Power in Weakness

We've returned from our trip to Southeast Asia, and our family experienced the Father's grace in amazing ways.

As we began the 24-hour travel by plane to the other side of the world to serve fellow overseas workers there, the feelings of inadequacy hit us: we felt unprepared and unfit for what the Father wanted us to do. There was so much to do and, at that point, it seemed like there was not enough time to get everything done. We had to trust the Father and rely on Him since we couldn't do this in our own strength. Evidently, it was just the place He wanted us, and during the conference we saw His power made perfect in our weakness. When we didn't know if we could do it, He gave us all we needed to minister to others, and He certainly used your prayers to enable us to carry out our ministry and many were blessed because of it. Thank you so much!

Just one of the many ways we were able to serve our team in Asia was through leading the music each day at our staff conference. Since the staff serve in regions where gathering and worshiping is prohibited, it was an encouraging and refreshing time for everyone to join together and sing praises freely.

After the conference, we visited friends serving in Southeast Asia who we knew from our training in the U.K. It was great catching up and hearing about their work among the unreached. We also discussed developing partnerships with them and other workers for our new overseas internship, starting next year.

Jadynn and Jonathan, Jr. did great during our trip! They slept most of the flight and had good health during our travels. Thanks for lifting them up! They enjoyed meeting new friends and trying new things. Here, they are excited about their Tuk Tuk ride in town (like a motorcycle with a carriage!).

Thanks again for all your prayers and support and for your partnership in the work, as we served, assisted, and encouraged those working with the unreached of Asia!

All our love,

Jonathan, Robynn, Jadynn, and Jonathan, Jr.

Sweet Goodbyes

We are preparing for our first trip back to Asia in a long time and since we will be traveling alone we decided to take a couple days to make some memories as a family camping. The kids love to camp!  Our first family camping trip was a few weeks before Christmas at a State Park only minutes from our home and when it was time to leave, Jadynn cried and so did Jr. because they had such a great time.   On our way home from that camping trip we promised our kids and ourselves that we would do it again soon.   It's April now and we just might have experienced the very last of the the "cool" nights in Florida before the summer sets in. We saw all kinds of animals, had a fire and s'mores, discovered new things and walked nature trails and spent some quality time together.
One of our favorite memory was sitting around the camp fire singing and talking when we were nightly visited by a friendly Raccoon.  Jr. made a "meow" sound every time he saw him (he thought he was a cat) and Jadynn tried to chase him away since he was after our food.  One evening, he climbed up at our table and helped him self to a cup of hot chocolate!  We couldn't believe it, he was like a member of the family.

This month we will travel to Asia and spend some time with co-workers and friends while also taking care of logistics in the city where we used to live.  We hope to be an encouragement and blessing to those who are living overseas and are working hard on Language study and others who are moving into the next phase of their work.  Our Asian friends seem to have spread out to many different provinces and cities since we saw them last, but thankfully we are still in touch and will make an effort to connect with them during our travel in and out of the country.

As we say goodbye to our sweet children for two weeks, staying in Atlanta with grandparents, we also are returning to Asia in some ways to say goodbye to a season in our lives.  We are very hopeful for what the future holds, yet we also wanted to bring a sense of closure to what has been a long and challenging time for us as a family.  He has good plans and we trust that in the perfect timing we will be able to return to the work that we feel so passionate about (if it is His will) and in the meantime we are resting in Him and praying for contentment with what He has asked of us here.

Jadynn and Jonathan Jr. are growing so fast and we are so happy to be their parents.  Here are some recent pics of the past few months...Enjoy!

Our nature girl

Jr. made this tree branch into a bouncing horse

Jadynn practicing ballet and teaching brother how to bow

We love camping!!

Easter Sunday

All Things New

For quite some time now I have been thinking about this verse from the good book, "Behold, I am making all things new." It refers to the time at the end of this age when the Son will come and reign.

The idea of making all things new strikes me all the time. I just keep thinking about the beauty of it. That which is broken will be fixed, sickness healed, unjust made right, sorrow to gladness and death will give way to life. It must be because of all the brokenness that I am confronted with, from silly things like brand new clothes getting stained, things breaking down and becoming useless, to relationships that are strained or seem to fall apart.

We all yearn to be delivered from the old, broken, dying world where we live, don't we?

The good news is we can be delivered now!

We don't have to wait.

When we say no to the wrong we do,
and yes to the life He offers and trust
in the sacrifice already made on our behalf,
the process begins.

We are brand new!

