Fly Away

There's a saying at the shipping company about how a crate should be packed: regular or missionary? 'Regular' is for most people whose priority is to thickly pad all items in order to avoid scratches or breakage. 'Missionary' is for, well, missionaries who are more concerned about the cost of every square inch and therefore stuff every hole and crevice. Forget the padding, it takes up too much space. Anyway, most things we own are already scratched.

"Man, you pack good," commented the dockworkers at the freight company last Thursday as they watched me cramming clothes and books between boxes. After 6 hours, I had both crates packed, nailed shut, and covered with a prayer that we would see them again in about three months.

We've also packed a wealth of memories of how you have encouraged and strengthened us during these past three years, while we have been here in the U.S. Through numerous ways, God has used you as His instrument to minister to us. We are grateful.

Northwest Airlines will carry us to the Philippines this Saturday morning, departure at 7:54. After a couple of days in Manila, we'll fly to Iloilo City on Wednesday morning, arriving around 9:35. We will rent a house until our old house (where we used to live) is ready in July. Once we arrive and secure a post office box, I will post a new address on this website.

So, after this Thursday, when we pack up the computer, we won't have computer access for a week or two. I'll have a bunch of things to attend to right away as we set up house and get settled. Thank you for praying for us during this time of another transition. We are eager to see God at work once again in the lives of Filipinos.

I think MK's (missionary kids) naturally struggle more with the meaning of 'home'. As we move to another 'home', Martha expressed her thoughts in a poem:

Amidst mountains and valleys
I let my dreams roam
But where in all the sundering seas
Can I discover home

Is home a family
Is home a place
Is home a feeling
Is home a face

Is home the moment
That I find
A peaceful, restful
Quiet mind

Is home the moment
When I see
The final page
Of eternity

So when I enter heaven's gates
To all it has in store
Will I then at last find home
When I walk through heaven's door