“If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me.” Psalm 139:9-10

We came back to the US in June for baby leave and furlough. Christina’s pregnancy is going well and we are looking forward to meeting our little one in the next few weeks (Christina is due on Sept 2nd in PNG, Sept 1st in the US).

A Time of Transitions

Many people ask, “what do you do on furlough?” It’s a good question, and one that we can answer in many ways depending on the day. As missionaries, we go through a lot of transition. A. Lot. That’s a lot of packing, a lot of moving, a lot of flying, a lot of tearful goodbyes, a lot of warm hellos, and a lot of timezones. We have packed or unpacked our suitcases almost 30 times since just before we left PNG. We’ve been in PNG, Australia, Hawaii, Washington State, Oregon, Canada, Michigan, and slept in over 10 different places. We’re a bit tired, but God has been with us through it all.

Somebody recently commented how well our kids did on a plane. I said “they’re professional travelers”. :-) Despite being so good at traveling, the transitions do take their toll on us, our marriage, our kids, and our family. In the midst of all of these transitions, we try to stay spiritually, emotionally, and physically healthy as individuals and a family. We try to cherish moments like yesterday morning, where our whole family just played outside and sat on the front steps talking. Or enjoying a sunset together. Even though they may be brief moments, they are special.

Reconnecting with Friends and Family

Living and working overseas has taught us the value of our connections all over the world. Our kids have lots of Aunts and Uncles, Grandpas and Grandmas, friends and cousins. Some are in PNG, some are in the US, and others are scattered throughout the world. They all are an important part of the support network that God has given us. One of the main reasons for furlough is to reconnect with friends, family, and churches in the US. We’ve been able to reconnect with many people in our time so far in the US, and look forward to many more warm hellos.

A God of Many Blessings

God has given us many blessings during our stay in the US so far. Here are a few highlights:

• An enjoyable time at a family reunion in Washington State.
• Visits with missionary friends from Malaysia, the Middle East, and Colorado.
• A chance to visit family in Michigan and go to a family reunion there. The last one we went to was in 2015 before Nathaniel was born! For some family, this was their first time meeting Nathaniel and Julia.
• Water spilled on Christina’s computer, but insurance is covering the purchase of a new one!
• The house we are renting (in Woodland, WA) is within walking distance to our church, and very close to several family members. And friends/family helped move in our things before we arrived!
• Victory over intense spiritual attack while in Michigan through the prayers of family. “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” (James 5:16b)
• Very affordable plane tickets to Michigan, and a generous gift to cover them.
• An affordable and reliable vehicle that will fit our whole family (including baby).

Prayer and Praise

Your prayers for our family and our Wycliffe ministry are crucial, wherever we are in the world. Thank you for lifting us up in prayer!

• Prayer: For Christina, the baby, and the upcoming delivery.
• Praise: For safety as we have traveled and transitioned across the world and across North America.
• Prayer: For emotional, spiritual, and physical health during our furlough.

In Him,

James and Christina