Life is Tough.....

Its been a tough month for some of us POM's (parents of missionaries). We have had many urgent prayer requests on the POM network on yahoo.  I can say that having Michele's finger septic, them traveling to NZ, and the ultimate surgery was stressful for me. If nothing else I lost sleep both in prayer and waiting to hear what was happening, since they are awake when I'm supposed to be asleep. I am so thankful to God that Michele didn't loose her finger, but hopefully I would have been just as thankful to God if the situation had not gone so well, and I continue to pray for her mobility to come back. 


Our children live tough lives. What is normal for us here in USA is not what most of them are dealing with. I have had to come to terms with this. 
I was talking to Erik one day and he was sharing with me about the road into the village. 
I call this road  the "nightmare". While visiting, I have had some harrowing experiences on this stretch of land, I seriously don't think road is the correct name for it, but  that day Erik reminded me that this is his life. Everyday he has to deal with the harshness of living in a third world country. Whether it is the road, or the water, or disease, or daily village life there is always something that I would view as an urgent prayer request  but he would see as normal daily living.  
One thing I know for sure, which ever way one looks at it, God is Faithful. 
Faithful to me a worried mom, Faithful to my son a harried missionary.


So how have I come to deal with the anxiety, stress, and worry of having them live the way they do? 
First just accepting that it is what it is. Getting to visit, and seeing their lives for myself, getting
 to know the villagers has made me realize this is their life, and this is where God is using them
. 
Second, Prayer helps me. 
I can enter the throne room of grace and God understands and hears my hearts cries, after all they are His children too. 
And He has the power to meet their needs and calm my anxious heart. 
And He does both wonderfully. Sometimes it is awing and humbling to see God meet the needs of a missionary. 

Lastly and believe me I'm still working on this one because it does not come easy for me is Thankfulness. 
My 1000 point thankful list has really helped me in this area. 
I'm up to 486 at this writing, and I continue to look at daily things in my life that I can thank my God for. I'm realizing He is good to us all the time. 


We are entering a new year. My children are still in Vanuatu, they are still translating the scripture, they are still living in a small village with out the luxuries we have here, but we both serve a mighty God and He is able. 


Happy New Year POM's , my heart is with you all.