Our expanding household (no, we're not pregnant)!

Our household has once again expanded to two families.

Recently Peter and I were talking about a need to be more intentional in mentoring a few key relationships we have here in Thailand. But how to do this with our heavy travel schedule? When we get home we just want to "veg-out" and stay at home. Who are we kidding? This isn't likely to change, we decided.

The following day the Thai-Hmong managers of MVF, Tanadon and Yu, came to discuss some personal concerns. And the thought occurred to both of us--"Why not invite them to live with us?" It could be beneficial to both our families. Last year we'd invited them to join us, but they'd said no. The timing wasn't right. Then we realized that had they said yes, we wouldn't have had the special time we'd had with Dennis and Heather Choate over the past months.

But this time, the answer was "Yes". So we're back to being an extended family--the 4 of us and two precious little girls, Jamie 4, and Salapao 1. We didn't look for a big house--this was the only one available. But God has used it well. We've shared with Wessel, then Janet and Alan, Kevin and Ramona, Mary Jo, Dennis & Heather, and now this young family.

With this move, Peter and I realized, again, something about ourselves. Our best experiences, our deepest friendships, our most profound impact on lives has come when we shared closely with others. It was delightful to feel God's affirmation this morning in my reading. Henry Nouwen wrote in Gracias, "It is a privilege to have the time and freedom to practice this simple ministry of presence...I wonder more and more if the first thing shouldn't be to know people by name, to eat and drink with them, to listen to their stories and tell your own, and to let them know with words, handshakes, and hugs that you do not simply like them, but truly love them." We are looking forward to these shared times when we are home. Ruthie.