Celebrating 35 Years in Missions

Photo by Jeff Westcott Photography

 

2017 Blessings

We are counting our blessings as we finish this year!

We thought our friendship and life memories basket was already full after our travels and sweet times with friends in the US and overseas in the past few months. But now it is truly overflowing after November!

First to Budapest, Hungary, with our Proclaim community. Always an exciting time together as we hear story after story of new breakthroughs beyond our expectations. Stunned at God’s power and faithfulness on display and our privilege to be part of it. We go away energized for what  is ahead in the coming year.

Then we had the joy of making a stop in Belgium on the way home to reconnect more than 30 years after our time at the Belgian Bible Institute — our first missions assignment in the mid 1980s.

It all started with a class pic that was posted on Facebook and the realization that several students and staff we were close to were still in the area. It really completed the nostalgia fest that God has had us on the last half of this year. What a gift!

Here with the Mas Brothers -- students from Zaire, and now pastors in Belgium. So many memories from BBI plus a Proclaim tour together in the 1990s featuring their music in Poland. 

Thanksgiving dinner of Swedish meatballs at Ikea in Brussels with Mirella and two of her kids Sara and David. We stayed at their house and Mirella was the "hostess with the mostest" taking care of us and organizaing the social events.

Three hours at Pizza Hut buffet was not enough time to catch up with dear friends and music colleagues Jean-Claude and Miriam and another special student Arianne.

And we are glad for progress toward ending the year in the black financially. With all our traveling this year, a few months ago we had a projected shortage of $8000. Now that is down to $4800 still needed. We are grateful for the extra donations and new and increased monthly support, as well as additional prayer support. We so appreciate all who have encouraged us in many ways!