Lessons Along the Way

We obviously answered "yes" to the question of trusting God in this new adventure. I started this blog as soon as we arrived in Ecuador and as I go back and read my entries, over and over I am reminded of how faithful God has been and continues to be on our behalf. The road at times has been very difficult, I can testify though, it is always better to surrender sooner than later. Perhaps these two stories can help you glimpse part of what God has been teaching us as a result of living in Calacali.

We had a family team that came and requested an Ecuadorian family join them and be a part of their team. Juan Carlos knew of a Pastor who was having a hard time and could use a time of encouragement. The pastor and his family of five, spent the time here at El Refugio working along side the team and with Howard. At the end of the time the pastor told Juan Carlos that he wanted to support "Howie" and his family, would it be OK if they gave us some milk. I can't even begin to explain the impact this had on Howard and I. We understood, in order for this family to support us with milk, meant when they did, their family went without. To say we were humbled is an understatement.

Recently Pedro showed up early one morning to give our family a chicken. I put it in the refrigerator but I told Howard I was a little nervous to eat it, not know when it was killed and if it had sat out all night. Just the day before it had been happily pecking away on the road outside his house. We decided to cook the bird and ended up having a wonderful dinner. The next time we saw Pedro we thanked him, he was so happy to be able to do this one thing for us. Again, please understand, the night we had chicken, Pedro's family did not.

This last summer I was in the states for my annual physical. The doctor was interested in my "story" and so in about five minutes tried to summarize why we had become missionaries. She listened very attentively and then asked what was next. Next? I am still trying to come to terms with the lessons from now, how can I think about next? And I told her, the single biggest challenge I face every time I am back with my family and friends is what to do with those lessons God has been teaching me. How do I integrate my life here in Ecuador with the one there. Or quite possibly, those lessons are just for me, to draw me ever closer to my Savior.

Fall Out

Over the course of the next five years, our family dealt with the fall out from that December day. The surgeon had hoped by leaving my dad's eye in, as it healed my dad would have restored vision. Unfortunately this was not the case, and in fact over time the eye started to abscess and cause my dad tremendous pain. Finally the decision was made to remove my dad's eye because it became apparent his vision would never be restored. As a kid I remember traveling to San Fransisco for the surgery and being apart of the process where they literally painted a new eye for him. I remember my dad waking up and them asking him if he needed any pain medication and my dad saying, "Are you kidding, this is the first time in years I have been pain free!"

That surgery was really the turning point and the catalyst for some major changes. First my dad completed his doctorate and soon after that we sold the Almond Ranch. In between all this my sister, Suzie attended a Billy Graham crusade and committed her life to Christ. Through her testimony I also became a follower of Christ and my parents re-dedicated their faith. We found a good church home and got actively involved. In 1976 my dad accepted a new job, we moved to a new town, and began attending a new school. I was not happy. Most of all I was not happy with God.

Because I lacked any kind of "a life" I started swimming AAU. At one of the practices I met a girl who invited me to her youth group which met at 6:16 (dumb I thought). She persisted and finally one Wednesday I went and continued to go back. Through the young youth pastor I was able to come to terms with the predicament of my life and found freedom to serve Jesus with my mind, soul and strength. Over the next four years I met my future husband, who happened to be the brother of the girl who initially invited me to attend her youth group.

We married, had five brilliant kids, and owned a business. Life had its ups and down but for the most part God was very faithful and very real in both our lives. So why did this absolute dislike of change surface when we decided to head to the mission field? As I write this journey down I realize all the good things that happened, from the accident, the "positive fall out". Through my dad's accident our family became committed Christ followers, score one for the King. Over time though, the enemy marred my perception to only view the "negative fall out." The move, the pain, the times of feeling completely at odds with my family and God.

With this revelation I had some decisions to make. Would I be willing to step out in faith and follow God's leading for this major change for our family and trust the fall out would be to His glory or would I allow a false perception of a past event cause us to miss out on the greatest adventure yet?