"I hope he picks me up!"

I'm not sure what has spurred this post on, a number of things I think, of which teaching English would not be at the bottom of the list.  Parents if you ask your kiddos what they want to be when they grow up and they say, "An ESL teacher!" (English Second Language) then you need to help them RIGHT NOW begin to hone their charades and Pictionary skills because a lot of days that's what I do in both my elementary teaching and my university teaching! You're welcome students!

We've also determined that our students at TLC should probably specify if they want to speak Northern English or Southern English as these are obviously two different dialects! No worries my students will be fluent in southern before my term is up here! Complete with the knowledge of what GBO means, the ability to sing Rocky Top, how to appropriately use the term ya'll, the word soda is only used when preceded by the term baking, and the term pop is something that happens to your behind or mouth if you use any of the words on the No Fly List, coke makes the world go round, and that thing you put your groceries is in is most definitely a buggy! You're welcome America. 

I think there are things we say that we have no idea what they mean. Myself and a couple other missionaries were taking the Harvard Dialect Survey and the question was what do you say when it's raining outside and the sun is shining! Myself and my Alabama colleague said without missing a beat, "The devil's beating his wife!" Our Texas counterpart was appalled and wanted to know why we said such a thing. We shrugged and defensively replied, that's just what it means! 

One time I was telling my California friends about keeping someone's kids. Grabbing their kiddos a little tighter they looked at me puzzled and a bit horrified. Evidently if you keep someone else's kids in California it means kidnapping?! Where I come from it means babysitting! (California Criminals!)

We missionaries especially AG missionaries (Assemblies of God) definitely have our own lingo, just listen to any MK (missionary kid) talk about kicking their STL (Speed the Light) truck into 4wd and using the snorkel to cross a river to get to a village, or how when BGMC (Boys & Girls Missionary Club) sent them the new projector for the church and their parents put a sheet on the wall and used it to let them watch movies! 

I never think too much about it until I make a statement to a friend like, "I'm having lunch with a pastor today I hope he picks me up!" 

Depending on the friend they could think many things:

You want the pastor to physically pick you up off the ground. (Creepy)

You want the pastor to hit on you like with pick up lines. (Creepier)

You want the pastor to pick up the tab. (Not as creepy and likely truth, but not the meaning)

You are depressed and want the pastor to encourage you. (Maybe not Creepy, but definitely needy)

I don't really know why we say it, but when a missionary says they want a pastor or someone else to pick them up, they mean support them monthly financially.  Which I guess, in a way,  could mean many of the above: physically move me to the nation of my calling, pick up the tab, and encourage me by helping me get to where my heart is! But definitely NOT the pick up lines, ew!
Disclaimer :Unless he's cute and single and has a heart for missions and then the pick up lines are welcomed.

Sooo if you'd like to PICK ME UP:  CLICK HERE

My SIL wrote a blog this week about stuff my niece says, my favorite was when she evidently told my brother to, "Sit down!" and her mother yelled from another room, "Niah, we don't demand people to do things, what do we say?"  And Niah whispered to Matthew, "I not say please!" hahahahah! So proud!

But another was when her lil brother was crying in the floor and Niah went to him and said, "It's okay, don't cry, Mommy will probably come pick you up!" (Not sure where the probably comes in, I mean maybe my SIL often lets that sweet little boy cry in the floor unattended to, who knows, but Niah at least had some faith that Cara would indeed pick him up!) Which is what we all need sometimes when we find ourselves lying in the floor crying, to be picked up!!!

I can't help but be grateful on this first day of November, for all those who have picked me up with monthly support and made it possible for me to be here in Thailand.  For the friends whose photos line my walls who pick me up with prayer and encouraging words and silly texts.  For my family, who often picks up the tab for me and who I know I can count on to pick me up

out of any hole I might dig.  But ultimately for my savior who has picked me up time and time again when I've fallen, when I've been knocked down, or when I've just laid down in defeat. Countless times, He's picked me up. Praying for each of you that have picked me up in any way, that He'll do this for you today. Thankful!

Isaiah 41:10
"For do not fear for I am with you, do not be dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you (pick you up :)) with my righteous right hand."