Home at Last

 Good Morning and Happy New Year.

I’m writing this a little early.  I’ll explain our schedule in a bit, but what Oswald Chambers mentioned in our devotional reading today, January 2nd, really resonated with us (as he often does).

He said that we often think that to do something for God requires a plan.  To some extent this is true, but there’s also a case for (Oswald says) simply trusting God and following His lead.

When we first mentioned going to this far Asian destination that I’ve been alluding lately to for security reasons, (and please, if you respond, keep the language safe),  so that Tony could share his discipleship course, many of our friends shook their heads and clicked their tongues.  Only a few said, “We’ll pray with you”, and for that we were very very thankful.  

This month-long trip has been full of wonder; but also wondering a time or two if we were going to survive. And then worrying that we would survive, but it would be awkward. And then being amazed by God’s unbelievable provision at just the right time.

First of all, we had an absolute blessed time seeing old friends and being accompanied by our son, Nathan and his family. Seeing him rekindle old relationships from his childhood, both in Japan and Hong Kong was pure joy. Those of you with kids perhaps know the incomparable experience of seeing them share their lives with their own kids!  Our grandboys were absolutely agog with wonder the whole time, stunned with their Daddy’s command of the language as well as inheriting their ability of making friends as naturally as he always does.   I had to chuckle to notice the oldest kid having a heart to heart with our friend and famous doctor in Hong Kong.  I listened in and found the topic was their Favorite sneakers!  

And then, after we waved the baby Woods goodbye, Tony and I headed to the overlooked (at least to the Western world) country with the most of the mountain ranges of Himalaya, with all its wonders. I’ll have to admit that we were just a little freaked out, knowing that this country does NOT share our faith, and hhas specific laws in place to make sure we did not share our Saviour among non-believers.  I have to confess that our experience in the capitol city was hard, physically, emotionally and spiritually. Please understand, the people were wonderful, especially the ones we had come to see, but in the process, we encountered powers and principalities we hadn’t crossed paths with since the early days of our ministry. It was a time when we were very, very aware of your prayers, knowing that we were surrounded by elements that would have loved to take our lunch, along with the bag it came in and the note from our mothers.

Tony had to keep reminding me of the truth we both knew, that because of our status as children of the King, WE were the scariest things on the block!

We arrived at night, the only flight in for the day, to a sea of faces and no one we could even imagine we knew.  We were taken to a hotel that we’d booked ($22 a night with breakfast).  After a chaotic hour in the taxi, with no communication possible, we finally got to the hotel, not knowing yet if we were even safe. The people we met that night had warm faces, but the room was cold and the water colder, a condition that never improved over the six days we were there. 

We walked around a bit on the first day, still alone, as per  planned, giving us a chance to rest up before we started to work. But the more we saw the more freaked out we became. It is such a spiritual stronghold, of all things anti to what we believe. We remembered all the places we’d encountered thru our lives surrounded by this ‘darkness’ and it was just plain scary.  We asked several of you for extra prayer cover, and I know that made a difference.

Yes, we did have a “Plan”, and that was to teach a band of believers the Anagaion discipleship course.  The second day we were led down a very broken up street to the headquarters of a local trekking business,  guided by a little slip of a girl who was one of the professional trekkers. Any doubts we may have had about her competence (she must have only weighed about 40KG (100Lb) were put to rest when Tony nearly fell into an open sewer.  She reached out and grabbed him with an iron grip. After that she referred to us as ‘Mom and Dad” although it would have been more accurate to say, “Gran and Gramps!”  

In the days to follow, we learned more about our class, and when Tony mistakenly referred to them as “sherpas”, they were quick to point out that, no, they were professional and certified guides. “Sherpas are nothing but glorified bellboys”, they told us. “They carry your luggage,  but make no decisions.”

We learned that one of the young men in the group had recently led a “client”: to within 700 meters (2000 feet) of the summit of Mt. Everest, when the client was struck with altitude sickness and had to be carried down. 

“Couldn’t you have made him comfortable and then run on to the summit (certainly an accomplishment of a lifetime)?

“Yes”, he replied, “but that would have been the end of my career. They hire us to guide, not to abandon!”  

I’m not sure who benefited the most from those eight days, shivering in a room without heat, sharing our faith and making plans for the “next step” in the discipleship process.  We were absolutely amazed at these kids, who not only lead mountaineers from all over to the top of the world,  but also host teams of like minded brothers, many from the US and Australia, intent on spreading the Good news to the remote villages. Most of the places they go meet with only a few like minds, villagers struggling to survive, being so very isolated.  These guides listened enthusiastically to Tony’s teaching and contributed from their experiences, making it just a wonderful time.  

We are returning home with hearts full of praise.  As I said, we really struggled.  We had a “Plan”, but we didn’t anticipate being so weak.  (physically and spiritually).  Fortunately, the Master of the Universe picked up the slack for us, kept us on our feet (literally), kept the stomach rumblings (delicious but VERY spicy food, accompanied by Tibetian Butter Tea: trust me: a bad combination), and all the other foibles of old age at bay, and, as I said, blessed our socks off.  We resurrected an old method from back in the refugee camp days of boiling a kettle and showering tight and effective. Actually,  it was cold enough we really didn’t need too much “cleaning”.  

I can’t tell you enough how special these young adults are to us and hopefully will continue to be. I know we were blessed beyond imagination. 

And I’m also thankful that some dear friends have taken us to their beach house for a couple of days of warm sunshine and rest. complete with no internet to bother us, thus I’m writing this early.  

God may appreciate your plans, but we’ve got to remember, He may be happier if you let Him take the lead! 

As we head into this New Year, we are facing a lot of health questions and would appreciate your prayers.  We’re either sick or just old, either one not being the optimum, but again with God’s “Plan” we move forward as He leads…. probably not to the vast wild areas again though!  Our next travel plans will be in April when we “plan” to cruise to another Anagaion Hawaiian seminar and end of Semester for Tony’s teaching.  A friend said years ago, “Cruises are for the newlyweds or nearly dead” and we feel we have a foot in both categories!

Happy New Year!  

Marsha