25 Christmases

Dr. Jim and Kathy Radcliffe are my PNG papa and mama.  The first time I remember meeting them I was a student at Mount Vernon Nazarene College.  As a pre-med with a call to missions, I was awed by the stories and pictures that Dr. Jim shared with the science majors.  And of course we share the same Ohio State alma matter.  Dr. Jim is a hard core Buckeye fan, even from the other side of the world.

Thanks to my Radcliffe connections and their encouragement, I made my first visit to PNG as a fourth year medical student.  I volunteered for three months, working in both the hospital and with CBHC.  It was during that trip that the Radcliffes became part of my family.  They had me to dinner more times than I can remember!  They have always been so gracious to adopt stray volunteers :).

Here I am with Dr. Jim and Kathy and Tanu during my 2005 trip to PNG.

Fast forward a few years to 2010.  On July 4th weekend, Dr. Jim and Kathy celebrated 25 years of service in Papua New Guinea.  I wonder how many people they have blessed over the years.  I am just one.  There are so many more.  Can you imagine how many surgeries have been performed?  So many lives saved.  Wow... what an incredible legacy.

To Dr. Jim and Kathy and all of your family... thank you for your service.  May the Lord bless you many times in return.

"Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men."

~ Ephesians 6:7

P.S.  If you happen to wonder why the title of this blog entry is "25 Christmases," let me explain.  In a place where time and dates aren't really that important, years are marked by the passing of Christmas.  So rather than ask how old someone is, you ask "How many Christmases are you?"

Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty." ~ John 6:35

Home is where the heart is

Home is where the heart is.

On my recent trip to the States, I was reminded at how blessed I am to have so many places to call "home."

During my 6 years in Fort Worth, many friendships were forged in the fire of residency at JPS.  I spent a tornado style 2 days of visiting with former faculty, co-wokers, friends, and my Westridge church family.  And it was a Texas-sized tornado, making the most of every moment!  Brent and Elaine and Heather and the Carters and so many others... it was wonderful to be with you.  The time was short, but oh so sweet.

And of course Mount Vernon is and will always be home sweet home.  Time with my family was therapeutic after months of limited communication due to malfunctioning internet.  I welcomed my new nephew and was able to enjoy his first week of life.  I'm really going to miss that lil dude.  It is crazy to think that he will be walking and talking the next time I visit!  Praise the Lord for Skype and now-working internet.  At least I get to SEE him grow up (virtually).  My friend Sarah's wedding was also the catalyst for numerous reunions with forever friends... late night chats over a cold Coke or Friendly's ice cream.  I only wish there had been a wee bit more time to visit with those I missed.

"Where in the world is Aunt Steph?"

I am so thankful that I had the opportunity to visit my Columbus home and my little church in the inner city.  Thanks to all of you who have supported and mentored and prayed for me.  I am praying for you, too.  Lower Lights will always have a special place in my heart.

I was a little concerned that at the end of my visit to the US, I wouldn't be ready to come back to PNG.  Would I be leaving my heart in America?  

To tell you the truth, 3 weeks in the modern world was just about to be overwhelming for this FOB.  As much as I enjoy escaping the bush, I have really come to enjoy the simplicity of life there!  

More than that, I realized how much the people of Kudjip have also become my home... Beck and Brutus and Pete, Meti, my fellow missionaries, girls in the Bible study, colleagues at the hospital, Robert and Kauntz, and so many more who have touched my life over this past year and a half.  In Mark 10, Jesus promised that those who left home and family and everything else for the sake of His kingdom would get that and more in return.  His promise is so true.  Thank you, Lord, for that gift.

"I tell you the truth," Jesus replied, "no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children for fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields--and with the persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life."

~ Mark 10:29-30