Dear Prayer Warriors,
We had a lovely Easter with our two families that live here in Halstead and my mom who will soon be 96. We had Ethiopian food and all enjoyed it very much except Isaiah at 3 months. The two weeks before Easter I left off reading novels in order to concentrate on the power and glory of Jesus’ death and resurrection. Looks like I should do it more often:) It truly helped me focus on the meaning of Easter for me and millions of others. This year Ethiopian Easter fell on the same day as ours so it was doubly special and we got a number of greetings from Ethiopian friends!!
One of the many things I did read before Easter was a very helpful story about a man who began praying every morning,”Thank you for my wife.” After praying for 4 months he added a small phrase -“Thank you, Lord, for my wife- just as she is.” It changed his whole perspective. The teller of the story went on to say that he used the same phrase with several other people – his co-worker, his boss and even himself. “Thank you, Lord, for myself – just as I am!” Not that we don’t want or need to change but that we need to accept some things about the way God made us. So I have begun using that phrase for those whom I contact every day, even my dentist.
Speaking of teeth:) I had John come into the dentist office with me to see how the teeth look. I was fitted with tops and bottoms. Dr. Dexter said, “Last year I never would have thought that this was possible!!” I thought it was and couldn’t understand why he was always so discouraging. What did I know? Now we are thanking God that he is the one who made it possible using the good gifts of my dentist and his staff. Praise God. So.. on May 9th, on the way home from Ethiopia Mission Network we will stop in KC and get those teeth. Thank you for your sustaining prayers through it all but don’t stop praying because I have to learn to talk with them and to eat with them (amazing to all the dental staff and to John and I that these teeth will be fully functional)
John plans a trip to Ethiopia in June. By then Heather and Habtom’s little boy will have come into the world and Papa can take off. If you remember the last baby came as John was driving to the airport and he didn’t see him til he was a month old. God has blessed us with all these healthy grandchildren. May He bless you too who are faithful in prayer for us and for his kingdom to come here and among the Suri.
Love in Jesus, Gwen and John