Compassionate Reflections On What It Means To "Knit"

I'm setting sail on a new direction in the blogosphere.  Just this past week I got an e-mail from one of the Christian Missions / Charities that we support - the amazing Compassion International.  They have a feature whereby they have others help promote Compassion by blogging.  They invite people with blogs to write about Compassion International.

During the month of September they challenge their bloggers to write every week and to nudge them along they give a few writing prompts along the way.  I have often been touched by the writing ministrations of several of these bloggers so when I got the e-mail this week I thought "I have a blog.  It's been sort of neglected. Why not?"

My more observant dear readers may note that we are nearly at the half way point of September so I'm in the "bringing up the rear" group. The bonus here is that there will be no week one submission from me.  You may see this as a bonus if things don't go well.

The week two prompt is:  "Write three things about one word"  

So, in the past few days I've had my thinking cap on regarding how best to transition my Knitting blog that has more recently become my Mercy Ships blog towards something more inclusive as I start blogging about Compassion International and not seem too terribly schizophrenic in the process.

So, I hit on the word KNIT .  Yes, once again my passion for knitting is the key to knit all of this together.  Let's see....

Early on in life I learned of the fabric called knit.  Knits are typically soft, flowing garments that hug every curve.  So being of the more zaftig persuasion when it comes to body type I assiduously avoided anything constructed of knits other than large, camouflaging sweaters and comfy socks to ward off the deep freeze of my Wisconsin home.  Knit as a fabric type had long been something to avoid until I got into my more advanced years.  As waistbands became more and more challenging the knit garment became more of a friend.  In fact, I've lately found a designer of knitwear that makes a lovely A-line dress that I always pack when travelling that has been dubbed my "Safety Dress".  Like a good friend this dress always fits, goes with everything and never wrinkles or looks bad.  We all need such a friend and a safety dress.  Knits as a fabric type has come full circle as my best friend now.

My current project

Knit is also one of my favorite verbs as one could surmise from my blog's title. From the time I first learned to knit in second grade I revelled in the ability to turn string into fabric.  I love the process of creating something of beauty from an item that barely resembles the finished product.  As I knit I can meditate on how other things are created and marvel at what goes into the making of something from nothing.

 As the Psalmist said:

Psalm 139:13-14

New International Version (NIV)

13 For you created my inmost being;
    you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
    your works are wonderful,    I know that full well.

Clearly, knit is also a verb.

Lately knitting has become cool - thanks to Julia Roberts and dubbed the "new yoga" for the rhythmic sense of peace one gains. For years I had a nightly routine of sitting down with my needles and yarn. Sadly, the demands of school, work and children had me setting my needles aside for decades.  By the time I'd retired from the military and the children started to move away I rediscovered the hobby that kept my hands busy and my mouth from snacking in front of the TV set. No doubt my ability to handle the stress of those days would have been enhanced had I continued with my meditative, creative hobby during the crazy years.

Finally, the word knit is used to signify combining from diverse sources or elements as well as to join closely or firmly as with members or parts.reference  Not only are we knit together as human beings in our mother's wombs from the nothingness of random DNA but we are knit together as humans into amazing communities that begin and end and have different purposes. The Lord not only knits our bodies together He knits our lives together in a beautiful tapestry that at times resembles a mess until years later you take a step away and gaze in awe.

Just as the community of knitters taking to the blogosphere enticed me to open up a sporadic blog when I was reintroduced to my long, lost love of knitting. The Christian Community introduced me to international missions via a long ago mint advertisement for a sea going medical mission that resonated as a use for my Navy medical training.

The Christian Community introduced me to the idea of sponsoring my first daughter in Africa over ten years ago.  The desire to see Rosemery - still unmet - planted the seed that going to Africa would be feasible.Years later, after leaving the Navy we went to Africa with Mercy Ships. More parts of my life coming full circle.

Not only do I knit nearly every night, God is knitting me - physically, spiritually and globally every day.

How is God knitting you?

Is he nudging you out of your comfort zone a little?  Perhaps He wants you to have a wider world view by getting to know a child in another country.  Compassion International was that jump start for me.  I urge you to visit their website @ Compassion International and see if one of these precious children touches you.

Dr. Peter Linz: Sailing unchartered waters to provide medical care

I guess we are long overdue an update on our involvement with Mercy Ships. Guest blogger Dana Perino from Fox News has forced me out of my inactivity as now she is blogging about my hubby!  Time for some catch up.

This past winter all the I's were dotted and the T's were crossed finalizing the appointment of my dear as Mercy Ships International Medical Director. Huzzah!  Soon thereafter he drove off to the hinterlands of East Texas to the International Operations Center for a month long training program called "Gateway". This program provides not only background information on the history and mission of Mercy Ships but also has some discipleship training as well as real bonding exercises for the participants who will soon be heading off to Africa together.

After his month in Texas he came home but had a few follow up meetings with big wigs in Texas and many, many conference calls at home between even more big wigs in Texas and other parts of the world, including the ship.

