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Bitter-sweet!

This is Paul here writing this morning. I write with mixed emotions as we continue on towards returning to the Philippines. This period stretching several weeks has had some really hard times for us as a family and I wanted to share some of what we have been going through with you.

We have had to leave our home, our friends and family once again in Australia and leave again on another mission. This time Debbie’s Dad is sick with cancer and we don’t know when we’ll see him again. We struggled when it came close to purchasing our tickets to leave a few months ago, until the Lord used Debbie’s uncle to encourage us – He said – “Paul and Deb – you just have to leave and trust the Lord and if and when you have to, you can return to Australia to do what you need to do”. So we booked our tickets and we arrived in snowy Jackson, Michigan USA on December 30^th to settle Jubab into the New Tribes Bible Institute here.

We had some beautiful times with Deb’s family over Christmas and during the 3 years we were basing out of Australia. So, so many precious times with Deb’s mum and Dad and family and my family as well. Jubab completed his year 12 in Australia and got all A’s in his final results which did us proud as a family. A good proudness J of our son.

A real hard thing for me and for Deb and Jubab too was leaving our dog Riley. When we used to get home in Ballina he would jump up on my chest with 2 feet and dig me on the chest about 4 times to say hi. We love him greatly and for a few days after we left him I woke in the night sobbing and Debbie and Jubab would comfort me. Funny thing -- people have put guns on me and threatened me at times with death but they were not comparable with leaving Riley. Must be something about our family and our dogs J. Anyway the Lord provided a family to take Riley and they flew him to Tasmania. Mark is a forest ranger and he takes Riley for an hour’s walk each morning and afternoon and Riley is doing great. Here is a picture of him on one of his walks with Mark. Funny how things like this effect a person. God said we are fearfully and wonderfully made, and also that we are dust.

So it has been hard leaving our family, our dog, our country, our beautiful lifestyle in Australia and tomorrow we have to leave our son. To write this wells up tears in my eyes and we are so grateful to the Lord that he is going to Bible College, but I feel that it is of a great cost to our family as we will be separated by an ocean. Deb and I have had Jen and Jubab for about 23 years now and tomorrow we leave and it will just be the 3 of us again. Deb, me and the Lord. Please pray for us with this looming parting. Also please pray for our son and email him if you get a chance to encourage him. We have been here at the Bible college in Jackson – living in the Bible College guest apartment – for 10 days now and we are greatly impressed by what we have seen here and the people that we have met. There are about 170 students here studying the Word and more than ½ of them are in Jubab’s age group so it will be a fantastic 2 years for him to grow in our Magnificent Savior and make lasting relationships.

Where to tomorrow?? When we leave here tomorrow we will head towards the town were Deb’s Mum and Grandparents came from – Irwin, Pennsylvania. There are 2 churches in that area that partner with us in the work and we will give a report in both of these places and see the beautiful people that the Lord has bought into our lives to be co-workers with in the gospel.

-During this time we are also going to visit Deb’s childhood friend from the Philippines – Kim – who she grew up with.

-From there we go to Florida where we will see other dear friends and speak in another church that partners with us. Once again these people are so special to us and we look forward greatly to seeing them.

-In Florida we will also see my step Mum and we will stay with her - can’t wait !

-Then we meet Deb’s sister Jen and her son Billy who are flying from Australia and take her to see some of her birth family who she has not yet met.

-Then we all go to Ohio to see Deb’s Grandfather and Uncle and cousins – how fantastic!!

-Then back down to Alabama to a missions conference with people who live for missions and then finally back up to Jackson where we will see Jubab again for 4 or 5 days and then we fly out of Chicago for the Philippines on March 1.

When we return to the Philippines we will get settled and back into translation as soon as we can and we pray that we will be able to complete translating the New Testament into Tala Andig within a year. Once this is done we will spend time inserting maps, formatting, glossaries, book introductions etc. etc. and then publish. Our Tala Andig brethren are greatly looking forward to having God’s Word in their hands.

 During this finishing off translation time and after this time we will continue to try to be a blessing in whatever capacity we can to the growing number of churches amongst the Tala Andig and Higaunon peoples. We just want to keep serving our Savior who purchased us with His blood. We want to get to the finishing line! Last week there was a baptism in our first location where we worked from 1989-2000 and then continue to work to the present time in a consultee and shepherding of leadership role. There were about 40 people baptized, elders and deacons ordained and lots of good food eaten – God’s church continues to grow! Praise Him! The pictures are just low resolution so please excuse the lack of clarity.