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 30th 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.
