Greetings from Dallas, Texas!
Our minds are sort of reeling as we look back in the not-too-distant past, the quickly-moving present, and the even more quickly-approaching future.
Since we last crossed over the Pacific to the USA back in October, so much has transpired…the loss of Chad’s Grandpa Chuck Mankins and niece Ellie Skees… the birth and adoption of our son Zeke…great times with family and friends..sweet fellowship with many of you friends from the churches who partner with us in the Tobo ministry…concern and then relief as Chad’s Grandpa Jim VanDelinder underwent surgery for colon cancer and then came through with flying colors and a clean bill of health pending regular future checkups…sadness that we missed so many of you in this last half-year…sadness as we depart loved ones…exhaustion as we burn both ends of the candle to wrap up loose ends before leaving…and finally anticipation of our next term in Papua New Guinea, and the feeling of unsettledness that lies over us as we are waiting in these last few days for word on whether or not the paperwork will make it in time for us to leave by Thursday (yes, that’s the day after tomorrow!!) or if we must change our tickets for another day in the near future.
Please pray for us in these next few days. Pray that the entry permits will get into the passports for Janeene and Zeke (they were processed together since Janeene’s had expired after we came back here) and that those important documents will make it here by tomorrow or Thursday so that we can make the evening flight. Pray for improved health, as Janeene has been battling a bug that popped up just over a week ago, and for stamina as we make the final “push”. Pray also for patience and that we would rest in God as we wait and even (might I say especially) in the event that we must change the tickets and re-juggle plans and grapple with more “logistic gymnastics”.
Please pray for our partners the Knapps, who will be leaving for their home assignment and will just miss us by a few days (as it stands currently), and for our partners the Williamsons, who will be awaiting us in the village along with our Tobo friends. Pray too for the Tobo church as they have been and will continue to be taking steps toward maturity. Pray that God will prepare hearts, ours and theirs, as we partner together with the young body of Christ in Toboland toward mutual growth, spiritual maturity, and that many more will come to know our Lord Jesus Christ.
Thanks again for your partnership with us. We thank God for you!
Chad, Janeene, Elijah, & Zeke
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