The Back Story:
My late husband Matt and I served 18 years with NTM (now Ethnos360) in South America. For the majority of those years we lived in a remote jungle village. We had the joy to see first-hand how the truths of God’s Word cross cultural barriers and transform lives.
Never dreaming that God would move us out of NTM, when the unexpected came, we accepted it. When God led us to work with the migrant Hispanic population in central New York, we went. When God presented an opportunity for Matt to pastor a small local church while continuing the ministry with the Hispanics, we embraced it.
Then in December of 2010, God took us down a new path. Matt was diagnosed with stage IV pancreatic cancer and given two to six months to live. Of course, a prognosis is man’s best guess and is not synonymous with God’s will. In this case, the prognosis was far from reality. A two-year journey with cancer began, during which time God allowed Matt to be there for many special moments in the lives of our four sons.
During our journey with cancer we faced hardships and an unknown future, but we had God and each other, and that was enough. Still, there were those more distant unknowns, the after-Matt unknowns. Those unknowns could give cause to fret, which is why I think God gave me this verse.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord,
“plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
~ Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)
It was like God was reassuring me that He had a plan for me — even an after-Matt plan. He was reassuring me that He had a hope for me — even an after-Matt hope.
And then I reached that place. I reached the after-Matt place.
Matt and I had many discussions of what my future would hold.The discussions would invariably end on my re-joining NTM — and seeking to join the NTM Communications team in particular. Missions was where I was before I met Matt. Missions is where my heart remains.
The Right Now:
After Matt’s passing, God opened the doors for me to join NTM’s Communications team. Since joining the team in April of 2014, God has made it clear that He has an after-Matt plan for me. There have been changes in responsibilities as the years have passed by, and God had stretched me and kept me dependent on Him each step of the way. Missions, communicating and writing — what a wonderful blend of ministry and what I love. What an amazing God we serve!
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