And now for a brief word from the not-exactly-glamorous part of our lives.
This last 7 days have been a constant bombardment of bad news. The kind of bad news that hits you pretty deep in your soul and makes you very sad.
As we prepare months in advance for furlough our minds have begun a transition from here to home. We see furlough as the light at the end of this 6 month tunnel.
This tunnel where our jobs are getting harder, and bad news is coming more frequently. While in this tunnel our attitudes are under challenge because we do tend to find certain things harder to cope with than they used to be.
When you move here you have the honeymoon phase, then the life as normal phase, and then the furlough phase. Between each one is a transition that sort of focuses on the negative aspects of where you ARE and the good aspects of where you're GOING.
We had something similar when we transitioned to HERE.
Our jobs are busy, and hard. This last month and the next 5 are going to be very hard for both of us. We're both in positions where we are vital as are many people here, and as such, there are pressures.
One of the pressures is whether or not there will be people to fill our holes when we go on furlough.
This week EACH and every day for the past 7 days has had some new very discouraging news, that somehow makes it harder to get through the next 5 months.
Kendal and I have spent some major time in prayer asking God... to lead us. It's no point in going and pushing against the flow if the flow is God's direction. We need His guidance here... and we know there will be resistance from the enemy and there has been.
Kendal found out last night her grandmother is in the hospital.
This morning I found out yet another co-worker may not be returning.
We can't continue to lose the wind in our sails like this... we need some sort of hope.
The two of us have this ... feeling that the next several months might be a dark time of trial for us, and we have begun shoring up against it.
If you want to join us in prayer please do. The list of concerns on our hearts is almost overwhelming because we have absolutely no control over it... we need God to provide in great ways.
Here is an exhaustive list of what's on our minds:
-replacement worker for Chad will arrive before furlough (so we can handoff/train)
-replacement worker for Kendal will arrive before furlough
-furlough place to stay
-furlough vehicle
-furlough finances
-raising support so we can return (we'll need another $1000 p/month to return)
-flight bookings details
-form details (requirements by the country and organization)
-visa details if we don't return in time
-family health issues - Kendal's grandmother's health
-house rental - will they find a renter for our place for only 6 months?
-pet details - who will watch our dog?
-kid details - how is this going to emotionally and educationally affect the kids?
-furlough schedule - what will we do? where will we go? is there a lot of flying and driving? Where will the money come from?
We really have so little we can control. We have seen God provide time and time again, and we know it is because you, our partners in this ministry, have been going to Him in prayer on our behalves. We have in turn been asking God to bless you all financially, health-wise, and family wise... because we know things are tough on you too.
Thank you for taking the time to read our hearts here.
Amidst everything going on, God is doing some neat things here. The Scripture use conference, another New Testament dedication last month, some very good things among the people of PNG.
We're glad to be a part of it. And will continue to be a part when we're on furlough as well, even if our part is in telling everyone the many things that are happening over here... face to face!
God Bless!
