Traveling . . .

I am still trying to avoid use of the word “leaving.”  It is getting harder, though, as we are traveling more.  We are getting more adept with phrases such as, “We are going…”, and “We will travel to…”  Somehow it helps J  Funny how we are….

We enjoy talking about “coming.”  Yesterday Chris came home from university.  He is working on settling in here for the summer.  It is our delight to have him around!  He begins his summer job on the campus of George Fox University bright and early Monday morning.

Tomorrow Jeff and I will board a plane and fly to Indiana.  It will be great to see our “Indiana kids,” the Brambles, as they meet us at the airport.  We will have supper together before Jeff and I drive to Monon, IN.  We are excited to share with a congregation there about what God is doing in our lives and in Africa! 

Monday through Friday Jeff and I will attend our first training-of-trainers in Community Health Empowerment (CHE) in Indianapolis, IN.  We are really looking forward to this!  If you are interested in reading more about CHE check out the following URL:  www.cheuganda.org.

Saturday we will attend our daughter’s graduation from Ball State University in Muncie, IN! 

We have a busy week ahead.  We are grateful many have committed to uphold us in prayer.  Please find below some specific requests for prayer through this next week:

• praise for Chris’ successful completion of his first year at George Fox University; he feels       good about his year of transition socially, academically, and spiritually
• for Chris to have a good start to his summer work
• safety in travel for Jeff and I
• good health for Jeff and I
• that we might be a blessing as we share with the congregation in Monon, IN
• for our learning and processing all the information given in our CHE training; clarity in thinking, adequate energy throughout the week, learning in such a way as to be able to apply it when we train others in Uganda
• for Lizz Bramble during her finals and then graduation 

Thank you so much!  Be sure to let us know how we can uphold you in prayer.  We are blessed to be on the same team with you.

Christine, for us all

It's the leaving . . .

I awakened with the dawning realization it really is the leaving. I don’t like leaving. It just keeps getting harder and harder. Since Linda left us behind in her recent leaving, I don’t even like the word!  We need to be thinking of our leaving for Uganda in August, but I just can’t right now. It is far too painful, too much to bear.  It really is the leaving. 

Yet in this Holy Week I ponder again that Jesus Christ chose to drink the cup that had my name on it.  He picked it right up and entered into all it contained, including the leaving. Jesus suffered the leaving of God, suffered that absolute separation from the One he most loved. Jesus entered into that leaving, suffered that God-forsaken time and place. That is what Jesus dreaded most when he considered the possibility of letting the cup pass.  It really is the leaving. And he did it for me.

 

Oh thank you, thank you, thank you Jesus!  I can endure all other leavings save for God.  Thank you for taking my cup, drinking my leaving, so I never have to. Through Christ I can bear my leavings for I have a sure knowing that you will never leave me, will never forsake me.

It really is the leaving.  I know that now. And I don’t have to.  I needn’t worry.  He already did it.

Christine