Jesus is good. It is such a great time to be with family and be able to see what God is doing in all of our lives - "Come to Me all who are weary and heavy-laden and I will give you rest. For My yoke is easy and my burden is light."
A Great couple weeks in the wonderful northwest.
Talking for hours with brothers and sisters, rollerskating and playing frisbee golf with nieces and nephews. It has been great to sing with everyone...musical family is fun.
Enjoying the springtime tulips bringing joy to Washington folks.
For those who have been following along with us, you'll know that we have only Three days left until we return to Alaska. It's hard to believe that this trip is coming to an end, although we're not sure that it has to end. For Christ calls us all to go, to places near and far, with the final destination being His heart. Ketchikan, with our parents, some family, our church and friends, will be the next backdrop of the Ultimate Journey. (just because we're returning after a year or so of traveling around the world does not mean we stop "going where the Spirit blows," or practicing what He's been teaching us, to trust that His ways are higher than ours, and completely foreign to the ways of the world). It feels at times as if we stepped "through the wardrobe" and into a land of faith and belief and simple, childlike trust; where even in the deepest darkness, the little Light, the flame of Love, has shown brightly, beckoning us to return to the Way. It's like a fire that God has built, burning the brightest at night. At times allowing us to to burn down to coals unseen, covered with ash in the morning, the evidence of a once roaring flame with no heat to spark a hope. It's a marvel that he can cause it to burn again. But He Does. A little kindling, some strong wind(gotta love that Wind!), and we're up again. :) Each season has it's part to play for sure. When we were in Holland we visited the house of Corrie ten Boom. If you don't know her story, you now have an assignment (she saved the lives of tons of Jews in WWII and miraculously escaped from a concentration camp, carrying a legacy of forgiveness and grace wherever she went). Hanging on a wall of her house, there was a crochet of a nice crown, but on the reverse side, there was a mess of tangled thread. In this life and on this journey of faith, there are tough times for sure and we wonder, "can Christ redeem even this?" Somehow, in the end, He pulls it off, and for those being redeemed, all experiences become part of a beautiful creation.
Recently a few folks have said things like, "are you ready to return to the 'real world'?" or "are you ready for 'life' again?" As if it's a 2x4 that in 3 days will officially smack us upside the head. We have to realize that they believe we've been on vacation for a year and are now returning to what they view "real world living' to be. We need Grace, as it is hard to explain that we are not actually coming back! :) God help us to not return to 'the real world.' For we are aliens and strangers in this place. Our Lord has been teaching us: "Do not conform to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds." On this journey, we've only had a small glimpse into what it looks like to be a Child, a Son and a Daughter, of God; But a good glimpse it has been that we will not only carry and remember for the rest of our lives, but that we will build upon and grow in. We've only just begun.
So with so much Love and appreciation, we thank our friends and family who have believed in this vision and prayed for us, put us up, given us money or food or housing, called us, written us and encouraged us along the way... You have been the hands and feet and arms and heart of our Lord to us. We don't know what the immediate future holds. After spending some time in Alaska, we may move to Montana for a season. We'll probably keep this website up and continue to add to it as we see the faithfulness and beauty of God all around us and feel the desire to share it.
No fear in Love,
Joseph and Christy
