The story continues.  All has gone well.  I am settled in my seat for what is scheduled to be an 11 hour 50 minute flight across the Pacific Ocean.   God just continues to orchestrate His adventure.  On the flight from Boise to Seattle, I noted that the man next to me was reading, “The Case for Christ” by Lee Stroebel.  I struck up a conversation with him and found out that he was a Physician’s Assistant returning home to Alaska.   In the course of our conversation he mentioned that he had travelled to Indonesia, where he worked with a Christian mission that had a rural compassionate care program / clinic.  “They struggle to find adequate supplies for their program,” He said.  As he shared his story, not knowing mine, I smiled at God’s orchestration of the events of our lives, right down to our seat partners on a plane.  Hmm…I wonder if I know of anyone who is in the ministry of providing medical supplies and equipment to developing clinics around the world?  He and his wife were definitely surprised when I shared with them about the ministry of Hands of Hope Northwest.  We finished our conversation by my explaining the process and providing them with the contact information that they would need to initiate a potential partnership with HOHNW.  I started this trip exhausted and wanting to just find a seat on a plane to settle into and sleep, but this morning Connie and I prayed that God would strategically place me next to people of His choosing for the furtherance of His ministry.  Once again – God is masterfully writing the pages of this story.  To Him be the Glory!

I can remember well the many Easter Sunrise Services that we attended as youth with dad, sometimes playing our musical instruments in weather where we had to keep the mouth pieces for our horns in our pockets (between songs) so that they wouldn’t freeze to our lips.  This morning at Lizard Butte, the “Son” rose on a morning that will be burned into our minds.  All of the kids were there, the Landreth families, the Aebischer families, the Smith and Sigman Families, Linda Barrows, and Amber and her family and many others.  The wind was calm, temperature warm (relatively speaking

g), and the Spirit was definitely there.  After the service, we gathered together as a united family on the hill and prayed for God’s guidance and protection over the generations of our families and for safety for this next chapter in our lives and mission.   God has been so good to us, providing protection across miles of oceans and jungles, through wars and disease, and now once again, as we accept this new assignment to Asia.

Nothing is more precious than moments spent with family and as we said our temporary goodbyes at the airport, I was so blessed to have the kids and Connie there.  Thank you to all of you who have committed to partner with us in prayer.  We will do our best to keep this story alive for you in the days ahead so that together, through our hands and feet and your prayers and encouragement, we can make an impact for Christ in the world of the Asia Pacific Region.

Yours and His from somewhere over the Northwest at 24,000 feet.

Todd