Heading Out

      "You gave abundant showers, O God; you refreshed your weary inheritance."  Ps 68: 9

In a few short hours we fly back to Mali. I am excited to go home (and be done with packing!).

Psalm 68:9 sums up this furlough for me. We were weary, even more than I knew or allowed myself to believe, but God has poured out his blessings and refreshment on us.

It's like the start of fall when you walk outside and see the bright blue skies and feel the crispness in the air. That feeling you get of perfection and that all is right in the world because it is just SO nice, that's how it's been for us. On those days where the air is just perfect, like yesterday here in Raleigh, it is as though the Lord is pouring forth his love for me and I just want to burst with thankfulness. That has been this time in the States.

One of the first days we were here there was a women's meeting and the women gathered around me and prayed. And not just little prayers- they PRAYED with tears and belief that God would work. Several times throughout our time people have gathered around us to pray. Sunday night the church gathered around us and prayed once again. As I sat there, humbled again to be loved in such a way that a group would put their hands on us and pray, I thought about how fitting it was as this time has been bathed in prayer from beginning to end. The church has taken our family in, prayed for us and loved us. Not just on the basic, easy level, but in the deep, ugly parts as well. They truly have been the hands and feet of God to us. I cannot put into words how thankful and blessed we feel to have been in this church family.

We have been loved on by so many people so many times. To all who have reached out to us, thank you. Thank you. For those whose kids have been friends to my children, thank you. For those who have taught them in Sunday School and Children's church, thank you. To those who have babysat, provided meals, hugs and laughs, thank you. Thank you.

We came to the US terribly weary but the Lord has poured out his abundant showers on us again and again. We are refreshed as we head back. Praise be to the Lord!