SEPT/OCT SWOM: SOBERANIA - SOVEREIGNTY

The last couple of months have been hard for us. We were here in Costa Rica in language school and seeking direction as to where God would have us serve in the future and back home Mike’s dad was battling pancreatic cancer. We felt like our lives were on hold, we were constantly on the edge of our seats anticipating the call back to the States at any minute.

But God taught us an incredible lesson about His perfect timing and His sovereignty in all of this!

On Friday morning October 16th, Mike woke with the feeling that
God was telling him to go home to be with his Dad, that this was the time. So after classes on Friday we booked tickets and headed home on Saturday. We arrived to find Dad at home in hospice care and declining quickly.

Thanks to God’s amazing timing we were able to be there to help the family with his care the last days of his life. We were able to sit by his bedside, hold his hand, hug him and pray with him. He still was able to hear and understand but wasn’t able to talk much once we arrived. We were by his bedside as he passed. We said the Our Father together and then with the reading of the last words from Psalm 23, “and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever” he passed.

The Lord is so good, He really does take care of all the details in life. Sometimes we look back and say to ourselves, why were we so worried about when to go? After all does He not give us wisdom and does He not prompt us on the timing of things?

We smile as we recall His perfect timing and His sovereignty over ALL!
Here are just a few of the ways He proved it:

• We were called home the ONLY week of this 15-week trimester of school that we didn’t have homework or tests because it was a special week of spiritual emphasis.
• We were able to book reasonable one-way airfares each way on very short notice.
• We were able to be there for the memorial service in Wheaton, the burial in Iowa and arrive back in Costa Rica  for classes on Monday.
• We were able to see our kids, 2 of our grandchildren and the beautiful colors of Fall that we haven’t seen for 3 years.
• Prayers and expressions of love from family, friends, classmates etc. 
• The list could go on and on but for now, we are just praising Him for His goodness to us. 

We have renewed confidence in His perfect timing and His sovereignty over our lives as we continue to love Him and to wait on Him for our next steps as well. He is always faithful!

Please pray for us:

• Continued language learning capabilities. 
• Wisdom and discernment about future ministry options. We continue to pray and to investigate opportunities. 

Additionally, Hellenic Ministries will continue to process our monthly donations until we have formalized a new mission agency.