Author: John and Asmara Anyan

We really do live in a 1-room apartment. That means our living room = our bedroom = the boys’ bedroom = our dining room = our kitchen = the playroom = everything else. At first I wasn’t so sure about staying in such a small space for 6 months, but is has become another home […]

I’m a very unlikely homeschooler. For one, I grew up and currently live in one of the very few European countries where it is simply illegal. On top of that, I don’t even have any school-aged children yet. Nevertheless, I am passionate about homeschooling, soaked up my training as a homeschool consultant, and continue to […]

Tights and waterproof pants: check. Extra socks and hiking boots: check. Undershirt, long-sleeve shirt, and fleece jacket: check. Insulated rain jacket and gloves: check. Hat and backpack with extra clothes, snacks, water, and a towel: check. Phew. Just a normal day getting ready for Kindergarten. Judah and Elias attend a “Waldkindergarten.” A preschool in the […]

“What’s your name?” Elias asked the older boy in the sandbox. “Noah. And yours?” The boy replied. “Elias.” I listened and smiled. This was the first time our boy introduced himself with his actual name — Elias (pronounced the German way). Before then, he was quite convinced that his real name was Li-Li and would not […]

“Mama….” Elias looked at me with a face of concentration and determination. After quite a long pause, he, very clearly and very slowly, asked, “Wo gehen wir hin?” John and I started cheering and clapping for our little language learner. After at least 500 times of reminding our boys that that’s the correct way of […]

“You keep him in perfect peace     whose mind is stayed on you,     because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever,     for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.” Isaiah 26:3 A couple of days before our departure from Spokane, a dear sister-in-law handed me a ripped out journal page with this verse written […]

Judah had been waiting anxiously for his name to be called at the final day of Vacation Bible School. Having his name called meant that it was his turn to get up, walk up to the front of the room, and pick a present from the table that was set up. And it wasn’t just […]

Admit it. It’s a question you’ve been wanting to ask us. “You’re missionaries. Sooooooo you don’t work, right? What in the world do you do all day???” Yes, we’re full-time missionaries. “Career missionaries,” to be exact (although it’s probably not what you think of when you think of a career). No, we don’t work in […]

Oh, AWANA car races. If you are an AWANA parent, you’ve probably experienced the joys and agonies of receiving a block of wood and attempting to transform it into a snazzy race car that can beat all the other cars at the highly anticipated, annual “Pinewood Derby Car Race.” Judah was an AWANA Cubbie this year […]