"...in all my remembrance of you..."

Some songs are dangerous to listen to while you're living far away from your extended family and friends.  They should almost be illegal.  I was listening to one such song just the other day, and thinking of "home".  It was "Faith My Eyes" by Caedmon's Call.
   I know we probably won't be returning to the U.S. soon; there is still work to be done here, and I'm glad and honoured to be a part of doing it.  I couldn't imagine doing something other than what God has given us to do here.  And yet, I think of home.  There are things I miss; specifically people I miss.  I think about my family: nieces I've never met, our kids growing up far from their family, other friends growing and having life experiences without us, and it's hard.  We know this is where God wants us to be, no question.  But sometimes I feel lonely.
   However, God has given us many friends and family here too.  We have been able to build strong friendships which will hopefully last the rest of our lives.  When we return to the States, I know we will be eager to come "home" to Australia and we'll be thinking of our "family" here.  We have been adopted into the kinship system, so I have more sons and uncles and aunties and grandmas than I know what to do with!
   Two specific men have been a special blessing to me: my indigenous brother, and my indigenous father.  Both of them are learning to follow the Lord and obey His Word, and they have been an encouragement to me.  My "dedi"(father in Kriol) lives in another community about 3 1/2 hours from Barunga, but he and my mami have come to many of the workshops we have done in the last 2 years.  He's a calm man with a gentle spirit.  Before he became a believer, he was one of the "serrimonimen" (traditional ceremony leaders) for his people.  After coming to the Lord, he decided it wasn't right for him to continue with the ceremony he led, so he stopped.  This was not looked on favourably in the community, but he stood firm in his faith.  He is a man I respect and look up to.
   My indigenous brother is another man I respect.  He is a new believer, and has shown true interest and desire to grow in his faith.  He left a life of alcohol after his Christian grandmother passed away.  He came to our house and asked to pray to dedicate his life to Christ, like his grandmother had trusted Christ.  He has continued to prove his conversion through constant attendance at church(even though he is the only man other than myself) and Baibul study.  Many times he has come to our house to pray and have Baibul study.  He is currently spending time living near my indigenous father, to grow in his faith and remove himself from tempting situations.
   I was especially encouraged when he made the decision to go and stay with my dedi, because then he has an indigenous man who lives here to help disciple him and grow him in the Lord. :)

So, though I feel homesick and think of all the family and friends we're missing back home, I am also blessed with this new family God has given us here.  Each of you are also part of our family, if you trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour and Lord.  Until we see you all again,

"I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all, in view of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now.  For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.  For it is only right for me to feel this way about you all, because I have you in my heart..."
Philippians 1:3-7a