Time Together

Last week we returned from our annual family conference, Welcome/Goodbye. It was an awesome time of renewal, encouragement and bonding. We bond as friends, families, co-laborers of the Gospel, and as a ministry family. We spend time in fellowship with other families - all ages and sizes. This year was so incredible for me, because I was asked to lead worship; it was such a mountain top experience. The theme this year was German so many broke out the Dirndles and Lederhosen (I am pictured below with my prayer-partner, Shannon). Hunter won the award for the best dressed kid and made two new friends Magdalene and Alece. (Alece's dad is already worried about Hunter, haha). The kids had a great couple that volunteered to spend the week with their family doing children's ministry...what a Blessing they were! It is so valuable to have this time together, as so many missionaries must go years in between these times of refreshment or even so long without speaking their native tongue; I have heard many [missionaries] say that being with other English speaker is even an encouragement, being able to communicate and share. I think sometimes, we take the ability to communicate fully in English for granted.

We returned home totally exhausted, but somehow completely refreshed. We slept alot and had to detox Hunter from the constant stimulation of having other kids around 24-7. Life is back to a normal pace as we are planning for our Middle School Service Project to Czech Republic. We are taking 20 kids and 6 adult leaders to serve a small church there; much of our time will be spent building a playground for the community there.

Unlike the news we hear from the states, the weather here has been cool, low 60's to 70's; it rained everyday last week and was cool enough for jeans and jackets. Our community just saw the homecoming of one of our Units from the Middle East; many families have been waiting expectantly for this day. The homecoming was rescheduled twice and made many family members very nervous. Chris went to the ceremony yesterday and said it was incredible to watch our friends celebrate the return of Dad; it was also very emotional.

I met a new young wife in one of the chapel services this week. She had been stationed in Iraq, when she met her husband. She got out the Army in January and was married this Spring. She just sent him off 4 weeks ago, back to Iraq. When I asked how she was doing, her comment really surprised me. She said, "I wish I was there with him...I miss being there fighting". This definitely through me back and she went on to explain, how she believed in the mission of what our Soliders are doing there. I was amazed at her passion and confidence in the face of the trial of being alone. It challenged me to think about my response to my trials. I think I should focus more on counting everything as joy, trial or not!