2003 News
01/10/2003
Our
initial support has been raised, we know we are headed to Mercy Ships, what we
don’t know is when. The only
thing we know of that is preventing us from starting our service with Mercy
Ships is the sale of our house. Amazingly, we are really enjoying this time of waiting.
God has provided many opportunities for us to minister right where we
are.
We have had more opportunities than ever before to tell others about how our relationship with Jesus has changed our lives. Even the death of Joyce’s best friend, though difficult, provided Joyce with an opportunity to model God’s unfailing love to her friend’s extended family. God is so good!
Maddison
Grace gave us a great example of how hard it is to let go of what we love.
She found a turtle in our yard the other day and immediately proclaimed
that she loved it. We put it in a
box and told her that she would have to let it go in a couple of days. When the time came to release the turtle back into the
“wilds” of the front yard, it was done with great reluctance and many tears.
Even knowing that it was the best thing for the turtle didn’t make it
any easier.
It is difficult for us to know that we are leaving many dear friends behind as we follow God’s direction. The comfort comes in knowing that God’s way is the best way. It is impossible to go with God and stay where you are. God’s plan is perfect and we are His servants whom He loves and even allows to be a part of His work here on earth. What could be better?
Andy
completed a course that is required for his marine engineering license this
spring. The course called “Basic
Safety Training” was taught at the Maritime Institute of Technology and
Graduate Studies in Baltimore. During
his time there, Andy learned survival techniques, first aid, and shipboard fire
fighting. “The course was
great” commented Andy, “the main thing I learned was that I don’t want to
be a fireman...”
The skills Andy learned in this course could save not only his life, but the lives of those around him should there be a shipboard emergency.
Isn’t it true that all of our lives would go up in smoke if we had no one to save us? Thanks be to God that He reached to us and pulled us from death and brought us into eternal and abundant life in Him!