“Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay.  Your people will be my people and your God my God.” Ruth 1:16

Going Where He Goes

Last week was our 53rd wedding anniversary. I’m so very grateful for all the adventures, miracles, provision, strength, grace, and courage that we’ve had over our years. We’ve had a wonderful life together. But I’m sad that I can’t be with Floyd to celebrate. I sent him a video message. The therapist said he smiled a bit when I talked about our adventures, and got very “vocal” when I spoke of my love for him.

All those years ago when I vowed to “go where he would go,” marrying at the tender ages of 18 and 21, I certainly never dreamed where that would take me!

–  living out of a suitcase for 5 years
–  Afghanistan (back when no one had ever heard of it)
–  two houseboats in the main canal of Amsterdam (with a toddler, an infant, and a puppy – I worried that two of them might fall in the canal!)
–  a farm by the heather fields in Holland (a beautiful spot with room for the kids to run and play)
–  the Red Light District in Amsterdam (definitely not a “family” neighborhood!)
–  California (we “landed” there after leaving Holland because of my health)
–  Colorado (where we cared for our daughter in the years when she was so sick—and where we had the privilege of training many young leaders in the  Leadership School). All Nations was begun in this season too.
–  Kansas City (in the very center of the U.S.—pastoring a churchful of people that we dearly loved)
–  and ending up in South Africa, starting all over again and pioneering as we were entering our 60’s as senior citizens.

There’s never been a dull moment! We’ve had good times, hard times, stretching time, fruitful times—it’s been a blessed life.

Floyd was speaking in a church one time and said I wasn’t very adventurous. The whole church, who knew us quite well, burst out laughing. I understood what he meant, but how can you look at the list above and say I’m not adventurous? I even went on an outreach to Samoa from my island town in Texas when I was 16!

As you can imagine, I’ve had lots of memories floating around in my heart and mind. I’m so grateful for God’s goodness and faithfulness to us over all these years. I truly have nothing to complain about as I look back—I only have a heart of worship and gratitude for God’s goodness. The last few years have been rough, but God has still been the same solid Rock as He’s been all the years before.

I know that many things that have happened in our lives are an answer to prayer. That’s one of the reasons I’m so grateful for YOUR prayers in our current season. Thank you for continually lifting us to the throne of grace. And I’ve been praying for the U.S. during these tumultuous days.

Father, we ask that You would bring “healing to our land.” Amen.