Heading Home

In a matter of hours we'll be boarding the plane for the long flight that will bring us home to all we know and love in Canada.  Make no mistake, every one of us is very aware of the amazing lives we have and the people we are so grateful to share them with.

Even so, the goodbyes are always hard.  There are people we know and love in Thailand now too, people who know and love us and have invested in us in oh so many ways while we've been here.  That leaves an impact on the soul that is not easily dismissed. 

So we leave little pieces of our heart here, and bring home with us a bucket load of memories and experiences and life-changing soul stuff, hoping that those amazing people with whom we are so grateful to share our lives with can be patient with our processing.

I would officially like to thank this year's Team for being particularly gracious to one another and to our hosts, and for their willingness to go with 'the flow' even when 'the flow' sometimes felt more like a raging rapid run of the unexpected in terms of ministry opportunities.  You were fantastic to travel with, room with, eat with and serve with, even in and maybe especially because of being in a completely different environment than we are all used to, together at Highview. 

Boy, you were once again an above-and-beyond interpreter, becoming more and more part of our Team and part of our hearts.  We will be praying for you as you head to San Francisco next month, to begin the next part of the story God is writing into your life.  Blessings and blessings my dear friend.

Apple, Bao, Bee, Beeyung, Bouy, Boy, Chuenlung, Da, Eg, Entron, Fruk, Kratae, Mee-oo, Miki, Nok Gaew, Nut, Paula, Porn, Rompo, Saiy, Somchai, Thim, Tonkao, Two and Wara.  You have captured my heart.  As long as the Lord gives me strength I will keep coming back, to be here for you, advocate for you, support you and cheer you on.  It is the earnest desire of my being to see every one of you grow to become healthy and strong and happy adults, sharing the love of our Jesus to your people.  Each one of you makes my heart sing.

Suradet and Yupa, there are just no words.  It pains me deeply to leave you, knowing that it will now be six months before I see your faces again, before we can have the across-the-table conversations, the sharing in ministry, the laughing and singing and serving together that has so bonded my heart to yours.  Oh what a plan God had in mind when He arranged all of this!  I just can't believe I get to do with this you.  What a gift you are to my life!

Often it's the pain in life that marks what's most important.  

The painful goodbyes are like that.