Reconnecting with Grandma and Grandpa Lange before making the journey back home to Asia.
“ADVENTURE 2020” - This is the term we’ve been using to sum up our family’s journey this year. Adventures bring with them a range of experiences and emotions that might seem contradictory – exciting and scary, awesome and awful, joyful and depressing, exhausting and deeply restful, surprising, bewildering, and sometimes – not what we expected but just what we needed. This ‘corona-season’ has been all of these things for us -- ADVENTURE 2020!
You can probably identify with the adventure metaphor. Perhaps, though, you are struggling to put a positive spin on your experiences this year. Struggling to summon up hope for the future. I think we’ve all been there this year.
Jesus has a message for us:
“But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob,
he who formed you, O Israel:
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name, you are mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
and the flame shall not consume you.
For I am the Lord your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.”
These words from the Lord have been a source of comfort and peace ever since I watched The Chosen during the height of lockdown season. If you haven’t seen it yet, it’s a truly excellent crowd-funded series about Jesus and his first followers. If you have seen it, you might remember the first part of this passage from Isaiah 43, which Jesus quoted when He first met Mary Magdalene (as re-imagined by The Chosen creators in the first episode). These words from the Lord brought me to tears back then, and I have made a regular habit of reciting them to John and Sophie before they fall asleep. These are much-needed words for all of us – perhaps more this year than at any time in our lives. Although they might all be beneficial, what we need most right now is not the right person to win an election, nor the right pandemic response, nor a solution for lost income, nor a vaccine. What we need most is a Savior, our Redeemer, who comes to us with confidence and love, and says:
“Fear not…you are mine.”
With MCN team members in Concordia, MO for mutual encouragement and training in July.
HEADED BACK TO ASIA!
As mentioned briefly at the beginning, our family is now making final preparations to return home to Asia, departing from San Francisco early Sunday morning, October 18 (tomorrow)! We could not be more excited to return home and to continue the work God has for us there, after these 8 long months in the U.S. The past two months in particular have been quite ‘eventful’, with surprising twists and turns. Here is a quick summary since you last heard from us:
June: *Continued virus spread in the U.S.. *We began to realize our hope of returning to Asia by the end of Summer was unlikely. *Began to pray about a home purchase/rental in the States.
July: *Safely gathered with fellow mission partners and U.S.-based team members of Mission of Christ Network (MCN). *Visited Josh’s home church in Jefferson City, MO. *Began working with a coach to guide us through a process to re-focus our family’s vision/mission and to strengthen our team of partners. *US-China relations fell to new low with Hong Kong security law and consulate closures in Houston and Chengdu. *Began process to purchase a home near my brother’s family in Edwardsville, IL.
August: *China’s entry restrictions loosen for certain people with special approval, but still not for families in our particular situation. *Josh’s sister-in-law Tami, who we’d been living with since March, contracted COVID. We quickly moved out to an Airbnb in the area.
September: *After quarantine, treatment, monitoring, and testing, we and all other exposed family members avoided infection and Tami fully recovered, praise God! *One week prior to closing on our new house, there was a major leak and water damage at the house, after which we decided not to go forward with the purchase. *Felt a strong message from the Lord that our time in the U.S. was ending, and that it was time to return to Asia ASAP. *Set out for Austin, TX to spend time with Josh’s parents until we were able to return to Asia. During long road trip South, China announced relaxation of entry restrictions for families in our situation. We immediately bought plane tickets, which would soon become much harder to come by.
October: *Spent several slightly more stable weeks in Austin working, spending time with Grandma & Grandpa Lange, and preparing for our return to Asia.
A time of mutual encouragement with Shanghai small group friends and supporters who now live in Texas.
And now tomorrow is the day! We are excited, exhausted, anxious, and grateful. We’ve done all the packing, received all the negative COVID tests, and completed the other logistical steps. How can we possible express how grateful we are for the many people here in the States who have blessed us and encouraged us during this ‘ADVENTURE 2020’ season? It’s been truly amazing.
As a part of the sustainable partnership development process mentioned earlier, we have been reconnecting with some of you by phone or Zoom call, and we plan to continue that process even after our arrival back home in Asia. So, expect to hear from us! And if you’d like to beat us to it, please reach out by email or text at 314-669-5745. It would be great to hear from you! Coco and I would love to get on a call with you to share more about what God has been putting on our hearts this year and to invite you to join us in partnership, as God leads us.
PRAYER REQUESTS
Thanksgiving to God for clearing the obstacles and making it possible for us to return to Asia earlier than expected.
Pray that we would be spared any infection or sickness during our travels in the coming days, and that we would be approved for home quarantine in our apartment, rather than at one of our city’s designated quarantine hotels.
Pray for our son John. All the changes over the past few months have been difficult for his little heart, and He has been showing more signs of fear and anxiety. Please pray for God’s Peace and Courage for him.
Pray for our CWEF team, as we continue to make plans for 2021 for work in China and Cambodia. In particular, we have been praying about a greater emphasis on mental health in our health programs. Pray for wisdom and clear direction for these ideas.
Ask God to give faith and courage to our team members - Li Ying, Maggie, Jenny, Kanhchana, Panhary, Buntha, & Renee.
Finally, for Coco and I – pray for an abundance of faith, hope, and love from the Lord.
Thank you for walking with us as we walk with Him on this adventure of faith. He has used you in a wonderful way to bless the people CWEF works with, and to sustain us as we serve. We are so grateful for your partnership in the Gospel, and for your many prayers and gifts through the years.
Thank you for your prayers and support!
In His Love,
-Josh, Coco, John and Sophie