Dear Saints,

It’s our last full day in Bangkok. Mixed emotions have filled our hearts as we say our goodbyes and pack. The parasite, bacterial infection, or whatever it is has finally hit all of us again today. We have a parasite cleanse awaiting us when we arrive in Dallas. Wishing right now that I could take Paul’s advise to Timothy for his ailing stomach in 1 Timothy 5:23, but unfortunately they use ingredients that I am intolerant to in most wine.

Our hearts have been overwhelmed with your support, especially those of Joshua Tree. So many of you have shared our disappointment over the end of our journey here and with the same breath have said that you can’t wait for our arrival home. We have a real peace from the Holy Spirit about coming home. I don’t understand why this journey has come to an abrupt end but I do accept my Father’s leading. As I have thought about all of this I have often been reminded of Paul’s journey through Asia in Acts 16. Even though churches were experiencing strengthening by faith and were growing in numbers daily (verses 1-5) the Holy Spirit forbad them to preach the word in Asia (verse 6). I’m sure that doesn’t sit well with those performance-based evangelist types who believe that you must share the gospel with everyone because you never know if you will see them again. That’s a talk for some other time. They were headed to Bithynia to continue preaching and teaching only the Holy Spirit forbid them to go. I’m sure the words of our Savior rang in their heads, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” I love the fact the Bible does not say that they had done anything wrong or that they were even out of His will. In fact, I believe that they were doing exactly what they were commanded to do until the trump card was played. The Holy Spirits leading proceeded the call to strengthen the church and evangelize in Asia, as well as going to  Bithynia. Paul would later share with us in 2 Corinthians 1:8 about their “affliction which came to” them “in Asia,” and that they “were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life.”

Since being in Asia we have certainly experienced burdens beyond our strength even to the point of wondering if this journey would cost my life due to severe digestive issues and Ethan’s life with Dengue fever. In the last eight years between the four of us we have been to the doctor maybe three or four times. Just days before leaving Dallas Alyssa got strep. Upon getting here Ethan was bitten by something poisonous that had a line running up his leg. Christy had a major sinus infection. Ethan got Dengue fever and we all have had digestive issues. Doctors and hospital visits abounded. Truthfully when I look back I don’t see the mental or the emotional roller coaster, I see Christ. He was with us every step of the way just as He promised to be. What a Savior! This reminds me of my post on July 15 the day we left for Thailand. “We have done all of the necessary preparation. Even so, we do not place our faith in things working out according to plan but instead we place our faith in the Lord Who is with us always!”

Returning to Dallas certainly has a high level of uncertainty to it; in many ways more so then moving to Thailand. We sold or gave away almost everything that we own. Our first priority will be getting back to good health. We will also be praying about what our future looks like. Do we stay in Dallas and continue discipleship? Maybe work for a church? Before we left there was talk about possibly traveling around the US doing discipleship with different churches. Do we step out on this? One things for sure we plan on staying lean for a while as far as owning stuff goes. The Lord knew all of this would happen and yet He allowed us to sell everything anyway. At least until we know what He has in store for us. We will live with friends for a short while. Then maybe sign a short lease 6 months or so while we wait for the Lord’s direction. Of course for now we know that we will be walking right into the glorious hands of the Fellowship of Christ and we look forward to that.

Proverbs 16:3
Commit your works to the Lord and your plans will be established.

We have a friend that is flying into Dallas January 20th to get rid of the last few items he has in storage. He has offered us what little furniture he has. I see Father in all of this as he planned this trip sometime last year. Much of our personal finances where used on the starting a new life here and medical expenses. So we may ask along the way if some of you have extras of some thing that we can borrow until we get back on our feet and/or are sure of Father’s direction for us. We had friends sell our car after we left so letting us borrow a car would be a huge help if anyone feels led.