BACK IN THE USA!

It’s hard for me to believe that it has been six weeks since my last entry. It is now Jan. 15 and we have been back in the U.S. since Friday, Jan. 11 (very late, after a 30+ hour journey from Tanzania). We are trying to get settled in but everything is so different from the life we have lived for the last seven months in East Africa, where almost every waking hour had some connection with the ministry of Here’s Life Mission to Africa. It is impossible to explain all the emotions that we feel. We have to just turn our whole being over to the Lord and let Him give us the “peace that passes all understanding”. Since last May, we have spent time with: a medical mission, staff conferences, pastor’s conferences, staff training, “Real Faith” studies, visits with teams (in Tanzania, Uganda, Sudan, and Congo), visits to new churches planted by teams, evangelism in our neighborhood, showing the “Jesus Film” in our home, having meals with local pastors and neighbors (in our home), helping disciple new Christians, speaking at many churches (as assigned by the Here’s Life director), and even trying to help with administrative tasks (while coping with power outages and sporadic e-mail, and lost work). We are so grateful for the patience and mentoring by so many connected with "Here’s Life" during our seven months learning process.

We feel that God is leading us to return to our “home” in Arusha, Tanzania in March. We ask for prayers from all of you that we will remain focused on Christ and His will in our lives as we spend the next several weeks visiting with family and friends, some at great distances from Alvord, TX. Also, please pray that we will be good stewards of the time, resources, and finances that God provides for us. We can never say thank you enough times to really say how much we are grateful for what so many have done to be a part of what God has had us doing. Your prayers, e-mails, and all types of support are precious gifts; and you are a big part of ” Here’s Life” in East Africa.