Droplets of Grace

Going into missionary training and moving across the country while expecting a baby does not seem like the most logical decision. Many people suggested to John and me that we would postpone starting our training at the MTC until next January so that we could have the baby in Spokane where we would be close to family and friends.  John and I still felt very much called to start our training in August, so we packed our bags and prayed for GOD’S PROVISION.

And He certainly has provided.

More than we could have imagined.

I cannot help but share some of those provisions that we are so overwhelmed and thankful for, as the blessings — little droplets of God’s amazing grace — just keep on knocking on our door (quite literally)!

1. WORDS, WORDS, WORDS

John’s family gave us a wonderful parting gift: a big envelope stuffed with little envelopes that all have dates on them (up to next June!). So each month, we get to open a bunch of letters from different members of the family. It’s been so fun to open them and also to see how wonderfully God works through them. Here are some examples:

Two of my sisters-in-law put the same exact Bible verse (Psalm 32:8) on separate cards that we opened on consecutive days! What are the chances of that?!? God really wanted us to remember that verse :). So encouraging!

On a day when Judah was being very, very difficult and we were so discouraged and at loss about how to discipline him, here’s what the card for that very same day read:

Here’s what my brother-in-law Zach wrote to us on the card he labeled with “September 30, 2013”, which ended up being Elias’s birth date! “The name of the LORD is a strong tower…” and on the back, he said, “Give me a call today!” 🙂

And we sure did call him :)!

And many more notes of love and encouragement from family members:

2. BABY, BABY, BABY 🙂

We have been so overwhelmed by the support we have gotten from the MTC community. We’ve only met all of our fellow students and neighbors a couple of months ago, but that surely did not keep them from supporting us in so many ways before, during, and after we had Elias.

– Our neighbors, Aaron and Jill, were more than willing to add Judah to their crowd of 3 kids and watch him while I was in labor. They fed him, changed him, played with him, put him to bed, and loved him. Aaron even slept on our living room floor until we got home around 1:30 AM! Judah LOVES the whole family, and I was at ease knowing that he is taken care of and happy 🙂

– Our small group ladies threw me a baby shower a week before Elias was born. How sweet is that?!? Lots of snacks, games, presents, and laughter.

– Baby gifts! Wow! We’ve gotten clothes, diapers, wipes, a crocheted hat, blankets (the day after I thought ” I could use some more receiving blankets”), baby bath stuff (including Desitin the same day that we ran out!), toys for Judah, picture frames, a play mat, a diaper pail, gift cards (including from a couple from church we only talked to maybe once or twice), and cards and gifts from “back home” in Spokane!  So generous!

– Yesterday was the first time in over 3 weeks that I actually cooked! We had lots of people bring us meals right after Elias was born, and then Oma from Germany came and did all the cooking and cleaning for us for 2 weeks. We’ve had neighbors knock on our door one night and bring us the best chocolate chip cookies ever; we’ve had other neighbors borrow a pie dish from us only to return it to us later that night filled with a delicious quiche…can’t even express how thankful I’ve been.

God has provided in ways we didn’t expect throughout our journey as missionaries-in-training, and we have been so blessed by it!