The Journey Continues

When we first made the decision to leave Lae last August 2008, it was with the hope and intent that we could return in about six months time. We arrived here in Canada just in time to enjoy the last couple weeks of summer; we were privileged to once again experience the vibrancy of a Canadian autumn; and are now in the middle of a cold and snowy winter. With the passing of the seasons marks the end of this six month period.

Today, the 2nd of February, in fact, marks the day we expected to return. Our plan was to fly to Perth, Australia and enjoy three weeks of fellowship with our Mission Board and at least some of the members of the supporting churches there before flying on to Lae in early March. So were our plans, but the Lord’s were different. “Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” His purpose is that we stay for another seven months or so.

This comes with mixed emotions. On the one hand there is an element of sadness in that we long to be back in PNG and become fully engaged once again in the work. Instead, we remain in a curious state of being in ‘limbo’: will I get better? And how long are we to be here? This is a difficult place in which to be. In this state one’s sense of purpose can be put into question. It is said that most men--and women to a lesser degree--are defined by what they do, or don’t do. If that is how we are hardwired, as it were, what happens when you’re not able to do a lot? What happens when you’re not productive? What happens when you see others around you serving with heart and soul as you are forced to rest and watch from afar? The upshot of all of this is that Nadia and I are forced to take careful stock of what God has given us and to find joy in waiting on Him. The school of waiting is an important school to be enrolled in, but the program is never really completed. The heart and mind has to be constantly reminded that the Lord is in control and will give us all that we need in His time.

On the other hand, we live with a measure of expectancy. I mean that in a few ways. First, Nadia is expecting. ‘How is she feeling?’ You ask. Well, she is doing fine in her own tired way as she enters her 14th week of pregnancy. We praise God for this gift of life; and also we thank Him for allowing this pregnancy to confirm to us that we are to stay at least to the beginning of September. The baby is due early August. That’s the first and greatest expectation. We are also prayerfully expecting to fly away after the baby’s VISA is in order and resume our work in Lae in September before our colleagues leave for their much needed furlough in October. We covet your prayers in all of this—the pregnancy, my full recovery and the ability to fly ‘home.’ These great expectations (not to steal from Dickens) are allowing us to keep our sights on what lies ahead with joy and anticipation.

Although great strides have been made in my health there are a few symptoms compounding the chronic fatigue, (continual not debilitating), which need to clear up before I can resume a full workload in Lae. Nadia just read this and said I should share more about my illness—but I am rather ambivalent about sharing the ambiguous. Notwithstanding, I’ve been told more recently that the virus I am dealing with is in my spleen. The effect is that I am dealing with fatigue and have minor issues with my heart and lung. That is, when I am extra tired, most evenings and sometimes during the day, I pick up this uncomfortable (for me and others) breathing problem. That is, I am not able to get a satisfying breath of air—air hunger, they call it. This sometimes turns into sharp chest pain, but not always. The tests do not show any structural issues with these organs or blockages in the arteries etc, and for this we are very thankful. But here’s my guess—it’s the virus. It is a curious virus at best and my job is to keep the viral load that it produces down, somehow. Our prayer is, however, that God will remove this virus completely! And further, it is our humble prayer that God will allow us to go back to the work and life we dearly love and miss after another two seasons-—spring and summer—-pass.

Before signing off, we'll share a few photos...

Uncle Joel visits from Holland over Christmas.


Our little pink astronaut braves the cold.


Dinner out with the Wildeboers to celebrate Ian's 35th and his father's 65th.


Fun with Nana in the snow.


As faithfully as He makes the sun rise and set, so does He care for us.