Saturday, April 18, 2009

Our Rescue Mission

People have all sorts of callings: some are called to teach, some to preach, and some are called to the mission field. Our family has been called to run a rescue mission.

Imagine living a life of luxury, basking in the tropical sun with your family and friends without a care in the world when suddenly hard, cruel hands ripped you away from the life you once knew, never to see it again. You get tossed in the back of a truck with other victims of the same, dire fate. After what seems like an eternity in that cramped truck, you enter a sinister-looking building where you and your fellow victims are separated: those who are deemed unacceptable are put into a mass grave. You shudder as you approach the inspectors, hoping you will get to live another day, no matter what that day will bring. You sigh in relief as you get the stamp of approval, then you get placed in a cargo hold of a ship. The light is limited, and the space available makes the truck feel like a limousine. You lose track of the days at sea, and the conditions almost make you wish you never had the stamp of approval.

Then one day a harsh, piercing light blinds you as doors are opened. You lament how the sun, who was once a cherished friend has now become a source of pain. But your senses are soon overwhelmed with a cacophony of shouts and horns as the malodorous atmosphere almost knocks you out. Callous hands jerk you up, and you are held up for display in a nightmarish scene. As far as you can see, people are bidding for victims like yourself. Some of the friends you made on the boat were just sold to a squat, hairy Italian man. Before you can see where they went to, you are suddenly exposed to the crowd, and you can't believe you are hearing people bid for the right to own you. Then it's over; you get whisked into a truck and for two days all life is is a series of bumps as you approach your final destiny.

When the doors finally opens, you are taken to a large room with bright lights and soothing music. You get placed into an area with others just like you. Some are from Chile, some from Brazil, like yourself. At this point, all you want is a place to feel safe and secure. Then you see them - families just like the one you were stolen from a lifetime ago. If only you could go with one of them. They could make you safe and warm and provide that thing that has eluded you since this trip of terrors began: a home. Your revelry is interrupted by a one of the Chilean captives. Your hopes are crushed as he tells you of the horrors that await you once one of these nice, loving families gets a hold of you. You shudder as tales of getting skinned alive and then being either hacked to pieces, or just plain eaten. You wonder what you ever did to God that he hates you so. Then it happens. A beautiful woman with gorgeous eyes that defy color comes up to you and puts a bag over your head.

Little do you know that your travels are finally over. God doesn't hate you, for He led you to the one place on this earth where you can live the remainder of your days in peace and comfort. There will be no skinning alive, no hacking to pieces, and no eating. For the Lord has led you out of captivity to the Scheuer Rescue Mission, where no banana is ever eaten, but is allowed to slowly and gracefully finish its days until it decomposes in peace.

That is our calling in this house. We run a rescue mission for bananas where they can spend their remaining days devoid of fear from being eaten!

Scheuer Week in Review

Monday: Brett and I went walking at Mount Olive with Mr. Bartz, Karen, and Ava. Brett got to take Ava for a walk. Jim and Katherine worked on her kite project. Then Jim & I took Brett and Katherine to the Domes and to the Greenfield Hobby Shop. We know two people who like the train section there, but we went to get kite string and rods. Katherine and Brett both found things to put on their birthday lists. It was definately a fun "fieldtrip"!
*Katherine and the Kapok Tree
*Katherine and her Mama in the Show Dome
*Brett, Daddy, Katherine
*Katherine, Mama, Brett (Katherine looks pained because we were kneeling on the gravel and woodchips)
Tuesday the kids went to school. After walking with Mr. Bartz, Karen and Ava, I went to work. Jim stayed in his bathrobe and watched movies all day. Jim enjoyed his first day of Spring Break (without the family). He worked at Miller Park that evening. The rest of us went to Brett's first volleyball game at Hales Corners Lutheran School. The 5/6 grade boys did a great job! They played like a team. Every one of them got their serves over the net. They won their first match! It was late by the time we got home. While the kids worked on their homework, I ordered supper from the Chinese Pagoda. It was a nice treat, and Jim would have left-overs the next day.
Wednesday Jim grilled lamb patties for supper. We had them with baked potatoes, beans, fresh fruit and veggies.
Thursday Jim decided to join our walking club. Jim dropped me off at work and went to the Rupe's house to assemble Kyle and Ella's playset. It was definately a project! Kyle got to spend time with us in the afternoon. Jim and Kyle picked me up after work, and we went to Whole Foods. We bought a Kyle-friendly pizza that will stay here until the next time he visits. We had tacos for supper. Jim went back to work on the playset. Katherine worked on her memory work. The boys stayed home playing baseball in the backyard. I went to Sam's Club to shop for Mount Olive's hot lunch.
*Kyle kicking the soccer ball
*Kyle, Brett, and Katherine playing soccer
*Kyle and Miss Fatime playing "Row, Row, Row Your Boat
*Kyle on Katherine's skateboard
*Kyle and Brett looking at dogs on the internet
Friday, Mr. Bartz and I walked outside. Then it was time for Hot Lunch: chicken patty on a bun, chips, carrots & dip, and a ice cream sundae. Mark came over after school and played baseball. In the evening, we had a nice visit with the Wards. Jonathan & Kaethe were members at Mount Olive before moving to Pittsburgh. That was six years ago! They now live in Grand Rapids, MI. We got to meet their beautiful daughters, Mali and Brinnly, who had a nice time playing with Katherine in the sand box. It was so nice seeing them and sharing how our lives have changed. It was also good to see that through it all, the Lord shines in our lives. He is in control! May our good and gracious Heavenly Father bless the Wards and their growing family!

