Back Home again

It's hard to describe the feeling we had when we walked into our house on Christmas Eve.  It felt something like:
- Happiness: To pick up life where we left it off. Our lovely Thai home, just as it had been. School is just around the corner. Our friends come and go regularly. We never know who might come for dinner, or where we might go. It's a beautiful balance of regularity and complete flexibility. But mostly, it's home.
- Fullness: At all we got to experience in 3 months and 10 days of traveling in the States. Alisa recorded a cd with her siblings. I built a wall on my parent's new-old barn, and helped Dad sent his 226th semi-container to the Philippines. The boys read about a thousand books with their 4 wonderful Grandparents, who poured into them the from the deep well of a wonderful Christian heritage.
- Newness: Because our focus is shifting quickly, from learning Thai to using it. There's a strange mix of pressure to see fruit from our labors here, with a deep commitment to starting from day one with the long-distance future in mind. It's a step of faith, to think of trying to turn relationships into discipleship, and disciples into local churches, all in a language that still feels like walking in the dark with a keychain flashlight.
and finally,
- Thankfulness: For the remarkable generosity of our sponsors and friends in the States. We were constantly amazed at how many people pray for us EVERY DAY. Now with every good thing that comes my way, the word "favor" comes to mind, because so many friends take time to intreat the Father on our behalf. 

- JB