“YOU see me when I travel and when I rest at home. YOU know everything I do….If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me.” Ps. 139:3,9,10
We love these verses that remind us of God’s constant companionship and care. Some of our friends have asked us if it is hard to “fit back into” life in America when we are on furlough. I don’t really think it’s hard, just different! Here are a few pictures to show the two worlds that we find ourselves in. As our time here in America is beginning to wind down, we find ourselves so thankful for the Godly friends we’ve rubbed shoulders with; they’ve spurred us on and reminded us what an amazing God we serve here and around the world.
Ashley and Mariah have really enjoyed being back here with friends and family as well; we are thankful for resilient daughters who seem to enjoy adventure and challenges. Their friends graciously nominated them as princesses at the homecoming games. Quite a difference between painting their faces with ogipiya seeds in Moi and dressing up for homecoming in Ohio.
Food! That’s a biggie. I can’t say as we really miss mbai (red stuff in picture) but I do know we’ve loved eating American pizza, Subway, fruit, chips, etc, etc. Hmmm, hope we don’t roll off the plane when we go back to Indonesia in January.
Teaching the Moi and speaking in the USA….now that’s quite different too. Although very different settings, Stephen is thankful for the opportunities God has given to share in churches and chapels what God is doing in Moi and in our hearts. God continues to build His church here in America, and we’ve been excited to see what He has been doing. We serve an amazing God!
I have thoroughly enjoyed my time with friends and family! I feel so blessed to have them in my life. I want time to slow down so that I don’t have to say good bye so quickly. At the same time, I look forward to seeing my buds like Mbaigoa, Timii, and Boambi and catching up with what God is doing in their lives.
Please be praying for the new believers in Moi, our coworkers the Brown). News flash: the Wano people(another tribe in Papua) hear the Gospel for the first time this month! Again, God is at work all around the world. Thank you so much for standing behind us.
Love, Stephen, Carolyn, Ashley, and Mariah
PS. We have enjoyed reading through the booklet “You know you’re an MK (missionary kid) when….” I often hear Ashley and Mariah chuckling over different statements like, “You know you’re an MK when you are more lost in Super Walmart than at an international airport in a 3rd world country.” So true!
