What Does a Country Director Do has taken an unexpected turn!
We came home to the US the first part of July. Tired and in great need of rest and refreshment for our souls. We love what we do in PNG – even though the hours are long, there never seems to be enough help to get everything done and conditions are sometimes less than desirable with local unrest and such. Our time as CD has been incredible; we have seen significant positive change in the program with a true focus on the spiritual aspect of why we do what we do. Working with such an amazing group of people from around the globe and a large group of wonderful national staff whom we have grown very close to. But as we were debriefing with the MAF US team, we realized all that we had laid aside in order to go to PNG and work for so many years, giving it everything we had. We realized how much we are needed here in the US with aging parents, our only grandchild who is almost 9 now and with our children as well, the boys have disassociated themselves from all family ties while we have been overseas serving. Despite our best efforts to support and love them from afar.
We have spent countless hours in prayer and seeking wise counsel from various sources within the mission and outside Christian counselors as well and we have made the difficult decision to resign from our position as the Country Director of the PNG program and focus on caring for our family at this time.
We spent the months of July and August working through this decision and then in September we finalized plans and are currently – on our way – returning to PNG for a few weeks the beginning of November to pack a few belongings that we would like to keep and then selling/giving away the rest of our belongings we have collected over the 6 years in PNG and returning to Idaho to be near family.
We will be living in our home in Caldwell, Idaho along with Connie’s parents who have lived in the house since 2019. Prayers appreciated for all of us as we adjust to living together. Adjusting schedules and ways of doing things. We are here to be a help and a blessing to our parents – both sets – and we are in the process of figuring out what that looks like for each one.
So many of you have partnered with us in ministry for many years, following us from our first assignment in Yap, Micronesia (1992) where we went with our 17month old daughter Jessica, and where Courtney was born and we adopted the twin boys. To Africa then with Hands of Hope NW in the US and on to Philippines ending in PNG.
Your love, care, cards, gifts and encouraging notes & emails along with many prayers over the years have deeply impacted us. Many of you have given sacrificially and we have always tried to honor your gifts and sacrifice by being good stewards of the gifts and resources God has provided through you.
We want you to know that there are other opportunities to continue giving through MAF or through many other wonderful organizations.
We don’t know when or if God will have us continue in ministry abroad, but we do know that He has us here for this time and we are at peace with that. We have seen His hand in so many ways confirming this to each of us.
Please do keep in touch—you all have played a significant part in our ministry and lives and you are loved!