Dear Family and Friends,
Just over a month ago I, (Darrell) left for Sri Lanka and Thailand. Just before Thanksgiving, Carlene joined me in Bangkok, and together we witnessed civil unrest which closed the international airport and eventually delayed our departure. All of those adventures are documented in our e-mail updates and audio podcasts at Pacificministries.blogsopt.com.
We finally arrived in Port Townsend Washington December 8th and Carlene and I began preparing for her mother's homecoming. We painted, laid carpet, moved a bunch of furniture, oversaw the maintenance and repair of various home appliances and performed other domestic stuff. (I can hear many of you laughing when you think of me and home projects...) Today's project is overseeing the installation of an outdoor chairlift (No, I am NOT installing it). Twice we prepared to make our way down to Portland, the first for our monthly Worship at the River gathering, and once again last Saturday morning... well, one look at the weather and we said no way. Our son Matthew, who has been stuck in San Jose, California trying to come home from his Marine training camp in Southern California since Saturday, has finally decided to fly back to Los Angeles and drive back to Portland with his uncle Scott. We are preparing the Port Townsend House for all of our children and their spouses and friends for the holidays, and hope to make it back to the Portland area for the new year... we think!
These past weeks we have learned to live the truth that God is truly in every delay. We are learning to wait on the Lord and submit our schedule to Him. We have heard from many of you that during this season, our best plans and great ideas belong to the Lord. Both Carlene and I miss many of our friends in Portland... and yet believe the the Lord is in this.
One of our friends, Delight Petersen, summarized in these past days in a way that I can't improve on. I'll quote her:
This morning in the quiet, I felt like Holy Spirit was asking me.....what would happen if an entire city allowed the quiet and beauty to settle in on them and actually focused on Him in a new and deeper way? So that was my prayer....that we would in a new way, ask that He take us deeper into His heart. That we would set aside our fears about family and friends and be willing to flex with the weather and take a little more time with Him. He is Lord of the weather.
We bless you... and Merry Christmas!
Darrell and Carlene
