Our three month home-assignment has come and gone and we can honestly say that this has been an answer to prayer on so many fronts. During this time we reconnected with friends and family from coast to coast, visited with six differenct churches, had some much needed medical & dental work taken care of, recieved some very challenging training as it pertains to providing church planting support, etc… We’ve said it before but we’ll say it again; “We are extremely blessed by the support we have received from the first day we arrived until the day we returned to the Philippines. Thanks to all of you who have blessed us in so many ways. Unfortunately our time was short and we didn’t get to see everyone but know that you are appreciated for your prayers, for your giving, and for your overall encouragement towards the work we are called to.”
One of the greatest answers to prayer during this home-assignment was the opportunity to spend time with our dear friend Rosemond Smith. She and her late husband Hobert (aka Smitty Sr.) were not only strong supporters but they along with four other couples stood as second parents to us when we were married in 1995. During our last term in the Philippines Rosemond would call us once every two weeks to see how we were doing. This past January the calls stopped coming and when we found out via her daughter that Rosemond’s health was deteriorating, our prayer was that we could spend some time with her before she passed away. The Lord answered that prayer as we had three great visits with her shortly after our arrival in early July. We had plans to spend time with her again following our one month road trip but to our dismay but to her gain, she entered into glory with our Father in heaven just one week before our return. During one of our three visits I told her to get well so we could visit the church she previously attended. In a weakened and raspy voice along with a slight smile on her face she tried to sit up some as she said, “Let’s go then.” She never did make it back to church but she went somewhere much better. We praise God for Rosemond and so many other’s like her but most of all for our savior who makes our eternity secure.
Isaiah 57:2 “Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest as they lie in death.” (NIV)
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