1.17.11 - Friends and Family
During our extended time back home this year, we've had some wonderful visits with friends and family, and the many dinner conversations, fellowshipping, and other outings made me want to write a short article simply giving thanks for the blessing of our Christian community.
Today we got back from visiting our long-time and dear friends Matt and Sukey Lynskey and their two newly born twins Abigail and Leila. The Lynskeys were our closest friends in seminary and remain dearest to our hearts even though we've been both serving abroad and rarely see one another.
Since the birth of their two girls they've been confined back to the US for medical care for their babies. Just today at a doctor's visit the girls were given a clean bill of heath and were allowed air travel and freed from their O2 tanks. While they'll still be on guard for heart and breathing monitors, they are by the grace of God progressing wonderfully. For this we give thanks.
During our time at Cedarville, we were privileged to reunite with many of our dear friends: Emily's old roommate, my landlord, and many of our professors who have now become supporters and friends. Along with spending quality time with my sister, who now works at CU, we in many ways feel right at home.
Amazingly during our time in Ohio we were privileged to be stateside at the same time as some of our newest friends and missionaries from the island of St. Martin: Kedesh and Stacey Jerome. Nationally from Haiti, they serve as pastor and missionary with a heart to see Christians on St. Martin trained in Bible Study and knowledge of the Word of God.
We thoroughly enjoyed our time with them marveling at how the world has shrunk so that our paths can cross both on and off the field. They are like-minded believers who are skilled in communicating and living out authentic Christianity.
During our time with family in Wisconsin we ran into many friends, however one notable mention is the passing of our longtime supporter and family friend SR Hartline. Even with years of illness we just saw him over Christmas, faithfully at church, and now he is with the Lord.
On the trip back from Wisconsin we stopped over-night at long time friends Mike and Annie Kibbe, who are working on post-graduate work at Wheaton. We had a fantastic time recalling old memories and looking towards future plans, hopefully making the Kibbe-stop an annual visit between Wisconsin and Ohio (so long as they're in Chicago).
Emily spent time with her best friend back in Ohio, and then on our trip to Pennsylvania we got to stop and see one of our dear friends from the island, Leia Suska. She has a missionary heart and she was the biggest encouragement to Emily while she served in Eleuthera.
Finally, I've got to mention the fun we had with the Flunker family bowling and ringing in the new year on New Year's Eve. And the Pfeister Family Nerf Gun Massacre, where everyone equipped with various manual and fully automatic Nerf Guns skillfully and stealthily played round after round until our cheeks and sides hurt from laughter!
There are many others who have impacted our lives not on this list, not the least of which are the many families who have opened their homes to us, fed us, and allow us to use their vehicles.
Jesus says in Matthew 6, "Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Our hearts have been touched through these many memories and relationships - most of which have been a blessing and treasure from the Lord in our service to Him. May He receive all glory and honor in and through our lives, and may the lives which have touched ours receive His eternal life, which is through Jesus Christ our Lord.