It is a process that I have seen both my brother and sister go through recently and I cannot describe the excitement that they have because they are new creations. While it's true we are still "stuck" in this body with its wrong desires, we cannot go back to being old again. A whole new person is born and there is a desire to learn, grow, and change into the image of the one who created him/her.

Even still, my soul longs for the time when I will be free from the struggle in my self against, well, my self. I want to see Him make all things new.

The happy newlyweds. Rick and Pam.

My sister Renee. Together again!

                             

Conformed through suffering...

Our first year overseas in Asia was an amazing time for us all! We felt that we were finally in the place that we were supposed to be and felt fulfilled in what He had called us to and happy with our new roles. However, soon after we arrived (the first few days), Robynn was violently ill with a sickness that she would soon come to know very personally for the coming months. Later, we were filled with joy when we found out we were pregnant again, after many months of asking and hoping for a baby. What a blessing! Yet, it was bitter sweet as the day after we found out, Robynn again was very ill with sickness which lasted for months and she was unable to take any medication for the safety of the developing baby inside.

Even though most of our first year we dealt with a lot of sickness, it was still a very sweet time of langauge and culture learning and developing good relationships. We often look back and realize that the depth of friendship and our dependence on our local brothers and sisters actually helped our language learning and allowed us to become friends very quickly out of necessity. People came to see us and we bonded so quickly with them because they felt sorry for us and for Robynn when she was so sick and helpless and away from everything familiar. We beleive this was all part of His plan for us and He blessed our relationships as we looked to Him for daily strength even though we were struggling.

Our leadership and home fellowship helped us seek the best plan for delivery of our baby, and though in our hearts none of us wanted to leave, it became clear that a trip back to the United States was best. A month before we prepared to travel, on Robynn's birthday, we were involved in a traffic accident and all three of us (with baby in the belly) suffered minor scrapes and bruises but appeared to be fine, and we were very thankful for His protection.

Shorty after this and before boarding the plane for home, at almost 9 months pregnant Robynn started to have severe vertigo and trouble sleeping. Returning home to Florida, her symptoms only intensified as the time for delivery came and after baby Jonathan Jr. was born and other new symptoms arose too. This season of life for our family was possibly the most challenging time we had ever experienced, but it also when we saw and knew the love and compassion of many who were eager to help us.

Through this time of suffering in our lives, we have seen the most amazing compassion and care from friends, family and those who are in our local fellowship, and even strangers!
- we have been blessed with the provision of housing from two dear friends-thank you!
- many have come to care for our children and brought meals and encouragement.
- our costs for medical care have been met by a loving Father through His people.
- we have had transportation in both Florida and Atlanta during our time here.
- some of our family members have had some personal tragedies and we have been here to comfort them.
- finding contentment in ALL circumstances has allowed us to see even daily routine tasks as blessings.
- our marriage relationship and friendship has grown by leaps and bounds as we have depended on one another and the Father to sustain us and give us strength, even during a difficult time for us.


Robynn's sister, Renee, has been through a personal tragedy this year and we are thankful we could be close to her while she is healing. She has been able to really encourage Robynn due to her own experience, and now as an instructor, she has also helped give some practical advice on exercise and stretches that can help her little sister, too!


Jonathan's sister, Christi, and her husband, Jay, have also suffered loss this year, and we are thankful we could be there to comfort them. Their faith and trust in the Father has inspired us and allowed us to see that He allows suffering for our good. He is good. There is joy found in the midst of trials because of what He has done. We look up to them in so many ways, and we are encouraged by them as well. Here they are recently with their nieces and nephew.

Jonathan Jr. and his cousin McKenzie only 2 months older. What a blessing to be here soon after she was born and develop a relationship with her that we can continue while we live overseas!


Jadynn turned 4 while we have been home and though Mommy wasn't well that day, our dear friends helped us celebrate by bringing party decorations, balloons, and baking a strawberry cake together!


Jonathan Jr. had his first Christmas and started sitting up- still not crawling, that's ok, take your time!


Slowly, Robynn has been feeling better and has been able to do fun things with the kids again. Please continue to lift her up as she is recovering, some days are good and others not so good, she is learning endurance and thankful for the time she is being allowed to fully heal.

People often ask what the best part of our first year in Asia has been. We have loved seeing our daughter, Jadynn learn to live and love people from other cultures and see her use her gifts of compassion, love and joy to bring the good news to those who need to hear.

We are overwhelmed by the thoughts and cards that have been sent, and thank each of you for thinking of us. You are also in our thoughts and we would love to hear from you!

All our love,
Jonathan, Robynn, Jadynn and Jonathan Jr.