The Unplanned Adventure – An Exercise in Thankfulness
Thursday, September 9: we flew to beautiful, sunny Colorado, one mile higher than where we live (huff huff, puff puff).
Sunday, September 12: We visited Calvary Church in Longmont, where I was once on staff while studying at Denver Seminary. We shared briefly in their two morning services and more at length in one of their most dynamic Sunday School groups called “Rounding Third”! That afternoon, friends of ours hosted a little open house for us. Had supper with our kids in Denver on our way back to Colorado Springs.
Saturday & Sunday, September 18-19: preached twice at 1st Evangelical Free Church in Colorado Springs and met with their missions committee. We are so thankful for this church and their support. They made their wonderful “hospitality house” available to us for our entire stay.
Tuesday, September 21: started coming down with cold symptoms.
Wednesday, September 22: the drains backed up at the hospitality house. It took the plumbers and the angel from 1st E. Free church (you know who you are ;-) all day and over 100 feet of “snake” to free them.
Thursday, September 23: despite persisting cold symptoms we drove up to Longmont to have lunch out in a park with dear friends (we are only here for a few weeks every few years…). It was a special time. We would have loved to had coffee with another dear friend (you know who you are ;-) but we cancelled because of health concerns. Then we had supper outdoors with, other super cool friends before heading back to the springs.
Saturday, September 25: shared a tasty pot-luck lunch with the folks at Grace Community Bible Church in Pueblo and then shared about our ministry. They have been with us from the start, and we are so thankful for them.
Unfortunately, my cold symptoms just kept getting worse which led to the following:
Sunday, September 26: I stayed home because I was too sick, so that Sue went alone to share about our lives and ministry at Faith Evangelical Free Church in the Springs. She came home and during the course of the afternoon, started to get sick. By late evening felt like she had been run over by train.
Monday, September 27: We both tested positive for Covid.
Covid week. Isolation. A practice in thankfulness: He who sacrifices thank offerings honors me, and he prepares the way so that I may show him the salvation of God.” Psalm 50:23
jason's corona ipad art
Saturday, October 2: We both tested positive again for Covid.
Sunday, October 3: We had to cancel our visit with our amazing supporters at Crossroads Bible Church.
Slowly recovering and no longer contagious, we were able to spend a few blessed days in the Rockies with our kids.
Sunday, October 10: Took yet another PCR Covid test; mandated by Lufthansa before permission to fly is granted.
Monday, October 11: Test results - negative. Just in time to fly as scheduled. Nothing but a miracle!
Tuesday, October 12: Flew back to Germany.
Wednesday, October 13: Arrived back home in Cologne. Whew!
Proverbs 16:9 - We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps.
Our trip certainly did not go according to our plans. We are thankful to the Lord that we didn’t get hit harder (we are both vaccinated). We are also so grateful that we could hunker down at the hospitality house. What a blessing that was! We wanted so much to connect with all our friends and supporters in Colorado. We are sad that we couldn’t see many of you.
So now that we are back in Cologne, we are trying to understand what the Lord may have had in mind as we went through this. It certainly wasn’t the trip we had envisioned. We are also keeping our eyes open as to why we were able to test negative just one day before we were scheduled to fly back to Cologne. We want to be open to whatever the Lord is doing as we begin re-engaging with some of the refugees and anticipating new ones arriving from Afghanistan. Also, as we plan for ways to jump-start our little church plant which has lost some ground during Covid.
In the end though, we can definitely say that we are grateful. In this Thanksgiving season - we are so thankful for the Lord’s protection, provision, and mercy. We are thankful for so many of you who are a part of His provision for us - through your prayers and encouragement, practical help and financial support.
As you begin to plan your own year-end giving, would you please consider directing a portion to our ministry. Currently, our monthly shortfall is $385. We are also in need of appr. $15,000 in special gifts to cover a deficit due to some fallout from Covid and a generally weak dollar the last couple of years.
Gratefully,
Jason and Sue
