Since that time, however, my mother has made remarkable improvement. The treatments she is receiving for Multiple Myeloma are proving to be very effective. She is now walking on her own without a walker or even a cane. She is driving herself to social events, and this past weekend she was outside for a number of hours working in her garden. This is all an answer to prayer.
So we have purchased our tickets to return to Papua New Guinea on January 4. Months ago we had initially been hoping to return this month (July). But when my mother got sick, everything was put on hold. Now it is not feasible for us to switch gears and return in just a few short weeks. (Asher's school in PNG would have started on July 21.) We don't want to pull Asher out of school mid-semester this fall, and we also want to confirm that my mother continues getting better in the coming months. So I will continue working from home until January 4, and then we will return to Papua New Guinea. Praise the Lord for answered prayer!
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| Longing for our home in Ukarumpa, Papua New Guinea |
Lessons Learned
When I spoke at Taylor University's chapel in April, I told the students that trusting in God never seems to get easier. No matter how many times God comes through for us and proves himself faithful, we stubborn humans are still so prone to worry and doubt. The past year has been full of unknowns. Will Asher's school in Papua New Guinea have enough teachers to continue operating? Will Jacob and Bella get the financial aid they need for college? Will we be able to pay for college? Will people understand our situation and continue supporting us as we wait to return to PNG? Will my mother get better so that we can return? If she doesn't get better, what will Martha and I do? Where will we find jobs? Will we make enough money to survive? If we do go back to Papua New Guinea, will Jacob and Bella be okay? Will my mother be okay? The past year has been full of unknowns and uncertainties. And I know that we are not unique. You have worries and uncertainties too.
Last fall, as I hit rock bottom worrying about things, particularly paying for Jacob and Bella's college in light of rule changes to the FAFSA that could have a very negative impact on us, I checked my email. There was a message saying that we received a $10,000 donation out of the blue from people we hadn't seen or talked to in about fifteen years. I could almost feel God smiling down on me, saying, “O you of little faith, why do you doubt?” While it is easy to look back on all the times God has been faithful, it is so hard to believe that He will do it again. But this year God has been teaching me to continue trusting in Him and believing that He has a plan for my life, even if I can't see what the future holds. He simply calls me to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness while letting Him take care of the rest. Thank you, Lord, for your patience and faithfulness!
When I spoke at Taylor University's chapel in April, I told the students that trusting in God never seems to get easier. No matter how many times God comes through for us and proves himself faithful, we stubborn humans are still so prone to worry and doubt. The past year has been full of unknowns. Will Asher's school in Papua New Guinea have enough teachers to continue operating? Will Jacob and Bella get the financial aid they need for college? Will we be able to pay for college? Will people understand our situation and continue supporting us as we wait to return to PNG? Will my mother get better so that we can return? If she doesn't get better, what will Martha and I do? Where will we find jobs? Will we make enough money to survive? If we do go back to Papua New Guinea, will Jacob and Bella be okay? Will my mother be okay? The past year has been full of unknowns and uncertainties. And I know that we are not unique. You have worries and uncertainties too.
Last fall, as I hit rock bottom worrying about things, particularly paying for Jacob and Bella's college in light of rule changes to the FAFSA that could have a very negative impact on us, I checked my email. There was a message saying that we received a $10,000 donation out of the blue from people we hadn't seen or talked to in about fifteen years. I could almost feel God smiling down on me, saying, “O you of little faith, why do you doubt?” While it is easy to look back on all the times God has been faithful, it is so hard to believe that He will do it again. But this year God has been teaching me to continue trusting in Him and believing that He has a plan for my life, even if I can't see what the future holds. He simply calls me to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness while letting Him take care of the rest. Thank you, Lord, for your patience and faithfulness!
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| Our new driver |
Asher got his driver's license
After finishing six months and 65 hours of practice driving, Asher took his driver's test on May 7 and passed! That day, the two drivers before him and the one after him all failed, so we are thankful that Asher was able to pass. Asher is now looking forward to driving our 1989 Toyota Hilux in Papua New Guinea. Of course, this will be a whole new learning curve as he drives a manual transmission truck without power steering on bumpy dirt roads. But if he can handle driving the PA Turnpike, driving in PNG shouldn't be a problem.
After finishing six months and 65 hours of practice driving, Asher took his driver's test on May 7 and passed! That day, the two drivers before him and the one after him all failed, so we are thankful that Asher was able to pass. Asher is now looking forward to driving our 1989 Toyota Hilux in Papua New Guinea. Of course, this will be a whole new learning curve as he drives a manual transmission truck without power steering on bumpy dirt roads. But if he can handle driving the PA Turnpike, driving in PNG shouldn't be a problem.
