Sunday, October 21st brought significant changes to what we were anticipating in our lives for this last quarter of 2018. Sundays are for rest from our labors. A Sunday afternoon nap, kicking back to read a good book, strumming a six string or a pick up game with friends; rest looks different for each of us. For Daniel, a competitive game of soccer with friends is true rest from the stresses of ministry.
The Lord specifically knows what we most need. We trust His wisdom in having Daniel’s Patellar tendon rupture while leaping for a head ball on the soccer field. The injury was much more complicated than we could have imagined. Necessary surgery in the United States, 8 weeks on crutches followed by 6 months of physical therapy is daunting. Fortunately, the physical, emotional and financial challenges of this seeming interruption have dribbled into our lives in a divinely controlled rate. God is faithful in His promise; “I will not test you above what you are able.”
Five days later upon arrival in Newark, NJ, on Friday, Oct. 26th we first heard, “welcome home” from Mom & Dad Stoltzfus. “We’re so sorry.” Sunday worship at Brick Lane Church initiated dozens of friends lovingly greeting us with: “welcome home; sorry.” The greetings were much more than words. Hearts reached out to us backed by generous gifts verifying the promises of Jesus to supply all our needs according to His riches.
God’s obvious care for us has been a daily evidence of His grace. The timely wisdom of Dr. Dan Iya (Daniel’s father, a general surgeon) and the Amazima medical director prompted us to immediately get an MRI. That information was emailed to Dr. Iya, who urged a trip to the US to have the surgery performed by a specialist. God went before us in providing a miraculous chain of events, people, and timing too numerous to tell in order to accomplish successful surgery on Tuesday, October 30th.
This past February, God worked miraculously to get Daniel’s US citizenship. We cannot imagine the difficulty this trip would have been without Daniel’s US passport. May we look back and again see this grace and be encouraged to have faith in the specific loving providence of God to us.
Since returning to Good Shepherds Fold, to Amazima, and to Nyenga village we have heard hundreds of friends and co-workers greet us with “welcome home; sorry.” Going before us, God provided Corinne’s Mom & Dad as our assistants for this first 10 days of our return to Uganda. Their trip to spend Thanksgiving with us was purchased a month before the injury occurred. This perfectly provided for our needs to travel back to Uganda and get back into ministry after 2 1/2 weeks away. And it is our prayer that Daniel’s recovery will progress to allow us to spend Christmas in Jos, Nigeria with Daniel’s family. We know the “welcome home” greeting there will be repeated.
So where is home for us? It is good to have many places we call home. It is even better to have friends who see us as “coming home” to them. Multiple places to call home and the people there who embrace us in the challenges of life in ministry is God’s specific and continuous grace to us.
But ultimately, in all the challenges of life, it is good to be reminded that true home is not anywhere in this world. On this Thanksgiving Day, we want to express our thanks to EVERYONE; we cannot thank you enough for the means of grace you have been for us. God has used you and your generosity in an eternal way. But no place or people or even family can be the ultimate grace to sustain us. Ultimately, we give thanks to Jesus. We look forward to the final and ultimate welcome to our true home, that welcome from Jesus our King! And no “sorry” then!
Daniel, Corinne, & Danny Iya
The Lord specifically knows what we most need. We trust His wisdom in having Daniel’s Patellar tendon rupture while leaping for a head ball on the soccer field. The injury was much more complicated than we could have imagined. Necessary surgery in the United States, 8 weeks on crutches followed by 6 months of physical therapy is daunting. Fortunately, the physical, emotional and financial challenges of this seeming interruption have dribbled into our lives in a divinely controlled rate. God is faithful in His promise; “I will not test you above what you are able.”
Five days later upon arrival in Newark, NJ, on Friday, Oct. 26th we first heard, “welcome home” from Mom & Dad Stoltzfus. “We’re so sorry.” Sunday worship at Brick Lane Church initiated dozens of friends lovingly greeting us with: “welcome home; sorry.” The greetings were much more than words. Hearts reached out to us backed by generous gifts verifying the promises of Jesus to supply all our needs according to His riches.
God’s obvious care for us has been a daily evidence of His grace. The timely wisdom of Dr. Dan Iya (Daniel’s father, a general surgeon) and the Amazima medical director prompted us to immediately get an MRI. That information was emailed to Dr. Iya, who urged a trip to the US to have the surgery performed by a specialist. God went before us in providing a miraculous chain of events, people, and timing too numerous to tell in order to accomplish successful surgery on Tuesday, October 30th.
This past February, God worked miraculously to get Daniel’s US citizenship. We cannot imagine the difficulty this trip would have been without Daniel’s US passport. May we look back and again see this grace and be encouraged to have faith in the specific loving providence of God to us.
Since returning to Good Shepherds Fold, to Amazima, and to Nyenga village we have heard hundreds of friends and co-workers greet us with “welcome home; sorry.” Going before us, God provided Corinne’s Mom & Dad as our assistants for this first 10 days of our return to Uganda. Their trip to spend Thanksgiving with us was purchased a month before the injury occurred. This perfectly provided for our needs to travel back to Uganda and get back into ministry after 2 1/2 weeks away. And it is our prayer that Daniel’s recovery will progress to allow us to spend Christmas in Jos, Nigeria with Daniel’s family. We know the “welcome home” greeting there will be repeated.
So where is home for us? It is good to have many places we call home. It is even better to have friends who see us as “coming home” to them. Multiple places to call home and the people there who embrace us in the challenges of life in ministry is God’s specific and continuous grace to us.
But ultimately, in all the challenges of life, it is good to be reminded that true home is not anywhere in this world. On this Thanksgiving Day, we want to express our thanks to EVERYONE; we cannot thank you enough for the means of grace you have been for us. God has used you and your generosity in an eternal way. But no place or people or even family can be the ultimate grace to sustain us. Ultimately, we give thanks to Jesus. We look forward to the final and ultimate welcome to our true home, that welcome from Jesus our King! And no “sorry” then!
“Then the King will say... Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.”Thank God with us. Your continuous coming beside us through prayer is vital for us.
Matthew 25:34 (NIV)
Daniel, Corinne, & Danny Iya
