same activities and learn the same material. Lately I have been participating in a competition called TI or Teens Involved, it’s all about learning how to best use our talents in ministry, whatever they are. I entered a short story, one I started in an essay for school paper about our “laws of life.” I just extended it, added more, and turned it into a story of redemption. And here it is a tale of Tears, Blood, and Love.

There stands a woman of breath-taking youth, elegance, and beauty. A thin circlet of gold adorned with a single opal rests upon her veil of deep blond, red-tainted, waist length hair. A dress of purest white, threaded with gold and beaded with amethysts, sapphires, and emeralds falls over her slender, curved body. She has no equal. She is the daughter of a long line of great kings. She stands in a grand hall, a hall huge and cavernous. But instead of graced by the glory of a living king, draped in silks, banners, and decorated by gleaming weapons the hall is dark, dank, and reeks of fear and oppression. Instead of silver clear laughter lifting up a glorious sound unto the heavens, death whispers curses from every corner. Yet, the woman stands strong. An expression of utmost loyalty, defiance, and determination holds her face still, keeping at bay the flood of tears that yearns to pour forth. She is brave and proud. A gleaming sword intricately designed with blooms of flowers long forgotten wind their way up the blade that is pressed firmly against the flesh of her throat.

Read the rest of this entry »

posted by Ted on Aug 24

Isaac rocks out on Papa Dennis’s guitar in Missouri.

Brittany’s first kiss. No prince appeared.

Our friend Mario we rescued from traffic.

Time with good friends in Grand Rapids

posted by Ted on Apr 8

Our experience in Mission Training International’s (MTI) SPLICE program was intense. I’ve written about it some on our blog, but I wanted to share with you a little bit of the kids’ experience, and so I asked each of them to try to summarize their experience:

Brittany: “I am a third culture kid (or TCK) because of my living in three different cultures (the culture I was born into, the one I’m moving to, and the blend of the two, which is it’s own culture). I will never ”fit in” in one culture, but I was elated to discover that Jesus is a TCK too! Because Jesus had to live in Egypt, so He really does understand what my life is like.”

Isaac: “MTI was a very very fun place and the best part was that you got to go to class with your slippers on, and it is a great place to learn to grow into your [new] culture.”

Faith: “I like MTI because we went hiking & there was a very nice man who was my teacher, he was very funny.”

posted by Ted on Oct 10

It’s been a while since I’ve provided a decent update on our lives. It’s been something of a whirlwind time for us. Much has happened and is happening, and there are many issues for which we need your prayers. This is a particularly long post, and so I’m going to bury it under a “more” tag. If you’re interested in getting a good update on the family, reading about our police stand-off and how you can be praying for us, you’ll want to click the link.
Read the rest of this entry »

posted by Brandy on Jul 12

This summer our kids have been just as busy, if not more so, as the school year. I always tend to think of summer as a time to relax, enjoy a good book and just veg awhile. Not this summer. Colorado’s beautiful mountains hosted some awesome camps for Isaac and Brittany. Faith and Isaac are sharpening their swimming skills at our local Aquatics Fitness Center. All three of our children are learning Okinawan karate. The World Cup generated a family favorite past time that got Isaac itching for a chance to become the next Michael Ballack (Germany’s captain and one of their stars). Isaac, Faith and I did VBS at our church for a week. And Britt is raising funds to go on a Mexico mission trip to build a house for a very needy family. This summer has been crazy, good crazy, but crazy nonetheless. We hope and pray your summer is a good crazy too.

posted by Britt on Jul 9

Though different in appearance,

Though they speak in foreign tongues,

They are the same.

Though brought up in a dissimilar environment,

Though often mislead and confused,

They are the same.

Though many dislike them,

Though often shy or coy

They are the same.

They are the same fleecy sheep as me and my kin.

They are the same who struggle and are deceived.

They are the same princes and princesses who have the chance to rule in blissful eternity.

They are the same who need Jesus’ light of love that he so dearly bought with his blood.

posted by Britt on Jun 27

This is the sequel to Grasping-

Michael often tells me “Your eyes are sparkly.”

And I morn that I cannot reply,

“They reflect the joy of Jesus Christ in your eyes.”

In reality his eyes, just like all the others,

Reavel the stone prison

In which his love for God that longs to shine is

stobbornly smothered and neglected.

Sadly, still my precious friends refuse to quench

their thirst for Jesus.

The faith that would save their lives

And remake thier hearts of stone to those of

golden joy for Christ continues to be left

Un- toched in thier goblets of the spirit;

All the while scowling at the maiden who pours

it.

If only they would let free thier devestated

Love for God and nourish it to health

Then they too would burn with passion for him, just

as the maiden who offered them golden joy for thier spirits.

Jesus,

As I gaze on Kingly brightness,

May my face display your likeness,

Mirrored here may my life tell your Story,

Please,

Continue to have Faith in me,

LORD

posted by Britt on Mar 15

Lately, I’ve been noticing how God likes to hide little surprises in what seems to be perfectly ordinary; like CSAPs! (I’ll explain that one later.) My main example is my friends. Everyone says they’re special and, we all agree because, hey, what’s life wihout a few fun back and forth teasing sessions with your best bud? But they aren’t just fun all the time, no they can be much, much, more. Friends are often even more than just someone to keep your secrets. Friends are normal, but when they cry with you because the person who has made themselves your personal bully went too far, that’s not a feeling you can explain in any words normal or not. Friends are a basic for all, but when they’ll do somthing extremely odd (Like dye your hair purple or jump up and down like an insane fool just to say Hi.) just for your sake, you feel unlimited amounts of love!

My point is that God can give very special surprises in very ordinary things; like, when, in CSAPs today we had to pretend to we could go back in time. I wrote about witnessing Daniel and the Lion’s Den that, of all things, helped me realize what a loving God we are a people of. Any way I just found that interesting in a nice sort of way.