Those Special Hugs…from God and from His People

Earlier this week, we received communication from our Mission that the immediate supervisor of the cluster of missionaries we are a part of…since we don’t easily “fit” any group (since SEND does not work in Africa) SEND have kept us with the Southeast Asian group…had asked to be released of those responsibilities. He and his wife, now living in Thailand, wanted to concentrate more on the fast-growing ministry among an unreached people group there which they now lead. Upon reading that email, I certainly understood why they were asking for that change and just wanted to write and thank them for the many ways they have encouraged us over the last number of years, especially since our move to Uganda. We worked with them in the Philippines for a number of years and grew to deeply appreciate them as a couple…and admired them as they transferred to Czechoslovakia to begin a new SEND ministry, then spent time in Canada pastoring a church, and then transferred to yet another culture and language, Thailand…all happening as his dear wife was struggling with cancer. (Good news is that she is doing much better now!) We don’t know their replacement…but we trust SEND fully that he is another faithful servant-hearted leader.
 

What a special surprise to get a return email the next day saying “No, we fought hard to keep you as the one exception—we are still your liaison to SEND.” Because of our personal long-time relationship and because we are into our final term as SEND missionaries, they didn’t want to break that connection. Wow, talk about feeling loved…by God and by this couple. “Thank you Lord, and please richly bless them for their kindness!”