This Wild Journey

There have been many blessings on both sides of the ocean for our family. We are so grateful for these last seven years serving with WGM, and at Tenwek Hospital. We are mostly grateful for the amazing people we have been able to know and serve beside. We now know godly people in many places around the globe who are using what God has given them to share His love with the nations. It’s a beautiful thing how God does that. By his Spirit he leads his children in his will. We have had many “divine appointments” through the connections we’ve made on multiple continents. God is so faithful.

We are now entering a new season. We’ve been back in the United States for about 6 months. We are still very much in the ups and downs of transition, getting used to life here and establishing some roots again in community. After much prayer and discernment we have decided to resign from full-time missions work with World Gospel Mission. We tried to see if we could stay on and still do short-term assignments, but logistically it just wasn’t what was right for us at this time. We hope to continue doing short-term trips, and will likely do that mostly through Triad Pediatrics Foundation.

Our biggest missions venture is to our family and our kids. We would love your prayers for wisdom in parenting and connection in marriage, and for us all to know & remember the Lord’s great Love every day. His mercies never come to an end! We will be launching one son to college next year, Lord willing, and then one the year after that. Pray for them to be clearly led by God into their next season, wherever that may be.

We very much still desire to live our lives on mission. Please pray for us to know how to continue ministry to kids and families both locally and globally.

If you have been following our journey all along, thank you so much! If you have been supporting us financially and/or prayerfully, thank you SO much! You have upheld us in many ways! We hope to continue to write and update this blog as we can, and as the Lord leads. For now, I will just say that though our missions journey has not been easy, it has been so rewarding. We grieve the things we are leaving behind in no longer being considered “long-term,” but we also are excited about the future and what God will do in and through our family, for His glory.

The Joy of Easter is real and it is wonderful. The hope that we have because Jesus our Savior came to earth, lived a sinless life that we never could, and took on all our sins on the cross to make us holy and righteous… That should give us all immense peace and joy. But I confess that I don’t live in that joy every day like I want to. There was a prayer of confession led by a dear friend at our Easter service this morning. It really struck me, so I wanted to share it here.

“Loving God, we confess that at times we do not share in the joy of the resurrection but are caught in the worries of this world. We confess that we do not always live in the spirit of new life, but remain discontent, grumbling and anxious. Forgive us for not sharing in the Good News. Forgive us when we find it more comfortable to worry and complain than to risk the joy and encouragement of new life in Christ. Call us back to Your ways, O God, to seek hope and reconciliation, restoration and peace. In the name of the Risen Christ we pray. Amen.”

Happy Easter. The LORD is Risen indeed!

“We have to do the tree!”

This was the overwhelming majority response when I suggested, a few days into November, that maybe we wouldn’t do the tree on the wall this year. I just felt too spent that day to put forth the effort, only to take it down and get out the Christmas decorations in a few weeks. But clearly it was important to them. Every November for many many years our family has put up a paper tree on the wall or window in whatever house or country we’ve lived in. Then we trace everyone’s hands (or paws) and cut out a bunch of them as leaves to go on the tree, with things we’re thankful for written on them. We continue to add to the tree all month, until fall colored hands liven up the wall.

Being grateful is something that I know is important. I know it is healthy. I know it is right. But it is not always easy. When I feel good, it is much easier to be thankful. When I am sick, in pain, lonely or depressed, sometimes the only thing I can think of to be thankful for is something I can just as easily breathe a complaint about. I’m thankful for tacos. I wish we had black beans instead of red ones today. I’m thankful for coffee. Wish mine was warmer. I’m thankful for our dog. It’d be nice if someone would bathe him…and on and on.

How do I get out of this rut? I really spent time contemplating that this morning. How can I cultivate a heart of gratitude even on the hard days, or in the hard seasons?

The only thing I came up with is preaching truth to myself. My hope is only Jesus. He gives me everything I need. He is with me. There is always hope. He is working for my good and His glory in all things. I am fearfully and wonderfully made. As I bring my requests to him–with thanksgiving–the peace that passes all understanding guards my heart and mind. He is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. My inheritance in Christ is immeasurably more than I can imagine, and it can never be taken from me. His Spirit is at work in my life and the lives of those I love. His steadfast love endures forever. He will never leave nor forsake me. He has me here, in my daily circumstances, for such a time as this. I am victorious in Him.

Seriously, that is the only way I can think of to spark gratitude when sinking low. It seemed to work for Paul. He was in prison, he praised the Lord. He was in pain, he wrote of God’s amazing comfort. He was feeling dejected, he exhorted others to live into their full potential in Christ, with compassionate hearts, humility, meekness, and patience. Paul always seemed to find an attitude of thankfulness no matter what his circumstances were. He found a way to rejoice in the Lord. What an amazing example!

I want to be like that too. I’m thankful my kids didn’t let me give up the tree on the wall this year. A heart of gratitude is a precious and beautiful thing, even–and maybe especially–on the hard days.