*Katherine, Lucy, Jim, Fatime, Kaethe, Mali, Jonathan, and Brinnly
*Mali, Katherine, and Brinnly playing with the sand

*Katherine and Brinnly
*Katherine, Brett, Mali, Jonathan, Brinnly, Kaethe, and Logan
We made the kids a quick supper. Jim & I decided to go out, just the two of us. We changed into nice clothes and drove to the Alpine Inn, in Mequon. Jim ordered the Seafood Platter, and I got the lightly breaded Haddock. The atmosphere was wonderful! It made us think of our time in Germany. Afterwards, we drove down to Beach Court in Fox Point. It was quiet except for the water splashing on the rocks (Lake Michigan). There were so many stars to see. It was a wonderful end to a full day.
Today I took Brett and Katherine to Hawthorn Glen for the National Clean-Up. We stayed over an hour removing concrete pieces, brush, and garbage. Eddie came home with us. The boys played basketball and videogames. They are eating their lunch outside. It is a beautiful day!
*Brett and Eddie moving a log
*Katherine removing branches
*Skins vs. Shirts

Monday, April 13, 2009

Easter Sunday (4/12/09)

Happy Easter
Katherine and I sat alone at the 7:00 A.M. worship service. Brett sang with the Jr. Choir, while Jim and Logan accompanied them on their trumpets. We all sat together for the 8:30 A.M. worship service. Pastor joined us during the hymn of the day and the sermon. The music was beautiful! We had breakfast and waited for Logan who carried the Alleluia banner in at the 11:00 A.M. worship service.
*Jim, Logan, Pastor Wangerin, Katherine, Fatime, Brett
We got home, loaded the van with desserts and the seven of us (including our friends Faith & Gary) went out to Oconomowoc. We had a wonderful noon dinner: garden salad, fresh fruit, ham, green beans, cheesy potato bake, sweet potatoes, black olives, deviled eggs, and hot cross buns. The kids went on a Easter egg hunt outdoors and indoors. They all had a good time. Elsiana especially liked her M & M's. You could tell by the chocolate on her face and the cute grin. We sat around talking and had desserts: angel food cake with strawberries and cool-whip, apples-snickers salad, brownies, and carrot cake. We got to see Adam & Jill, Ellie and Peanut via the webcam. They are all doing well. We pray for a safe, healthy, and speedy delivery.
If you check out their blog, you'll see the coolest Easter egg!
*Katherine on Saturday's Easter egg hunt at church
*Faith & Gary
*Katherine running to get another egg
*Brett and Sarah found an egg
When we got home, we straightened the living room and kitchen. In the evening we had Latif & Ruth, Daut and Cyrus, Bedull and Ali over for desserts. Some of us played Imaginiff, which was a lot of fun. Some played video games.

*Logan, Brett, Katherine on our front lawn
*Logan, Lucy, Brett, Katherine
*Brett, Jim, Ali, Daut, Latif, and Bedull playing Imaginiff
We are so blessed to celebrate our Savior's Resurrection with family and friends.