Getting To Know You

So you might have heard that I'm going to Guatemala?

I know I'm over-discussing it.  But that's what I do.

I want y'all to learn a little more about The Carney's, our friends who'll be moving there.

So I interviewed them.  

My mental picture of missionaries has always been a bit unrealistic.  I picture a man similar to Billy Graham who has one pair of pants and three shirts.  His wife is Mother Theresa and shuns all things of beauty.

Well.  Maybe my mental picture isn't THAT extreme, but it's close.

The Carney's are just regular.  And I mean that it the nicest way.

Here's a taste...

QB:  Jason, I heard you mention that our trip is just two months from now.  Totally freaked me out and I'm only going for a few days.  Have you had moments of complete freak out?

Jason:  Not because of travel.  I love being all over the world.  But I have freaked out because I am moving there.

QB:  Not because I'm enjoying that answer or anything, but will you be more specific about your moments of freaking?  

Jason:  Kids getting kidnapped or killed; food issues; no date night for Lacey and I ever again; family time is now with 80 instead of 6; hurricanes approaching and no funds to get back to the States if necessary; earthquakes; volcanoes; my kids not getting to be in sports like they would here...

QB:  Ok, ok, ok.  But you forgot mudslides.  I'm worrying about mudslides.  

Jason:  Great.  Add that one because they have them all during the rainy season...and add that while you're at it because the rainy season lasts 6 months!

QB:  Lacey, I don't know if anyone has mentioned this to you or not, but you are moving to an orphanage in a third world country.  Now I love kids as much as the next gal, but have you lost your mind?

Lacey:  Yes.  I guess I did lose my mind to God.  I surrendered and said whatever, whenever and apparently He took me seriously!  Who'd a thought?

QB:  Will you briefly explain what y'all are going to be doing at Casa?

Jason:  We are going to be in charge of their baby dorm.  Basically, we become the mom and dad for roughly 80 kids.

QB:  24 hours a day?  Will you ever get a break?  How much help will you have?

Jason:  We will have 15 Guatemalan staff that will be there to help us...only one has any experience, but I might consider that a good thing.  They all run different shifts, but in the end we still have full responsibility 24/7.   We are their parents from now on...Mom and Dad!!

QB:  Lacey, what are your boys going to do about school?

Lacey:  The plan is for them to attend a Christian school about 15 to 20 minutes away.  We actually got to tour the school and meet the principal and some other staff a few months ago.

QB:  Just so everyone has a clear picture of who we're dealing with, I'd like to point out that you love clothes as much as any male I've ever known.  Dude, what are you going to do about that?

Jason:  Figured that out a LONG time ago!  Abercrombie and Fitch, Gap and American Eagle are made in Guatemala so I can buy those for next to nothing.  I thought I was really going to have a problem with this.

QB:  I knew you'd figure something out.  Lacey, what are you going to do about your house, cars, personal stuff, etc.?  Do you know what you are going to be taking with you?

Lacey:  I know that I don't plan on leaving without my shoes, my Razorback stuff, pictures, Jason and the boys.  That was in no particular order, by the way.  That's what I know for sure.  We'll probably rent our house to my sister-in-law.  We plan on selling one car and keeping one for when we are here, but our plans don't always seem to be God's plan.  We'll have to sell the other big things in a garage sale or estate sale...kind of unwillingly.  And yes, I know that is very vain.

QB:  What is your housing situation while you are there?

Jason:  About half the size of what we have here...and not really what you'd consider a vacation villa.  We hope to be able to find the funds to remodel if we can.  I would like my family to be as comfortable as possible even though this will be a huge culture shock.

QB:  Is your apartment literally in the baby dorm?

Jason:  Yes.  We will have a door going directly into the nursery and our front door isn't in a nice, groomed yard but is in the baby dorm itself.

QB:  What about your current job?  Will you be able to work up until you leave?

Jason:  Yes.  I'll work up until we leave and then I'm hoping to bless someone else with that job.

QB:  What do your families think about this?

Jason:  Lacey's family is all for it.  My family can't get over missing their 4 grandsons, so they are constantly at near heart attack status.

QB:  Lacey, what do your boys think about this?

Lacey:  Most days they are excited and can hardly wait.  I am trying to see it from their point of view...I would be thrilled if I were 10, 7 or 6 and about to move where there are endless friends 24/7!

QB:  What are you going to do about withdrawal from Sonic?

Lacey:  I am praying that my dreams at night of footlong coneys and Sonic ice will be so vivid that it will quench the withdrawals.  If I start getting shaky or night sweats I'll IM you.  It shouldn't take more than 2 weeks to ship, right?  Do they have Sonic Addicts Recovery Groups?  You should tell The King...that might be a new business direction for him.

QB:  Do you ever feel like you wish you'd never started down this road?

Jason:  At times, yes.  When I hear some of what people say about us.  But then God assures me through His word that this is His plan for His kingdom and we are blessed to be a part of it!

QB:  Elaborate!  What are people saying?  I need to know these things.

Jason:  People say things like:  Why are you leaving?  Are you crazy?  What are you hiding from?  Have you really changed?  Has God really called you?  Your are stupid for taking your kids to another country out of these comforts.  I could never do what you are doing.  Maybe you better wait a few years or more until you really know...I guess they are basically saying don't go until THEY know God is calling us. That is crazy.

QB:  I do think some people in your world were REALLY surprised when you made this decision.  Have you gotten 100% support from friends and family?

Jason:  No, but most everyone is supportive.  I asked my best friend why he hasn't really said much as far as support.  His response was something like why would he want his best friend to leave the country.  He was being real and I guess that made me feel better in a way.

