Eternity in View

I mentioned in an earlier post that I have been stateside helping in the care of my father with terminal cancer. On Thursday, hospice spoke with my brother and me and told us that Dad has less than a week to live. We appreciate your prayers for him and for our family.

The Lord has taught me much through this journey. There are some things I would like to share here, but it will take some time to process everything we are going through and to work through things that will need to be done in the weeks ahead.

"I would have fainted, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living." ~Psalm 27:13

"Thou art good, and doest good; teach me thy statutes." ~Psalm 119:68

Returning to Change

By the time you are reading this, I have returned to Japan.  Many things have changed since we departed for our furlough the end of April 2019.  Favorite restaurants have closed.  Favorite shopping places have closed. Even a favorite shipping company that we used to ship items from the USA has closed.  Foods and toiletries that we previously shipped to Japan are no longer able to be shipped due to changing custom regulations.  Some responsibilities are no longer mine, while new ones are being added.  In some regards, it is like starting over.

I don’t like change very much.  I often wish things could just stay the way they are, but in the world that we live in, it will never be.  I’ve shared here before, but maybe you need to be reminded too. What a great comfort to know that there is ONE who never changes!

“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.”
~Hebrews 13:8

“For I am the LORD, I change not;”
~Malachi 3:6

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.”
~James 1:17

“Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands. They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed: But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end.”
~Psalm 102:25-27

Life Update

Thank you to those of you who are still here after my sporadic posting this last year.  Furlough has been busy with lots of family events and ministry opportunities.  There has been very little time for “extras.” I hope to remedy that as I get ready to head back to Japan.

We’ve traveled many miles and visited many churches. We were present for the birth of our first grandchild.  We enjoyed holidays with our children which included Christmas with our children for the first time in 6 years.  We were present with each of our children during times when we just needed to be there.  I cherish those times and memories.  Quite frankly, we miss out on a lot of our children’s lives.  God’s grace is sufficient, but I soak up all that the Lord allows me to be a part of.

So as I prepare to head back to Japan, I appreciate your prayers. Goodbyes get more and more difficult.  I’ve heard other missionaries say it, so I know I am not alone.  I look forward to being back to the place where God has called us to serve and the people there that I have come to love, but my heart also longs for those I leave behind.

*****

“Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.” ~Romans 15:13

Sad Good Byes

My grandmother used to always say, “Without any sad goodbyes, there wouldn’t be any sweet hellos.”  I think of that every time I have to say good bye to someone.  Good byes are an inevitable part of being a missionary.  One is always having to say good bye to someone.  When leaving the home country to go the field, there are many good byes.  When leaving the field for a furlough, there are more good byes. 

To continue reading, click here.

Growing in Our Relationship with the Lord

One of the challenges I faced when moving to the field was the lack of accountability and companionship around the Word.  In the states, I was involved in a small group Bible study.  I had a Bible memory accountability partner.  I had “iron sharpening iron” relationships.  When I moved to the field, those all went away.  On top of that, vocabulary cards started to replace Bible memory cards.  Instead of spare minutes spent in communion with the Lord, those spare minutes were spent studying for language school.  

To read more, click here.

*I posted this photo on Instagram several weeks ago.  Furlough is such a challenging time to find quiet space.  I grab it where and when I can!

Life is Happening

I’m sorry that I have not been blogging over the last few months. Furlough has been soooooo busy that I can’t seem to keep up with everything, not to mention making time to write blog posts. I did post recently at In Her Shoes.  If you would like to read Reminders Along the Roadside, click here.

One exciting bit of news is that we are to be grandparents for the first time in November.  We were able to be a part of the gender reveal.  We were thrilled to find out that our first grandchild will be a GIRL!!!!

We are definitely moving into the busy mission conference season. We are headed out for 10 days on Saturday.  We are looking forward to reporting to 4 churches during this trip.  Thank you for your prayers.

until the next time…

 

Worth the Read

I read an article recently that has stayed with me all week.  It says so clearly what I am unable to say.  It is a good read for all, but if you are a pastor or pastor’s wife, I hope you will take the time to read and think about what is presented. Not all missionaries serve in the jungles or third world countries, but we each have our own cultural difficulties. When I read this article, my mind immediately went to a young family that I know.  Their difficulties are far greater than mine in many ways. Not all missionaries come back broken, but there is one paragraph particularly that applies to all of us. “There needs to be…grace to recognize that while living abroad, the person sent out from the church has changed. Is the church ready to welcome that kind of changed person back into their arms with tenderness and acceptance?”

Thanks for taking the time read…

When Missionaries Return Broken

God Goes Before

I’ve mentioned here before a Bible study I do that was introduced by Mardi Collier.  This study (What Do I Know About My God?) has had such an impact on my life.  This week as we had our first mission conference of furlough, I was drawn back to this study and witnessed first-hand as God took care of me and met my needs.

To continue reading, click here.

The Snow is Coming…

…to my part of the south.

The library book is checked out.

A craft is in progress.

The soup is on.

I’m ready!

The Most Wonderful Time

This is my favorite time of the year.  To be in the states this year is extra special.  We are enjoying lots of time with family and friends.  I love being in others’ homes and seeing their decorations and trees.  This is something I miss in Japan.  A special treat this year is a live tree that was purchased as a surprise by the daughter.  It is perhaps the most beautiful tree I have every had.  Please forgive me for the sporadic posting, but I’m busy soaking in as much as possible and making lots of memories to enjoy and savor when I return to our field of service.  Posting will happen as I am able.  Thank you for your patience!

photo credit