Dad

Dearest family and friends,

When Miles and I started making plans to leave for Indonesia my dad was having significant health issues.  He told us over and over, “If ANYTHING happens to me don’t come back. My head agreed with that plan but now that the time is here my heart didn’t. and I had time on my hands because of the school break. I would have been OK should I have decided not to come back, but I know that I am better since the decision was made.   After 2 days of “waiting” by the computer for information after I found out that my dad came home from the hospital with Hospice, I went to MAF just to get information as to what kind of airfare I could find and since it was a holiday and could I even get a seat, I set a ball in motion that is unheard of.   I also had to find out if the man who does the “paperwork” for the school was even in town since I had to have permission to leave or I would not be allowed back into the country.  By the time he was found, he was on Holiday in Jayapura but had agreed to come back to process my paperwork and the man who processes paperwork for MAF had already bought my domestic ticket.  This all happened in a course of about 30 minutes.   

After a rough landing in Jakarta, an earthquake in Japan, and 50hours of travel, I finally made it to LAX.  I spent the night with our son Josh and his wife Allyl and our Granddaughter Ainsley in San Diego, CA.    I then drove straight to the care home and gave my dad a huge hug.  He called me a “naughty Daughter” and spanked me as I hugged him.  We had tears in our eyes and I knew he was really glad that I came.  He was of course referring to our conversation of not coming home should anything happen to him. 

He goes in and out of sleep and is in intense pain when he is awake.  We are praying for the Lord to take him home soon!  He told me “You are a missionary so you are closer to God; please tell Him I am ready to come home.”  I cried at his words not just because he is verbalizing he is ready, but that he thinks I am closer to God because I am a missionary!  We are all close “In Christ”.  I know he understands this, but God hasn’t answered his prayer to go home so he was hoping that God would answer mine.

I do not know why my dad is still with us, but I know that God has a purpose in it.  I trust my dad in His hands!  I have attached a picture of my brothers, sister and mom with my dad in the care home. We always have a great time together but the reason has placed a pallor over the visit.   

On a home front: Miles went to a new year’s party where “Anging Goreng” was served I had to dig into my Indonesian vocabulary to realize that it was “Fried Dog”  I would have tried it, but I am so glad that I didn’t “have” to yet! Apparently dog is served at holidays or special parties.

When I get back on Sunday the 15^TH, I get 1 day then I have to report to school for “In-service” on Monday the 16^th, then school starts on Tuesday the 17^th.  I will be teaching ESL for grades 1-7, no current 8^th graders have this need.

Prayer request is for the strength to walk this through strong in Christ!      

My Dad with his cousin Jack in 2008