This summer Jeff and I made a trip to Minnesota to be with our kids and to celebrate what God has done in their lives. This has been a time for a lot of reflection on what God has done in and through our family these past few years. As you can imagine, before our family went to the Philippines in 1985, there was a lot going on in my heart and mind. I had a tendency to be fearful of many things but I mostly was afraid for my children. I wondered how I could put my young kids on a bus without me to travel across a huge city to school every day. The thought was overwhelming. I was also deeply concerned about what their adjustment would be like when they left home—would they adapt or grow bitter? And what about having a sense of home? Would they feel like they belong somewhere?
One day before we went to Manila, I told my dad about my fears and leaving home. He shared Acts 17:26-27 with me that God is the one who determines the times and places where man will live. He has determined what family we will belong to, our passport country (as we say) and where we will live so we can seek Him and find Him. We will find and learn more of Him when we place ourselves in the center of where He wants us to be. We learn that whenever and wherever we are in His will, we will be at home.
Our family has been through a lot these past 24 years; typhoons, a volcano, coup attempts, drought, intense ministry demands and trials of many kinds. We have sought God, and found Him faithful to us and to our children. Jeff and I have been keenly aware that God had His loving, guiding hand on Amos and Micah as they grew up and today we celebrate what God has done. There have been many people who have prayed for them through the years and we are extremely grateful. We are delighted that both kids have remained debt free through their schooling and they have inspired me to continue working toward my own degree.
When Amos was in elementary, I discovered his intense passion for learning, especially math and science. He was a good student and finished high school with several Advance Placement credits. This enabled him to earn his college degree in Chemistry at the University of Minnesota in 3 years. Then after almost 6 years on a full scholarship, Amos has earned his Ph.D. in Computational Chemistry from Caltech in Pasadena, CA. Within a month he got a job in a field related to his degree close to his church and Caltech. Being a missionary kid has shaped who Amos is today and broadened his world view. He loves being in a multi-ethnic mega city like LA so he is glad to stay in the area.
Micah just completed her 2nd tour of duty in Iraq. She served well and learned a lot. God has led her to join ACTION so she is seeking His direction for her life. She is currently volunteering and going through orientation in our USA office for a few weeks while working on a Master’s Degree from Liberty University. In mid-October she will join us in Manila for a couple of months. You can contact her at the ACTION office (address to the left) if you want to support her or receive her prayer letters. Pray for God’s guidance in her relationship with Daniel Scott, an ACTION missionary who is the assistant to Nelson Reed, ACTION’s International Director. Danny is also coming to Manila in October to learn more about our ministries.
God has taught me to trust Him more because His plans are higher than mine. I wouldn’t want Him to lower His plans to my level of capability. I want Him to raise me up to what He is calling me to do. I continue to learn to love God more than my children and only when I do that can I rest in what He has in store for them and I can release them to do whatever and go wherever He leads. We are extremely grateful for your prayers and support for our family through the years. To God be the glory.
