“Is Trooper real?” Nine-year-old Emma poses the question, which draws much discussion from the other grandchildren.
Grandchildren Kelly, Maggie, Tommy, Michael, Emma, and Will look through their 2007 Trooper books that their grandparents brought them from South Asia.As they enjoy a snack around the kitchen table of the New Prospect Baptist Church missionary home, I intentionally eavesdrop while chopping vegetables for a salad.
“I think he is.”
“No, he isn’t; he’s a key chain.”
“Well, I think Trooper is really Grandmother.”
Then one remembered I was there.
“Grandmother, is Trooper real?”
I go to my purse and take out the key chain elephant that all recognize.
“Oh, I know,” declares 7-year-old Kelly. “Trooper is real in Asia but not here.”
This statement sparks a consensus, and the conversation shifts to Christmas plans. My mind, however, is still on Trooper.
So, is Trooper real? Yes. Trooper is a real key chain elephant. Every year since Emma was born, each grandchild gets his or her own “Trooper” book. Emma and Tommy have the first edition, “Trooper’s Treks – As Told to Grandmother and Granddaddy.” Eight more volumes have followed.
When we learned we would be grandparents while serving in South Asia, we immediately planned creative ways to bond with grandchildren who live halfway around the world. Since our ministry with the Southern Baptist International Mission Board involves much travel, we decided to pack Trooper and have him describe our lives through elephant eyes. The annual gift of 62 stories quickly grew from a simple travelogue about the places we go and the people we see to include stories about family and friends. Trooper’s stories became conversations we would have had with our grandchildren if we were living next door.
Every year, each grandchild receives his or her own Trooper book. Here, the 2007 books are displayed with hats and a camel from Pakistan.Throughout the year, Reid* and I look for potential Trooper stories. When we spot a story, we delight in finding the perfect illustrations to go beside it in the transparent pages of their Trooper books. When we write about a new country we visit, we insert samples of the money and a picture of the flag. We add a brass spoon or tiny carpet from Pakistan. We even put in newspaper accounts of current events that happen while we are in a country. We add photos of churches we visit, believers we meet, and the scenes around us. We try to make our six grandchildren feel as if they are there with us.
We happened to be in Kathmandu, Nepal, when Sir Edmund Hillary and his wife, Lady June, were there commemorating the 50th anniversary of his climb to Mount Everest’s summit. We were able to photograph all the famous summiteers who attended. That Trooper story included newspaper coverage of an event reported worldwide.
However, squeals and giggles most often occur when each grandchild finds his or her picture in the newest Trooper book. Even though they do not see him, Trooper always covers family birthdays, holidays, and special milestones. Each grandchild’s birth was a Trooper story. Trooper also celebrates each grandchild’s baptism with a story and pictures. “Siblings and Cousins” and other family stories, including recipes and songs passed down through generations, help us to bond long distance.
So, is Trooper real? Definitely! He is one real way that we are able to grandparent from afar while serving God in South Asia.
As we near retirement, the grandchildren are already asking, “Grandmother, will we still get Trooper books after you retire?” Even if Trooper does retire in South Asia, the joys Trooper has given to our family are in our grandchildren’s hearts forever.
*Names changed for security reasons.
Editor’s Note: Reid and Eve Godsey grew up in Abbeville County. They served as IMB missionaries for 15 years in the Philippines before Reid pastored in Anderson. In 1998, the IMB reappointed them to South Asia, where they serve as member care consultants. Their grandchildren – Emma, 9; Tommy, 9; Maggie, 8; Kelly, 7; Michael, 4; and Will, 2 – attend Parkwood and North Anderson Baptist churches in Anderson.