11/12/13
Dear Kyle, Curt, and Cole,
Yesterday, the news reported that 80 missionaries and 1 mission president were unaccounted for after that terrible typhoon that hit the Philippines. My heart dropped - all I could think of was their mothers and how worried they must be about their missionary sons and daughters.
By the time I went to bed last night, all but 24 had been found. Better, but still devastating nonetheless to the moms of the missing 24. (And the dads, too, for sure.)
I went to bed praying for the missing missionaries' safety and that their families would find peace as they awaited for any news about their family member.
When I awoke this morning, one of the first things I did was check the news reports. This time my heart leapt - all missionaries were now accounted for! I actually cried as I said a prayer of thanks.
How does this apply to you? Well, my deepest fear, the hardest thing for me to do EVER (no, not ride in an airplane...) was to say goodbye to you and send you off to unknown foreign countries. I knew you were in the Lord's hands, but I also knew that missionaries sometimes die and don't come home. I pleaded with the Lord every day you were gone that He would bring you home safely. And He did, to my everlasting gratitude.
As I drove over the Wabash on my way to work this morning, I thought of those missionary moms and began praying. I often pray while driving to work, and as I thanked God for their safety, the tears that had been so close to the surface spilled over and I began to cry. Still praying (and driving), I looked up and to my surprise, saw a very large bird winging its way to the river. A flash of white and I knew what it was - it was a bald eagle.
I couldn't help but smile and feel uplifted. After all, the Lord knows how I look for them, and how I had prayed and prayed that my mother would see a bald eagle in the wild before she passed away. (And she did.)
The timing of the bird's appearance has had me thinking all day. Was it just an accident of timing? After all, you don't see them very often. Or was it a tweak from the Lord, a little "I love you and be at peace now" from Him? I lean toward the latter.
I hope you know how proud I am of you all, how grateful I am that you sacrificed two years of your lives and thousands of dollars to serve God and your fellow mankind. I admire and respect you for that, and am very proud of you.
And, I am so thankful the Lord preserved your lives and brought you home when you finished, safe and sound.
Just thought you should know.
Love,
Mom
xoxoxox
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