Whited Update - May 21, 2010

Below is the e-mail I sent out Friday to those on our e-mail list. If you'd like to be added, please e-mail me at melianddan@yahoo.com.

In a hurry? See the red highlights.

THANK YOU to all of you who make it possible for us to serve day in and day out! Without your help, we would NOT be able to serve in a capacity that supports Bible Translation. If you are unsure about what we do, please watch this 2 ½ minute video (http://www.jaars.org/multimedia/videos/jaars-glance) that will give you insight into what we have committed our lives to for the GLORY of the LORD! When YOU support us, you serve ALONG SIDE us in this wonderful task of Bible Translation!! Thank you for giving, thank you for praying, thank you for encouraging us, thank you for being our advocates and sharing our ministry with others! WE CANNOT SERVE WITHOUT YOU! Thank you!

WE’LL be TRAVELING this SUMMER to visit many of YOU and to raise needed funds.

WE NEED YOUR HELP IN A SPECIAL WAY! We are preparing to move and serve overseas in an even more direct way.

BUT we cannot go unless we have our all our expenses raised.

Our MAJOR NEED is for our OVERSEAS SET-UP EXPENSES.

TAX-DEDUCTIBLE GIFTS of ANY amount are welcome! PLEASE send a note stating the following:

for Dano & Melinda Whited Overseas Set-Up Acct # 71-215422

You can MAIL it to:

Wycliffe Bible Translators

P.O. Box 628200

Orlando, FL 32862-8200

OR You can give ONLINE at:

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

I think this works best using an Internet Explorer Browser (the blue “e”, as our kids call it).

Be sure and enter our special account #71-215422 with the note “for Dano & Melinda Whited Overseas Set-Up” in the Special Instructions Box.

OR you can give by phone using the info above. Call 1-800-Wycliffe (1-800-992-5433)

Whenever you give a gift, you should receive a receipt. Please look at your receipt to be sure it states that your gift went to us. If you do not see our name on the receipt, please contact Wycliffe, and they will easily straighten it out.

YOU CAN ALSO HELP by being our ADVOCATE. Do you have a small group in which we can share our ministry? Would you like to host a dessert in your home and invite your friends so we can share our ministry with them? Would you like to introduce us to your church? These are things we can do “in person” while we’re in your area, but these are also things you can do for us if we send you the materials. Please contact us if you’d like to investigate this possibility. We will be in TN in July, TX in August, and FL in September.

On a PERSONAL NOTE:

We’re moving out of our rental where we’ve lived the last 3 years to move to a FURNISHED house on the JAARS Center in preparation for MOVING OVERSEAS. YES, we are getting rid of almost EVERYTHING to prepare for our move. Please pray for us to get things done… to let go of THINGS!! To have WISDOM in knowing what to keep long-term and what to say goodbye to. For our kids to let go of their things (toys). Pray that God would help us to do this in a way that encourages our kids to live a life of sacrifice for others and not be so self-focused. This is not a small task for us or them. We’ve been married 18 years!! We have STUFF! Our “Official” moving date is June 19^th, and we have til the end of the June to be out of our rental home. We’ll sure miss “our” farm.

Please continue to pray for my Daddy. His cancer is NOT responding to treatment. =0( Therefore, he has stopped all treatment. However, he hasn’t given up the battle. He is trying to improve his diet and try some “alternative” treatments. About a month ago the doctor told him he’d be surprised if Daddy was around in six months. We are continuing to pray for healing. Thank you for joining us in prayer. http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/richardmcdonald We were able to have a wonderful visit with Daddy earlier this month. Daddy still has a great attitude and outlook. Thankfully, he’s a Christian so his eternal home is secure! =0) We’re looking forward to spending more quality time with him (and the rest of our family) in July.

The kids are doing great! We’re still schooling. We’ll scale back some while we’re moving & traveling, but we’ll still have things to do. Best of all, the kids will be on an extended field trip with MANY teachable moments.

Prayer Requests:

Please pray for Melinda’s Daddy (see above).

Please pray for ALL of our needed funds to be received in God’s timing.

Please pray for us to be content while we wait for God’s timing.

Please pray that we’d get EVERYTHING completed that we need to complete at the appropriate times: immunizations, paperwork, passports, visas, etc.

Please pray for our move in June (specific requests above).

Please always pray for our health and especially for Wesley’s healing from his eczema.

Please pray for our upcoming travels.

Please pray for my sister, Michelle & her family. Their house was flooded during the recent floods in TN. They are living with friends while their house is being completely redone. Thankfully they had flood insurance, but they have a lot of important decisions to make now and in the coming months. Please pray for wisdom for them. Thank you!

Please let us know how we can pray for you! We consider it an honor to lift you up to the Lord!

