Saying Goodbye

Tears pooled in our eyes despite our resolve.  Our closest friends pressed around us as many other village friends milled around.  It was time to say goodbye.  It’s rare to see Great River People people cry, even at funerals. But tears were finding their way down the cheeks of some of our dearest friends.  Our adopted family was especially touched.  Grandma held onto Molly, squeezing her hands. “I am going to pray to God every day to send you back to us. You’ll be back!” she declared. Molly was thinking, How can I disappoint her?  How can I tell her that we won’t be coming back?

Later in the truck, the silence was deafening.  Then came sniffles and sobs.  Were we really making the right decision? 

New Zealand

As we settled into life in New Zealand, things were ideal. We were in one of the most beautiful places on earth and close to family. Greg was pastoring two large churches, and our kids were making lots of friends.  Prayer had become an integral part of our ministry, and many people were coming to the Lord. God was abundantly blessing, and we were loving it!  Yet in all of this there was a strange sense of calling, a calling to something we had left behind.  Almost as soon as we arrived in NZ, Greg and I knew we had made a rather large mistake!  For a year we shed tears of regret almost daily. But God is so amazing; He takes mistakes and uses them for His glory. We have learned priceless spiritual lessons that we wouldn’t trade for anything!

Lessons in Hindsight

When we were in Cambodia, we felt as though we had found the “sweet spot” in our ministry.  We loved what we were doing and were deeply satisfied.  But confronting Satan’s kingdom rouses the enemy! Fearful and doubtful thoughts began to bombard our minds.  Looking inward, we felt we didn’t have what it would take to complete this project.  Fear and discouragement pressed around us until all seemed dark.

Later in New Zealand, we began to see the big picture.  We had been under Satanic attack but had no idea.  We thought we were doing what was right!  In these last 4 ½ years, God has been gently leading us along and teaching us the very lessons we needed back in Cambodia.

The biggest lesson we have learned is that “His strength is made perfect in weakness.”

Our Prayer Requests

•  That God would soften the soil in the hearts of the Great River People in preparation for the seeds of the gospel.

•  That God will provide the means we need to launch by the fall of 2016.

•  For the other missionary families on the project as they build relationships that God would lead them to people with open and honest hearts, that they would adjust quickly and learn the language easily, and that they would have divine appointments with those who are hungering to know Jesus.

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