This past Sunday, October 3rd, was a momentous day for our family as we were commissioned and officially sent off by our home church, Cascades Baptist. Our pastors, missions team, family and many church friends had so many kind words of encouragement and pledges to stand behind us in this new ministry endeavor. We appreciate each relationship that the Lord has given us from this body of believers, and not from this church only. The Lord has given us precious relationships with 7 other churches that have expressed their care and concern for us too. It has just been overwhelming and we are filled with gratitude.
The following day we made our final preparations and were headed out just before supper. Our final goodbyes to family were filled with tears; appropriately so! The Gospel is truly the only adequate reason for this kind of separation. Continue to pray for the Hattons and the Cusimanos as we all look to the Lord for His grace in this trial. The first leg of our trip went well. We arrived in Benjamin’s homeland happy to be there but wondering how in the world we were going to physically move all 16 of our cases by ourselves. It was pretty hillarious watching Benjamin pull suitcase after suitcase off the carousel. One of our fellow travelers asked if we were trying to “travel light?” I think he was being sarcastic!
We have really enjoyed the few days we have spent with Benjamin’s family already. It has been very good to take our trip to the other side of the globe one leg at a time. As we continue to rest up and adjust to a new time zone can you pray that we would stay healthy? A few of us are fighting off the flu. We will be enjoying time with grandparents, great grandparents and all Benjamin’s aunts and uncles; not to mention all of the sights, sounds and treats that come with life in Northern Ireland. It’s tough having family spread out all over the world, but at times, it certainly has its perks! This next week is definitely one of them. As we are able, we will update you with emails and more photos so that you can keep us in your thoughts and prayers. We appreciate you all so much.
Benjamin and Missy