Time just keeps on ticking away. It's been quite a bit of time since my last post. We celebrated Thanksgiving with a house full of boys from all over the world! We were able to introduce several of them to an American Thanksgiving. Karl, a boarder from of Estonia, Link from Chinese decent, Horro from Armenia, Toshiki from Japan, Chokchai from Thailand, and one of our new scholarship students from Afghanistan. Mark had to be in the states and Dustin and Ethan really wanted our traditional Thanksgiving meal so we invited some of their friends. During our time of giving thanks, Haroon from Afghanistan shared that he never, ever, imagined that he would have the chance to be in Thailand and in our home for a Thanksgiving celebration when only a few short weeks ago he was trying to survive in a very dangerous Kabul, a place he has seen classmates bombed to death. I'm not sure if he had ever been in a Christian home before and prayed to Jesus Christ? A Thanksgiving like no other.
Before we knew it Christmas time was upon us. We had planned a trip to South Africa for the holidays for several reasons. Our pastor here in Thailand and his family would be on sabbatical at the same time and were willing to be our hosts in Cape Town. Dustin really wanted to return to Johannesburg and introduce us to his host, exchange, family and spend some time with them again. We have a friend from attending church in Thailand that lives in Joberg also. We also were able to reconnect with Pona, a dear, dear, sister in Christ from South Africa. Pona was a gap student at Regent's and helped start our youth group here in Thailand. Finally, Nathan was really keen to meet us in South Africa over his Christmas break. We had a wonderful time.
Before leaving for South Africa, Mark was told of his next assignment. We were quite surprised to hear we would be returning to Baton Rouge, Louisiana!!! I'm still trying to get used to the idea of going 'back' some where. It will be quite different because we will not live out in the Ethel area this time and will most likely live in the city of Baton Rouge itself. I'm still mourning the fact that it is time to leave Thailand but am trusting in Acts 17 where it states that God not only determines the times we live in but the places as well. Trusting that God's timing is perfect and He has planned good works for us there in Louisiana before the beginning of time.
Mark is already on the job there and we will be living apart until Dustin graduates on May 23 and then zoom to Virginia for Nathan's graduation on May 25th. I will make a house-hunting trip the week of March 17th. Mark will spend the long Songkran holiday in April with us here in Thailand. Nathan will spend his Spring Break with Mark in LA. We are hoping that our visits will be help the time pass faster til we are all settled in Baton Rouge.
Before we knew it Christmas time was upon us. We had planned a trip to South Africa for the holidays for several reasons. Our pastor here in Thailand and his family would be on sabbatical at the same time and were willing to be our hosts in Cape Town. Dustin really wanted to return to Johannesburg and introduce us to his host, exchange, family and spend some time with them again. We have a friend from attending church in Thailand that lives in Joberg also. We also were able to reconnect with Pona, a dear, dear, sister in Christ from South Africa. Pona was a gap student at Regent's and helped start our youth group here in Thailand. Finally, Nathan was really keen to meet us in South Africa over his Christmas break. We had a wonderful time.
Before leaving for South Africa, Mark was told of his next assignment. We were quite surprised to hear we would be returning to Baton Rouge, Louisiana!!! I'm still trying to get used to the idea of going 'back' some where. It will be quite different because we will not live out in the Ethel area this time and will most likely live in the city of Baton Rouge itself. I'm still mourning the fact that it is time to leave Thailand but am trusting in Acts 17 where it states that God not only determines the times we live in but the places as well. Trusting that God's timing is perfect and He has planned good works for us there in Louisiana before the beginning of time.
Mark is already on the job there and we will be living apart until Dustin graduates on May 23 and then zoom to Virginia for Nathan's graduation on May 25th. I will make a house-hunting trip the week of March 17th. Mark will spend the long Songkran holiday in April with us here in Thailand. Nathan will spend his Spring Break with Mark in LA. We are hoping that our visits will be help the time pass faster til we are all settled in Baton Rouge.
