Birthday Blessings

(Written from Ruth’s perspective since she is flat out in bed!)

When Laura realized that her birthday would fall during the East Africa Spiritual Life Conference, she wasn’t so thrilled knowing that it probably would draw attention to her and include some fanfare. However, on the dawn of our first full day of the conference (her birthday), as she began to absorb all of the beauty around us which so reminded us of our almost annual beach vacations in the Philippines, and revel in the high humidity which was so familiar (although others found it smothering!), she marveled at God’s special gift of placing her there for her special day. In the afternoon, following the sessions, we headed for the ocean and so enjoyed jumping (and being overcome at times) the waves. That evening, our mission family graciously accommodated her request to keep her birthday from the dining room staff. In the end, the staff celebrated two other birthdays with much fanfare—special costumes, flairs, singing, dancing, clapping, drums, and a birthday cake! (The resort was huge and accommodated many other people besides our mission.) Once the dining room was quiet again, some of the mission family circled our table to sing a simple rendition of the Birthday song—a fitting conclusion to her special birthday.