We Go With Hope

It is a time to reflect and look forward.  2012 expires today, on the cusp of 2013.  Every year greater hope rises from increased trial as it seems we face more of each as we mature forged from the manifold exposure through each year we find passage.  This year, I choose not to look back just one, rather the decades of ones.  Carrie still has a shoebox full of letters adorned with envelope calligraphy and my best handwriting (which normally approaches that of doctors) as testament of early love from this heart to hers from over thirty years ago.  Back in the day when email was not even a dream, letters oft crossing in the mail, postage stamps upside down (indicating love for those who don't know), each filled with sharing the ordinary and extraordinary of life apart. 

A small town, Michigan girl deciding to move to Los Angeles, attended college to become a Registered Nurse.  She had roomed with a cousin (Cheryl) of my best friend, Dean.  Having tried male pen pals,finding them too inconsistent (on both sides) I had discovered the joys of writing to women (very nice and wonderful ladies) who seemed enjoy writing back to me.  And to this day, I remain friends with many of them (thanks to Facebook).  Cheryl cracked the door open when she mentioned this girl she had roomed with (wishing she hadn't as she was hoping I'd pursue her) and for some reason I continued hammering her for this young lady's name and address.  It took over six months for her to cave.

When Cheryl sent me Carrie's name and address, I penned a letter introducing myself desiring another pen pal to engage with.  Later, Carrie would share with me her reading of it, sitting with her roommate's ears and hearts piqued by such bold composition, all wanting to meet the man who would choose such form of introduction.   I remember her sharing about the laughter and curiosity bubbling as she shared it.  And immediately they egged her to return a letter.  It arrived a week after I sent mine.  I could bore you with details, but for a few weeks, snail mail was our only form of communication until this San Diego based guy had opportunity to venture up to Los Angeles (visiting my brother, then in college whose band was playing at Disneyland), stopping by to meet this gal I had engaged in writing.  


When we met, there were no fireworks, no melting of my heart, no 'magic'.  I relegated we would be just like the other women in my life, friends.  She joined Lynne (my first and most wonderful lady pen pal) and Cheryl, as purely platonic friends, female, willing to write.

My life grew in depth, result of interaction with these amazing women, all the while I had girlfriends along the way.  There was something in the writing, the exposition of my heart and theirs that provided genuine, pure and wonderful insight into each or our lives, an honesty, not some concoction of falsehood.  We wrote of genuine struggles and stuff of life, ordinary, with beautiful response.  It was rich and meaningful in ways I never understood until later.  I even would visit, from time to time, with each, verifying the reality of our pens and character, and, they were and remain beautiful testimonies of God to this heart, including the one whose life and heart captured for decades since, mine.

For tens of years she has joined my adventures in life and living, along for the roller coaster ride she willingly admits has never ended, she the keel in a boat whose rudder turned, at whim, to explore lands and seas, God at the helm.  This small town girl, part adventurer herself, has sailed the seas of life with mine and as I reflect upon decades together could not imagine a more perfect companion through each trial, celebration and all in between, and, I pray for more;  More decades, more trials and celebrations.  And I believe them coming.

This next year Carrie will join me on my adventures to Croatia and Bosnia; me teaching teachers there and she exploring medical benefits a pediatric nurse and her wonderful doctors might bring to those there.  Our marriage made in heaven bringing a bit of it to those who could use some physical and emotional encouragement; a gifting both Carrie and I share.  Our trip will come garnering a large amount of cost; great sacrifice of time as I prepare and pack lessons, large amounts of prayer seeking wisdom for our trip, and financial cost, giving up pay and vacation time potentially expending some of our own finances to go as well, that is, unless God does as He so lovingly did in all my past excursions, providing every nickel needed to go.

Yes, you too could join us as part of investing in people I have come to love, using gifts God has given us to bless others.  You can choose to pray for wisdom, God's leading, abundant provision and eyes to see what He has planned as we go.  If He leads, you can also send tax deductible contributions as financial partners in this work, a work where airfare will be the greatest financial expense.  Should you choose to do so, you can send funds to:

New Heights Community Church
10701 N. Magnolia Ave,
Santee, CA 92071

Please note or mention Bosnian Teaching/Medical Trip 2013

The lives of Carrie and I have been blessed with many wonderful friends, whose hearts resonate in like forms for those in our world with less.  We share in compassion and care.  We know, believe and trust in an honorable, loving and powerful God to lead us as we care for those around us.  We come alongside others in struggle not to glorify ourselves, but to encourage letting the glory of God move into the midst of theirs as He has for ours.  Yes, through the decades I celebrate and appreciate all He has forged into our lives together, you as friends, Carrie and mine as cohorts in Godly adventure.

Thank you for your consideration and prayers as we move forward to yet another adventure, together.  Her joining me is answer to my prayers for years as I go, asking God to open up opportunity for her giftings to bless where He has led me, to Croatia and Bosnia with love for His people there, and the diligent care takers of young hearts.  We go with hope. We celebrate with encouragement. We are thankful for opportunity to serve together with you and others.