Hebrew 13:2  “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” (ESV).

Like many of you, after many months of raising support, much reading, planning and prayer, we looked with anticipation and mixed emotions to the day when we would say our goodbyes to family and life as we knew it. We would soon be leaving America and proceed to a new place of calling in Asia, the Philippines. Did we mention we were also exhausted?!

THE WHIRLWIND:

• We were  married in December 1980

• I graduated the next May 1981

• We spent the entire  summer with 40 something young people in Philadelphia doing inner-city work

• During the month of August we joined a singing group and started  traveling with the group in September. At the same time we began our deputation (raising support and building partnerships) before leaving for the Philippines the following year.

Jim, my husband, lead this singing group of young people, where they would sing and he would preach. Our plan was that we would minister in various churches during the year and then all of us would finish up with a trip to the Philippines in May of 1982. I was only 23 at the time, with no kids. Jim was 25 and we had only been married for about a year and a half. Most of the students on the team traveling with us were only a few years younger than we were at that time.  

After arriving in Asia, our plan was to do a month of mission work with the team. Jim and I would then stay, making our new home and career as missionaries in the Bohol, Philippines,  while the young people made their way back to the States.   (more…)