In HIS Service,

Melinda for the gang

Dano, Melinda, Olivia, Derek, Emma, Wesley, & Virginia

(I removed our contact info... if you would like it, please e-mail me.)

To keep up with our family and ministry happenings

visit or blog or find us on facebook.

http://whited-underhiswings.blogspot.com/

Letting Go

As you know, we're planning on moving overseas in the "near" future. Of course, only God knows the exact time. We hope it is early 2011… but we'll see what God's timing is. In the meantime, we are doing our part to prepare. We are raising our expenses. We are completing paperwork. We have medical things to take care of, passports to get, and THINGS to get rid of!!

 

This is where "Letting Go" comes in. We've been married over 18 years! We have LOTS of STUFF. We have 5 kiddos. THEY have LOTS of STUFF! Even though we've been "preparing" to go overseas for at least 10 years… we've never been this close. We've tried to live with the "wartime lifestyle" that John Piper speaks of. We haven't been about acquiring the newest & the best… but it does take some stuff to live… a table to sit at, beds to sleep in, books to read, toys to play with, coats for the winter, etc.

 

In order to help us be MORE ready for our overseas departure, we decided (after some prayers) that NOW would be a good time to move to JAARS Center housing. This will save us some money, a four bedroom house just happened to open up, and it will FORCE us to get rid of almost EVERYTHING!

 

You see, when we go overseas, basically we're only going to take what we can take with us on the airplane as checked baggage. Shipping stuff is too complicated and expensive. Where we attend language school will have basically most things we'll need for setting up house for very affordable prices… more affordable than shipping stuff from the states. Also, electronics from here won't work over there unless we have an adaptor.

 

So, that leaves us with a lot of things here! Some of it is EASY to get rid of (if we can find someone willing to buy or take it). Then there are the "things" that I'm not so sure about. Things we received as wedding gifts, other gifts we've received, items we have collected over the years… things like: fine china, serving dishes, keepsakes, scrapbooks, etc. Of course I WON'T take these overseas. But do I pay for storage for these items for YEARS? Our families don't have extra "climate controlled" rooms to store our THINGS! Of course I'll keep scrapbooks and photographs, but what about the other stuff? Will my kids care about any of it 30 years down the road?

 

So, as you think of us, please pray for us to make these "simple" decisions that are VERY difficult! We're moving to center housing on June 19^th… I need a LOT of the decisions made BEFORE that!

 

Blessings,

Melinda =0)

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:4-9

Father, help me stay focused on you and not be anxious about these decisions. Help me get rid of everything joyfully as a sacrifice to you. My joy is in serving you. My desire is to serve you with a totally surrendered heart. Give me wisdom in knowing what to keep, what to sell, and what to give away. Give me peace in all these choices. In Jesus precious name, Amen

 

When It Rains, It Pours!

Well… when it rains it pours… so the saying goes. Yesterday… that was literal for my oldest sister, Michelle, and her family. Perhaps you have heard of the flooding in Middle Tennessee. My sister’s house has flooded. I guess they are officially homeless. FORTUNATELY, after a tornado almost struck their house (destroyed a neighbor’s) and their backyard was flooded & ruined a couple of years ago, they decided to purchase flood insurance!! So… hopefully financially things will be covered… but this has been their home for the last 21 years (or so). It was going to be paid off in the next year. Thankfully, they are Christians. Please pray for a peace that passes all understanding. Also pray for everything to "work out" smoothly with temporary housing, insurance, etc.

This is her only daughter’s senior year… Saturday night was prom. They had kids over spending the night after prom… so they were going on NO sleep. They were all eating the breakfast Michelle had made for them when they realized they would need to evacuate their home. Graduation is this month, too, with all the graduation "things." Thankfully, their daughter is keeping a great sense of humor! =0)

Michelle also does a lot to take care of both Mom & Daddy... not to mention, she works full time at an elementary school! It is a lot WITHOUT a flooded house. Thank you for praying!! (Thankfully the rest of our family is safe & dry … well, I’m not sure about all our aunts, uncles, & cousins… but we’re hoping “no news is good news.”)

We were/are planning to come to TN later this week for a quick visit to see Daddy before his next hospital stay. However, we don't have housing worked out yet... and the flooding may change things. We'd appreciate your prayers concerning this, too! Thanks!!

Blessings,

Melinda & gang =0)

Looking for a Dog... updated

Be sure and see the end of the previous post for a conclusion to the Dog story! It has a happy ending! =0) (For those reading this on Facebook... visit: http://whited-underhiswings.blogspot.com/2010/04/looking-for-dog.html )

Looking for a Dog

Do you have this dog just sitting around your house? Does he need a new home? If so... we would LOVE to take him off your hands!! Please contact me if you're ready to part with him. His name is Whiffer, and he is one of the Ty Pluffies. He is retired. I can find him on the internet... but he is WAY out of my price range now.

