Here we are, feet planted on US soil for the first time in seven years.
There is an amalgamation of so many emotions and feelings, none of them waiting to take their turn. They crash over us, all at once, and we barely know what to call them.
There was so much joy as we collapsed into the waiting arms of family and friends. Tears came fast, and haven't really stopped.
We can't get enough of the love and presence of family; We're greedily stuffing ourselves with every moment together and it still isn't enough. That's how it is when you love deeply.
There is also the overwhelming feeling that we are foreigners;
Our minds think through things differently, our spirits feel things differently, We call things by different names.
We are foreigners in different ways in both of our homes, on opposite sides of the globe. We belong, but we don't really fit.
We're keenly aware that we are other, and I have come to be grateful for this, to embrace the discomfort of an outsider.
We're in many different places, we love and connect deeply, but we are not of any place, really.
It had helped us to look at Jesus, to know Him, in a new, more deeply personal way;
He never fit. He wasn't supposed to fit and neither are any of us who belong to Him and His upside down kingdom. We're other. We're sojourners who are to leave a trail of crumbs that point to Jesus, and our true home.
Our family has been welcomed and covered with love from the moment we stepped off that plane. Thank you to each of you who has donated clothes, household items, food, finances, and prayed for us. We feel so overwhelmed with love. We are so humbled and grateful. Thank YOU!
The kids are in wonder at all the fabulous love that is found in cousins. They are running at fever pitch, sleepover-drunk, and can't get enough. They are jaw-dropped at dishwashers, and drinking from the sink, at the magic of Raspberries and real fresh milk from the farm.
I am sitting in the love of my siblings and feel seen and known. Francis is resting for the first time in so long.
Back in the Philippines, our team is continuing to meet needs, to love and bind up the broken-hearted. They are sharing Jesus, and caring for the sick. We are so thankful for them.
Many of you have been praying for Martin, the three year old Mangyan boy with Retinoblastoma. He has had surgery to remove his right eye, after his massive tumor was miraculously reduced. Doctors projected that he would need one year of Chemo before the tumor was small enough to operate, and his tumor disappeared within only 1 month of the first chemo cycle. We are so thankful!
He is Manila and will stay there with his mother for the foreseeable future, to continue with his chemo cycles for the tumors in his other eye.
Please keep praying for him and his family, pray for healing, life, salvation.
Please continue to pray for our team in the Philippines, as they continue the ministry in our absence.
After several weeks of being with just family, and trying to rest and acclimate ourselves, we are now beginning to set up meetings and speaking engagements at local churches. We look forward to connecting with many of you, worshiping, fellowshipping together, and sharing how God is moving in the Philippines.
We're hungry to worship together!
Please get in touch if you would like us to come share with your church.
There is an amalgamation of so many emotions and feelings, none of them waiting to take their turn. They crash over us, all at once, and we barely know what to call them.
There was so much joy as we collapsed into the waiting arms of family and friends. Tears came fast, and haven't really stopped.
We can't get enough of the love and presence of family; We're greedily stuffing ourselves with every moment together and it still isn't enough. That's how it is when you love deeply.
There is also the overwhelming feeling that we are foreigners;
Our minds think through things differently, our spirits feel things differently, We call things by different names.
We are foreigners in different ways in both of our homes, on opposite sides of the globe. We belong, but we don't really fit.
We're keenly aware that we are other, and I have come to be grateful for this, to embrace the discomfort of an outsider.
We're in many different places, we love and connect deeply, but we are not of any place, really.
It had helped us to look at Jesus, to know Him, in a new, more deeply personal way;
He never fit. He wasn't supposed to fit and neither are any of us who belong to Him and His upside down kingdom. We're other. We're sojourners who are to leave a trail of crumbs that point to Jesus, and our true home.
Our family has been welcomed and covered with love from the moment we stepped off that plane. Thank you to each of you who has donated clothes, household items, food, finances, and prayed for us. We feel so overwhelmed with love. We are so humbled and grateful. Thank YOU!
The kids are in wonder at all the fabulous love that is found in cousins. They are running at fever pitch, sleepover-drunk, and can't get enough. They are jaw-dropped at dishwashers, and drinking from the sink, at the magic of Raspberries and real fresh milk from the farm.
I am sitting in the love of my siblings and feel seen and known. Francis is resting for the first time in so long.
Back in the Philippines, our team is continuing to meet needs, to love and bind up the broken-hearted. They are sharing Jesus, and caring for the sick. We are so thankful for them.
Many of you have been praying for Martin, the three year old Mangyan boy with Retinoblastoma. He has had surgery to remove his right eye, after his massive tumor was miraculously reduced. Doctors projected that he would need one year of Chemo before the tumor was small enough to operate, and his tumor disappeared within only 1 month of the first chemo cycle. We are so thankful!
He is Manila and will stay there with his mother for the foreseeable future, to continue with his chemo cycles for the tumors in his other eye.
Please keep praying for him and his family, pray for healing, life, salvation.
Please continue to pray for our team in the Philippines, as they continue the ministry in our absence.
After several weeks of being with just family, and trying to rest and acclimate ourselves, we are now beginning to set up meetings and speaking engagements at local churches. We look forward to connecting with many of you, worshiping, fellowshipping together, and sharing how God is moving in the Philippines.
We're hungry to worship together!
Please get in touch if you would like us to come share with your church.
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