In June Peter headed off to the ship's dry dock home in the Canary Islands with a side trip to Lisbon, Portugal to make a few presentations for Mercy Ships at the International Rotary meeting there. The meeting was great, the escape from Lisbon - not so much.  Being stuck in the airport for days on end due to a general strike made Lisbon seem a bit less enticing for our intrepid traveller. After missing three connecting flights and having his luggage arrive about a week later, Peter was safely moved into his new cabin on the ship right next door to the room we occupied for five months in Togo.

After a few weeks on the ship, covering for the crew physician I made a guest appearance so that we didn't end up spending the entire summer apart. All I can say is "Wow!"  The Canary Islands are beautiful!  No wonder most of Europe heads there whenever they need to escape the long, dark winters or the calendar says "Hey, it's August!"  I stayed for an idyllic two weeks and even got to go on a mini cruise as the ship left their maintenance berthing in Grand Canary to hang out in Tenerife waiting for the rest of the crew to arrive prior to setting sail.

We rented a car and saw a fair amount of the island, ate some fabulous Spanish food and worked hard to stay awake as late as the night owl Spaniards. The wisdom of the siesta became immediately apparent.

I left the day before the ship set sail so I was able to reconnect with some very good friends I last said good bye to Togo over a year ago.

As the ship sailed Peter would secretly go out on deck and use the satellite to determine their location and plot it on a map. Since their location needed to stay secret due to the threat of pirates he couldn't share their location but now that they are safely in their berthing it's probably OK to show the map.  Or I would show the map along with all the other pictures I'd picked out to post with this entry but I can't seem to make any of them work via my iPad. New technology - new challenges. Since I'm running out of time and have an inordinate amount of things to accomplish this morning I'll just post this without the pictures. If I become more technologically savvy - or I fire up a PC I'll give it another attempt. Until then. Keep Peter in your prayers as they head into their big screening in the next few weeks as well as during his continued travels.  It is rumored that he plans to make a guest appearance in San Diego next month. It's possible.  Until them enjoy out guest blogger from the Fox network.


Dr. Peter Linz: Sailing unchartered waters to provide medical care

Set those DVRs Folks! The Time Has Finally Come!!

Yeah!  We are so excited to announce - and for some of you - announce again and again, that THIS SUNDAY the segment that 60 Minutes filmed at the ship in Togo last spring will finally air.

As a recap, during the time that Peter and I were in Togo with the Africa Mercy there was a passing parade of media types that descended upon the ship in the late April, early May time frame.  Most notably there was the morning crew from my fav radio station - K-LOVE followed closely by a large crew of folks from 60 Minutes.

We had first heard that 60 Minutes was considering a story on the ship and the wonderful work done in Africa several months beforehand when the founder and President of the ministry, Don Stephens made a visit to the ship. What really impressed us was that as soon as soon as he mentioned that 60 Minutes was thinking of coming all the Americans on board were completely a twitter with excitement! No surprise you say? Well, what was surprising was the reaction of the non-Americans on board. Along with the American exuberance was an equally non- exuberant "meh" reaction from the rest of the ship's crew. So for the next several days we Americans attempted to explain the Sunday night ritual of many Americans that gather around the TV and watch Morley Safer et al ambush some ne'er do well CEO. then we'd have to explain why we were actually excited that this was going to happen to us. Yeah, um...no. They don't always expose the dirty under belly of organizations... So we're pretty certain that this will be a favorable piece on a ministry we love, doing God's work with the forgotten poor. Funny how cultural differences pop up when you least expect them.

Week after week we waited, wondering if they would come? We were sworn to secrecy until we knew for sure they were doing the story. During the weeks of blog writing where I had little to say it was tempting to spill the beans but we waited....

Then in late April the 60 Minutes folks sent producers and film crews for a couple of weeks to do background interviews, find interesting stories and preview patients that would be willing to be filmed during the actual shoot.  After about a week or so of them crawling all over the ship and commandeering a part of the cafe with all their equipment the famous Scott Pelley showed up with his oh so handsome son.  Both of them were very nice and we were extremely happy to get to meet them and share a little of our experiences on board.  He was particularly happy to learn that we tape the evening news everyday and watch it without fail.

So - although the crew taped about 1200 minutes of stuff happening in and around the ship, the segment will only be about 12 minutes long so we don't expect to see ourselves except for possibly standing in line waiting to eat or something.  But we are thrilled that you all will get a glimpse into the wonderful world of Mercy Ships and we pray that if the Spirit moves you to become involved with this awesome ministry that you will listen and respond.

We're certain that the Lord is still working on us in regards to Mercy Ships.  In fact, Peter is at the International Operations Center right now getting training for future work with the organization.  So - our prayer is that we'll see you on board some time in the future and if not.  We know that you will be with us in Spirit as you always have been.