QB:  Lacey, what are your financial needs...how are you planning on meeting those?

Lacey:  We are trying to raise money for our living expenses in Guatemala,  our vehicle, car and health insurance, the boys' school, food, etc.  We will also have to raise money for some of our things here unless God sends someone to buy our house and other things that would lower our monthly expenses.  Our vision is to someday--and the sooner the better--completely support Los Angelitos' needs, as well. (Los Angelitos is the baby dorm.)

QB:  Lacey, have you ever felt like this is not what you signed up for when you married Jason?

Lacey:  I feel like I didn't sign up for a lot of things when it comes to Jason!  This just happens to be one of the biggies.  I know that it is really not his doing, though.  It is God's, so I'll give him a little slack.

QB:  Looking back, is missions something you've always been interested in?  Or did you run screaming and crying from Mission Friends like I did?  

Jason:  I have always wanted to help kids in need, but I really wanted to do that while living in my comfortable world where freedom is given to us....not in a third world country.

Lacey:  I did have a little-and I mean LITTLE- interest in missions when I was growing up.  I am pretty sure it was because of social reasons, though, if I'm honest with myself.  When I was 11 or 12 our youth group went to Mexico.  I was the youngest and wasn't allowed to go.  I hated it and felt like I was going to miss out on something or someone.  Again, I am pretty sure it was social or maybe because of a certain boy that was going or something.  As I got older, it was the farthest thing from my agenda.  I even said the big "never".  Ooooppppps.  Someday I will learn to never say never.

QB:  Have I ever told you that I used to pray for God to NEVER call me into missions?

Jason:  Yes, I heard something about that.  Did I ever tell you that I used to pray for God to give me a really big, nice home and lots of stuff?  

QB makes a face.

QB:  Lacey, how often will you come back to Arkansas?

Lacey:  As often as God and finances allow.  I have heard, though, that Casa will become my home and that the feeling of being disoriented will pass with time.  

QB:  Is there any way for me to ditch the trip at this point?

Jason:  Sure.  God allows us to make our own decisions in life.  I can tell you this, it will be a decision that you'll live with for the rest of your life.

Lacey:  NO, NO and NOPE.  What's the Spanish word for NO????  Como se dice NO in espanol?

QB:  Well that is not what I wanted to hear.  What are you going to make me do while I'm there?

Jason:  I am not going to make you do anything.  You will have the chance to impact kids' lives, as well as work on your own, while God works on your heart for missions and orphans.

QB wants to make a face again.

QB:  Do they have Diet Mountain Dew?

Jason:  YES!!!

I hope you see them as I do.  They are a wonderfully normal family who is sacrificing for the sake of the call.  Please keep them in your prayers.

If you have any questions for them, they would love to answer.  You can contact them through their website.

I have their Only Grace button on my blog...if you'd like to support them by placing it on yours, just email me and I'll send it to you.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Comments

[Angie]

"Yes, I did lose my mind to God." Amazing. Convicting. A picture of total abandon.

I am writing this family in my prayer journal to pray for them regularly!

[rrmama]

Totally honest interview! I loved it. I pray all of their concerns and needs are met.

[Kara @ Me-Moddy]

Loved the interview. I enjoyed reading every questions (some cracked me up!). I love seeing people go "against the grain" for God. For ministry. For life. It takes a special people to do this and what an awesome testimony they will have in these children's lives in Guatemala. Who knows - you may just never be the same as well! :-)

[Jennifer]

Praise God for people like them! They are rare indeed! The utmost of unselfish that I've ever heard. God bless them (and you) everyone!

Smiles!
Jen

[Tonggu Momma]

I love that they are becoming second parents. My Tongginator has three families -- her first family, that she was born into; her second family, who fostered her while she lived in China; and our family. I am her third mom.

And every single one of those babies in that orphanage has a first family... hopefully they will all return to their first families or find third families, the way we found the Tongginator. But those second families -- they are hard to come by. Thank you, Carneys, for stepping out in faith. God bless you.

[Lisa@take90west]

They are so honest, great interview!
And yes, they really do seem just like regular people who can work a mission and wear their Abercrombie at the same time!
I really, really hope that somehow, all of their needs are met, and then some!

[Lindsay]

OOhh I loved learning all about them. I will continue to keep them in my prayers!I am also glad to see you wont have to give up your Diet Mt. Dew!!

[Frizz]

"Jason: I have always wanted to help kids in need, but I really wanted to do that while living in my comfortable world where freedom is given to us....not in a third world country."

With all the children in our own country (USA) that could use your help...why Guatemala or any other country for that matter?

Are there no qualified people in Guatemala that could do this job with some training?

You see this as a gift...a calling.

I believe there are many different ways to help without placing your family in such dangerous situations (based on what you described).

If you were single, I'd say go for it!

I'm not pro or con on this idea of what you are about to do. I simply don't understand.

[d]

I love the interview. I will be praying for you as you prepare to go.
I spent 2 weeks in Guatemala in 1994 (I was sooo young) and it changed my life forever. Honestly. I can't begin to explain in a comment but to this day it has been a lasting turning point in my life.
I wasn't sure about going and cried on occasion, even after I arrived. It changed me and I am so thankful.

[rachel k]

awesome. and most importantly, they're taking their razorback stuff. I bet it's really hard to get a game in guatemala. . .wow, that's a sacrifice!

Seriously, I will be praying for them!

[Jules from The Roost]

Awesome interview! I DO want the button & you will have my prayer support too! :)