February 24, 2007

• Seems like I keep reading the same thing from many of you who normally check in through their xanga site ... "It's been a while since I've written here".  So here I am, after a long absence, apparently joining those who seem to be living a rather, um ... constant ... life.

  Our life has indeed been constant since our return from Estonia. It's been a great constant though.We are slowly getting settled into our new home and hope to soon make it our 'mission center' once again. We've been blessed with family, fellowship, service, ministry and an overflow of God's love through the many we are with each day. We continue to see the 'shapes and sizes of God's comfort' every where we turn and our hearts overflow with gratefulness for those blessings.

  In the two years that we were privileged to serve in Estonia, we were blessed to truly embrace many of the wonderful people who made up our tiny church. Many of the young people there became like our own children. We loved them, hugged them, taught them, (and occasionally scolded them) as if they were indeed our own. They were ... and are ... precious to our hearts.

  One of those precious treasures is Pille. Pille was my language teacher (bless her heart), my translator, my 'right-hand man', my confidant ... and my sweet friend. She has indeed been like a daughter to me. The most difficult part of being a parent, is watching your children suffer with illnesses and difficulties that you can't change or fix. That was the case for our Pille. Pille is 26 years old and in the course of our time in Estonia, we watched her suffer greatly with her health. She suffered from a heart condition when we she was a young teenager and has dealt with many symptoms since that time that could not be resolved. We have cried out many times to God for her relief and for her healing.

  By God's grace and the generosity of brethren in the States, Pille has been able to travel to the U.S. to see a Godly, Christian Cardiologist and prayerfully, find some answers to her difficulties. Pille arrived in Dallas on February 11. Since that time, we've had fun introducing her to some very important American traditions and experiences ... important things like Wal-Mart/ Hobby Lobby/Mardel shopping, Starbuck's coffee, Fried Catfish and Hushpuppies, Funnel Cakes, Grump's Hamburgers (some say they are the best in the US) ... oh, and Pop-Rocks. =0) Funny how so many things we do revolve around food!

  Pille and I are now in Alabama where she has been consulting with her dr. She's had a gamut of tests run and now we are waiting for results. We've also had the pleasure of spending some wonderful fellowship with many of the folks that came to Estonia last summer to help with camp. That's been an extra special blessing along the way. We'll see the dr. again on Thursday and pray that we will have a better idea of what the course of action for Pille will be at that time. If she's able, we'll return to Granbury on the 3rd of March.

  Your continued prayers are appreciated.

  Please continue praying for our sweet church in Estonia. They are struggling with discouragement and loneliness since we've left. Please pray hedges of protection around their precious souls, that their faith will stay strong in the midst of the valley they feel they are in.

  Please also continue praying for our family. Several of us will meet with Dustin's commander and his friends who were with him during his accident, from the 4th - 6th of March. We know that it will be a bittersweet experience. After that, we head to Lubbock for Jared's graduation from AIM (Adventures in Missions) on the 10th. We're so proud of him!

  I'm afraid that our life is threatening to stay 'constant' for quite a while but that's okay. We are taking each day one step at a time, and we know that God's arms are firmly around us as we go.

  God Bless!

  • 12:08 pm
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