We knew when we made the decision to become full-time missionaries that there would be sacrifices, some easy and others hard. We counted the costs and knew that we could lose our lives, lose our children, we would lose precious time and memories with our families, etc. but we also knew that following the Lord's calling in our lives was worth all the risks. Over the past year, there have been mountaintops and valleys in our mission work. This journey has not always led us where we thought we were going and outcomes weren't always what we anticipated or expected but there have been blessings amidst the curves life can throw us. There is no way to tell what's coming around the corner so you simply move forward in full faith trusting God for whatever lies ahead. God has been SO faithful to us and He has revealed Himself to us so clearly over the past year. The God that you read about in the Bible (the healer, the comforter, the faithful one, the sustainer, the omnipresent, etc.) is still the same God today! So it is with excitement and anticipation, that we look forward to 2016.
One song has really spoke to us the past few months as we think about what all the Lord has done and allowed us to do in 2015. It is the song "Never Once" by Matt Redman and the words say:
Standing on this mountaintop, look at just how far we've come
knowing that for every step, you were with us
kneeling on this battleground, seeing just how much you've done
knowing every victory, was your power in us
scars and struggles on our way, but with joy our hearts can say
yes, our hearts can say...
Never once did we ever walk alone
never once did you leave us on our own
you are faithful, God you are faithful
Kneeling on this battleground, seeing just how much you've done
knowing every victory was your power in us
scars and struggles on our way, but with joy our hearts can say
yes, our hearts can say...
Never once did we ever walk alone
never once did you leave us on our own
you are faithful, God you are faithful.
We want to say a huge "THANK YOU" to each of you who so faithfully keep us lifted up in prayers each day too. Prayer is one of our most important weapons against Satan and we covet your prayers for our mission work, our ministries, our outreach to the people here, and for our family. To those of you who are "holding the rope" financially, THANK YOU because we couldn't be here doing what the Lord has called us to do without our financial ministry partners. We pray that 2016 will be a blessed year for you and your family too. We look forward to continuing to serve the Lord in 2016 and appreciate each of you who make it possible for us to be here. To God be the glory!
