Phil. 13- I thank my God every time I remember you.
I know you haven’t heard from me while we have been on home assignment, it was a very busy time with getting everything done that we needed to and I didn’t even know where I was half the time!  But, I did want to share with you the most encouraging part of our home assignment this year and  a few reflections. It seemed as if we said close to the same thing a million times while we were in the States.  You would think it would become rote, or mundane for us.  Not so!  When God gives you a new purpose, vision, and plan, you tell anyone that will listen;  teenagers, children, women, men, if there were interested ears, we were talking about what God is doing in Gembu!

The thing I enjoyed the most during this time was visiting individually with people.  Talking with people that have been and continue praying for us, our staff, as well as the work here in Nigeria.  Visiting with people as they give me baby items, teaching supplies, or hospital supplies.  Telling people the great differences about the area of Nigeria where we live and the world that we came from.  Meeting with supporters who are making baby diapers, knitting hats, or crocheting blankets, or even seeking out thrift store or garage sale finds of baby clothing.  Making plans with Days for Girls helpers, picking up girls kits to distribute to school girls, and receiving wonderful underwear to help with our kits that we make here in Nigeria.  Planning with people making parts for our new baby bags as well as people who have contributed so much time and energy into getting us on the field and keeping us there.

I was just so in awe of the wonderful team that God has provided for us and this ministry.  We have givers, prayers, workers, encouragers, helpers.  I was so touched as I got to know people a little deeper as we got to spend a time with them, I was also touched by the wonderful hospitality we had anywhere we went.  We had friends who opened their homes so that we could visit with more people, we spent a day at a grad party, just visiting with friends old and new about this missionary life, friends that we “live” at when we are visiting the Minneapolis area churches, friends that pick us up and drop us off at the airport and even take care of our vehicle.

I am so glad that God hasn’t put us on this Earth to do this work alone.  Here in Nigeria sometimes it seems like it is just Dan and I as well as our Nigerian Staff.  This Home Assignment showed me, there is so much more to this story and it has encouraged us and will continue to encourage us during this coming year when things seem bleak or lonely.

My point for today is this:  Sometimes we dislike sharing our needs because we think it makes us seem weak, when we do this we miss out on the team God has prepared to help us.  Thanks friends for being on our team!