God's greatest blessings to all of you and enjoy the show!

nonsense a la mode: missing pieces

Please click on the following link and read about one of the patients seen in Guinea.  I hope you'll join me in praying for this man....

nonsense a la mode: missing pieces

I read this post from the wonderful dietitian we have on board the Africa Mercy.  This is hard to read but too important not to.  Thank you Jessica.  Your warmth and loving kindness rises up from the page.  I so wish I could be there to help do smal debulking of this poor man's tumor. 

Lord - I too pray that you will halt the growth of this tumorous enemy and show your mightly hand by assisting this poor, suffering fellow to be cured.  Bring the right surgeons with the best skills quickly and guide their hands. 

Ferret out the ugliness in all of us and replace it with your love reflected and radiating from us. 

Back to the Boat - Part Duex

We're baaaack!  Well, at least I'm back in the writing mode and Peter is back to packing as he's leaving on a large jet plane on Monday to do his part for the Africa Mercy on its new mission in Conackry, Guinea! 

So - a short update on what's up, what's happened and what's next. 

What's up?  Peter is going solo to help out as the Crew Physician for about six weeks.  We announced the arrival of the new crew physician and his little family last February when we were on the boat with great fanfare.  They have committed to stay on the ship for at least two years and the whole family loves their new life, complete with friends and school work so why have they all jumped ship so soon? 



Olympian "Blade Runner"

  They were blessed with a darling little boy about a year ago - after deciding to come live on the ship.  This little sweetie was born with what we in the business call an anomaly of his right lower leg.  Now that we've all seen the olympics and marvelled at the skill of the South African sprinter known as the "Blade Runner" we can just use short hand and say dear, little Stephan has the same thing as the Blade Runner but just on his right lower leg.  So just like the Olympian, Stephen will have his right leg operated on in early September and fitted with his first prosthesis as soon as he heals enough.  It is really amazing how well these kids do as this is their new normal.  So, not only is it inspirational for them to see how The Blade Runner was able to thrive without his lower legs.  They also see it as God's mission for them to show Africans - who often abandon children with any sort of deformity - that their children are God's blessings, no matter how different they look.  Amazing to see so many pieces of the puzzle fall together in the whole plan. 

  So, Peter will be covering for Dr. Kevin during the first six weeks of his absence until the middle of October.  The beginning of a new mission is so exciting!  There will be the big screening day early in September and the start of surgery soon thereafter. 

  Yes, not only will I miss my sweet Babooh - but I will miss not seeing the friends we made on the ship last winter/ spring as well as getting to help out with the patients.  Since there's not a real job for me to perform while onboard it makes more sense for me to stay home - in Navy style - rather than put together the cadre of folks that helped us out before and kept our minds at ease. 
   
   In addition to watching the house and forwarding the mail we would also have to find an alternate home for our new family member - Georgie! 

   While on the ship last spring Peter and I often talked about how much we hoped to find a new dog to fill the void our dear Buddy the shepherd/ boxer mix left behind.  We figured having an active dog that would get us out of the house and off our butts would be a good plan.  Soon after we came home last June I found Georgie at an adoption event and she's turning into a perky (Beagle-Jack Russel), loving companion that we both really enjoy.  On the flip side, she is madly in love with Peter and follows him everywhere he goes.  When he is gone she whines a bit and prefers to snuggle in his bathrobe.  Hopefully she won't need antidepressants when we leaves for Africa but it's a possibility! 

What's Happened?  Since we've been back from Africa the time has flown by at a wicked pace!  We were barely home for a few days before we flew back east to see our sons and retrieve our boxes and boxes of mail that my mother in law (self titled "The Mail Matron") had sorted, catagorized and paper clipped to a fair thee well.  We were quite surprised that the east coast heat wave did not faze us a bit.  We were even kind of chilly when we trouped up to Lake Placid for a week or so.  We finished up the trip with the house warming and mile stone birthday of brother in law Scott. 

Soon thereafter we had another family reunion when most everyone reassembled in Las Vegas at the beautiful Wynn resort where we celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary.  Fortunately the hot weather was actually delightful with 8% humidity.  Everything went off without a hitch. 

We were able to spend some time with our younger son, Tommy who was able to come home with us for the rest of the summer but he leaves tomorrow night to go back to Pennsylania for his junior year of college! 

What's Next?  As far as we know 2012 will continue to be a year of travel.  After Peter leaves the Mercy in mid-October we're going to meet up in Paris and quickly head to England as we're thrilled to witness the upcoming wedding of our dear collegue from our earlier Africa trip - Dr. Fiona.  Anyone who's read the previous posts remembers what a key part she played in the experience we had on board.  Peter was present when our two love birds met for the very first time so we were pleased to know that their relationship has continued to grow.  We're also looking forward to spending a few weeks in England and Wales touring around since neither Peter or I are at all familiar with this part of the world. 

And after that? As always - we try hard to patiently wait and trust in the Lord to reveal His plans for us and also pray that we won't be overly anxious in the waiting.  It looks like Peter will continue to play a role working with and advising Mercy Ships, primarily here in the states with multiple trips to Texas. 

I'm investing more and more time into local volunteer work, being a gym rat and spending frequent flyer miles.  So...we'll see.