What a blessing to spend the weekend with the young couple serving in East Asia!  It is a special treat to have those we visit overseas come and be with us.  

When we first visited them in 2008, we had no idea that they had just come through the hard season of being the first ones and the only ones in their city for a while.  I can’t imagine the challenge of learning a new language and culture, and then enduring a long very cold winter without Christian friends or a church.  There are times when we follow Jesus and it leads us directly into a tough situation.  The wife said it herself when speaking to some of our young adults, “Sometimes God leads us to do hard things.”  She went on to say how she feared she wouldn’t meet a husband if she followed the Lord towards missions.  Instead, her Lord led her to serve beside a guy who would eventually be her husband.    Wow!  Take the risk and obey – and God takes care of needs ( and better than we could have done it!).  

Are you facing some risks?  Have you counted the cost of following Jesus 100% and found it to be pretty costly?  Good.  Take the risk!  Pay the price!  Do the hard thing!  Then look for God’s provision in the midst of your obedience.  

See Luke 14:25-34  Are you willing to count the cost?  

By the way, the couple said, “You’ve got a good church here.  This is a special group.”   I must agree. 

I am proud of you Parkridge!   I love serving with you!

Daryl