You may wonder WHY I want him. It is a long story, but I will try to be brief. You see, when Derek was born (seven years ago), Granny (Dano's mom) sent him a dog like this one. Well, being a baby, he was clueless. Olivia, on the other hand, was a bright 20 month old that quickly became attached to the dog. She called him "Dog." That fall, I even made her a dog costume because she wanted to be a "Mommy Dog" for our church's fall festival. So that is the beginning of the story. The next couple of chapters are Olivia being in LOVE with this dog... and Derek NEVER realizing it was his. Then one time when we were in TN, Granny & Paw Paw took Olivia to Cracker Barrel and let her take "Dog" inside. "Dog" was lost. =0( Granny felt horrible, of course... but it was over. Then we all kept our eyes out for a new "Dog." Again... this was years ago. Well, my sister, Alicia, & I found one! We were THRILLED!! We saved the day! Well at some point later, I think Granny found another one. So now we had TWO which was PERFECT because now... Olivia could have her beloved Dog... and Derek could have the dog that was really his to begin with. All was well... we had two dogs. =0)

Then... enter Mommy with a bad idea. You see, Emma was born and as she got older, she became attached to one of the dogs. It was Olivia's. Olivia didn't approve of this relationship... but it happened. My bad idea involved Emma being allowed to take the dog into a mall. You guessed it... Dog was lost... again. Poor Dog! This was a couple of years ago. Olivia forgave me and we moved on with one dog... Derek's dog. He was never as attached to said dog as the girls... but now he was the sole owner.

Move forward to about one year ago... 6 years after the original Whiffer entered our life. Derek decided he was getting rid of him in my attempt to get the kids to "let go" of some stuff. Well, of course once Whiffer (a.k.a Bob) was in the "get rid of pile," he was quickly DESIRED once again by Olivia! Well, with a little trading... Whiffer was now Olivia's again. It didn't matter if he was the original one... he was loved!

But WHY on Earth do we need a second one now??? Well, once Whiffer (a.k.a. Bob a.k.a. Dog) was no longer Derek's... he suddenly and STRONGLY wanted him back. This has been an off again, on again "PROBLEM" in our house for about a year!! It causes MAJOR strife at times. Sometimes I just want to get rid of the dog we have so that no one can have him!! Does that make me mean? Probably. BUT what I REALLY want to do is find another Bob!! I mean Dog... oh, Whiffer!! So before Christmas I did a google search hoping to find one. I did... but like I said, it was out of our price range (for a stuffed animal)... BUT believe me... I REALLY considered paying for him BECAUSE it would solve problems!!

Then... this morning as there was a MAJOR falling out over the ownership of this dog once again... I thought I would come to you... do you have one??? Are you willing to part with him? If so, PLEASE e-mail me: melianddan@yahoo.com. I will be FOREVER grateful!!!

UPDATE... tonight I got an e-mail... I don't know who the sender is... but she is sending us a WHIFFER!! Isn't that amazing?? I will be forever grateful!! I cannot wait to give Derek this Whiffer (Bob)!! I will help guard him with my life!! If he ever wants to get rid of Bob again... *I* will keep him as a reminder of God's faithfulness... and a "stranger's" generosity!!

The last chapter... Bob Returns...

Two More Birthdays!

Happy 5th Birthday Emma!!

We had a fun adventure on Emma's birthday. We started off going to the children's hospital up in Charlotte so that all the children could have their blood drawn for information we need to move to Indonesia. They all did pretty good considering. Then we went to The Discovery Place (a science museum). On the way home we ate at Red Robin with Emma's & Derek's Happy Birthday free meal coupons! It was a fun day filled with surprises for her and the other kids.

Happy 7th Birthday Derek!!

Derek's day was a little less adventuresome, but it was fun nonetheless! He got his wish which was playing outside all day. We were blessed with a beautiful day. The kids even got red cheeks that day! Yikes! I need to get the sunscreen out already! We ended the day with his cupcakes after supper.

What a joy to be able to celebrate two more birthdays of two of our blessings! Every day is a gift from God!

I Don't Want My Children to Be Happy

I didn't write this (and I don't know the author personally), but it expresses my heart... and Dano's, too.

I Don't Want My Children to Be Happy

I hope you can take a few minutes to follow the link and read it!

Have a Blessed week!! I hope you are STILL celebrating our RISEN Lord!!

Love,

Melinda & gang =0)

PS I'm not saying we're adopting!! BUT our large family causes comments similar (or exactly) to the one this family received.