During our pre-launch time, we found ourselves assisting family members in stressful situations—a sister recovering from a serious auto accident and a grandmother needing more care. Through these experiences, our minds became tuned to dynamics of the family we had not previously encountered.

In our western culture, when a family member’s physical needs require extra care, there are places we can pay to care for them. In Gogodala culture, as in many other cultures in the world, sick, injured or elderly people are taken care of by their families. They bathe them, cook for them, and provide for them. There usually isn’t a question about where they will end up if their physical state deteriorates. Home is the place. There are advantages to this type of living. It demonstrates that relationships are more important than time. That’s a value that has been lost in much of the developed world. When it comes to family values, we could perhaps learn from the less-developed world.

But there is an even better family relationship that we would like the Gogodala people to experience. God invites them to be part of His family and live together with Him forever in a perfect place. Our home in heaven is an inexpressibly wonderful thing to look forward to, and we long to share that hope with these dear Gogodala people that they can experience the joy God has in store for them. Praise the Lord, we will join them soon!

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