I know that not every missionary family is blessed with the kind of support we have, from our families, our friends, and especially our church back in PA. But our trip this summer was exactly the way a furlough should be- late nights and late mornings, family reunions, meals in the homes of our friends, time to pick cherries and raspberries, fishing with grandparents, swimming with cousins, meeting new friends and re-connecting with old ones, good food, impromptu prayer times, laughter and tears, feeling loved and cared for, and especially, fellowshipping with other hungry hearts everywhere we went.
There was the disappointment of finding out that the baby we were expecting in January was no longer living, but even in that we experienced God's peace in knowing we were being lifted in prayer by so many caring people.
And there was the crazy trip to Kentucky with a little wedding anniversary celebration tucked in... A suite didn't seem worthwhile on a missionary budget and a flying, one-night stay, so we paid for a regular room. We still wonder what God really said to the gal at Hampton Inn who said to Tim, "You're a blessed man!" and then handed us keys to a king suite with a jacuzzi!!! We do know what He said to us... That He wants us to celebrate our love as much as He does!
Lastly, there was the meeting with our friend Lynnell who still owns the property where we're living here in Honduras, where she made the startling announcement that she wants to GIVE this place to us! God has provided a house for her in Kentucky through generous friends, and she is blessing us in the same way. There will be a payment made to her mission organization which will be used by her for future projects here in Honduras, but it is a mere fraction of what the property is worth. We really do not know how to receive such an enormous gift, so we give it all back to God, and ask Him to bless our benefactors with His riches in Jesus!
It was a wonderful two months, but best of all, we were thrilled to realize that this is really home and when the time came, we couldn't wait to be back in our own peaceful world.
Thank you, all who enriched our furlough with prayers, groceries, hugs, money, genuine interest in our lives, meals, and just your friendship and love. We are richly blessed!
