Sunday, January 25, 2015

Flying on an Airplane

We have been singing a song from Barney for the past couple days.  If you have children, and your children liked Barney, then you may know the song, but for those of you that don't know, here's a YouTube video of the song so you can get it stuck in your head the same way it is stuck in mine.  


After being back in the states for 4 1/2 months, being in limbo not knowing when we would get to return to Guinea Bissau, we have tickets! We will be returning to Guinea Bissau in February! When we told our children a cheer erupted.  For our children to be so happy was yet another affirmation from God. They are ready to see their friends again. As one of them said, "I am ready to go home." Home is where your heart is.

God answered prayers with Michael's knee as well.  He is able to put off surgery and return with a knee brace.  We praise God for this answered prayer.

We are excited to return to Guinea Bissau, but at the same time we know we will face homesickness and long to be back in our home culture.  We are blessed to have been able to spend this time home.  We have been able to see so many people that we love and have prayed over us, we got to spend time with our family, and be here for births, birthdays and holidays.  These memories will help to get us through when the homesickness sets in.

Our home church has been amazing and we are blessed to be a part of it.  Most recently, the children's ministry has put together a 'store' for children to purchase items needed for our preschool in our village.

It has been amazing to see the love poured out for a preschool so far away.  Each child that placed something in the suitcases have blessed another child across the world.  We are all called to be servants of Christ and that is just what these kids were doing.  I also believe that the excitement for this 'store' gave our kids an excitement to return to GB.  Not only did the children (ages 3-11) at our church bless a preschool, they also blessed our kids.

We realize that we are always saying thank you, but we cannot say thank you enough.  Thank you to all of you that have prayed for us, been friends to us, fed us, clothed us, housed us, help provide for our physical needs, encouraged us, laughed with us, cried with us, the list goes on, but in the end we continue to say, "Thank you!".  We can never pay you back, but our Lord will bless you.  


Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Well, that's just humbling...

Ever have one of those moments when you think, "Well, that's just humbling."? That is what happened to us this morning.  Since Michael hurt his knee he has procrastinated calling our friends in the village. We were planning on returning to GB this month and they knew this.  They have been anticipating our return to GB.  With this injury our return is unknown.  How are we to explain this to the people that are anticipating our return with such excitement? We had a missionary friend that serves nearby explain to our church what happened so they could know, but we hadn't called them to speak with them. Our missionary friend, Beryl, emailed us and told us that Djibi wanted us to call him very badly.  Our hearts sank. We didn't want to have to tell him that our return may be delayed.  

Our procrastination has ended and with the ending of procrastination came some humble pie.  Michael called Djibi and was received with much happiness and encouragement.  Djibi wanted Michael to call him because he was so concerned with Michael's health.  When they heard about Michael's knee they began praying and fasting all day and night.  The church that we came to teach and help to grow, was praying and fasting for us. 

We were concerned with disappointing them, but in reality, their faith is so big that they didn't doubt one bit that this will keep us from returning.  In fact, Djibi told us how they were planning our return and how they would carry Michael through the village. They said they would meet us with their bicycles and carry Michael home. 

We were humbled by this because their faith in God is so big that they immediately turned to prayer and fasting for healing.  We didn't want to call them, but they were waiting for our call so they could encourage us and let us know they have been praying and fasting.  

...For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move and nothing will be impossible for you.  Matthew 17:20