Waiting at airport check-in...still waiting...
Hi team! Massive thanks to everyone who responded with prayers, words of encouragement, and financial support after our update the other day. I was so looking forward to sharing a follow-up post here with a photo of us in our quarantine hotel or back home at our apartment.
Unfortunately, that's not how yesterday went, and we ran into another ADVENTURE 2020 curve in the road. The Air Canada agents at SFO had serious issues at check-in (both user error related to our kids' travel docs and unexplained system tech issues related to Coco's ticket), and so we got stuck at the check-in counter for more than 1.5 hours and missed our flight. They weren't able to hold it, and with our short layover time in Vancouver, there weren't any other options for a later flight. As you can imagine, this is still pretty hard to take right now, but we are going to make the best of it.
The good news is we are scheduled for another flight on November 20 (sooner than I would’ve thought, honestly!), and we're also looking into other flight options. God is so good and has blessed us with loving and generous family and friends here in the Bay Area, who are helping to coordinate what we need right now, like a place to stay and a car to drive. John and Sophie are definitely not upset about this development, as it means bonus cousin time. :)
Bonus time with Aunt Christa and the boys in California now.
In the past 24 hours, God has spoken His words to us from various directions - a text from my dad, the song we've been using to help John fall asleep, morning psalm time at my sister's house, my daily devotion from the BiOY app. ALL of these have been the most important 'lifeline' words from the Lord to us throughout various stages of this year, and He graciously brought ALL of them back to our ears, minds, and hearts in the past 24 hours.
Isn't He amazing?
Romans 8 (the whole chapter, it's so powerful - go read it)
Psalm 46 (a link to this psalm has been in my work email signature for the past few months ; God even arranged that our son John's turn to read was verse 10 - "He says, 'Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.')
Philippians 4:4-13 - "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength."
Hanging on the wall at my sister's house. Appropriate, no?
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