The Journey: Seasons

Family time and a fall walk.

We are visiting our daughter and granddaughter and the colors of fall are delightful. We are eating pumpkin pie, playing hide and seek, reading books and thoroughly enjoying being grandparents.

We're making pumpkin pie!

Paul bought a car when we were at Joy and Patrick’s, so we drove to Southern Oregon in late September to visit Medford First Baptist Church and Mountain View Christian Church. We connected with old and new friends, shared meals and stayed in different homes. We made a presentation at both churches and gave an update on two new developments with the ministry in Costa Rica. First, Darcy, teacher from San Jose committed to volunteer with the ministry for a second year. She is tutoring students in their homes and volunteering in the schools. Students are making good progress and their parents and teachers couldn’t be happier. Secondly, the mission center has a new purpose – it is now a shelter for Cabécar women and children who are socially at risk or for those in need of medical care and follow-up. (Back in 2017 we were praying for a safe shelter for victims of domestic violence. Praise the Lord for this answer!) Our friend Eli is well equipped to host these families and Paul’s worker, Carlos Miguel, and his son, Byron, can care for the farm and the facilities. We are content knowing the ministry is in capable hands.

We’ll be meeting with Tim and Ericka Harris Oct 31 to Nov 5 as they debrief us as missionaries returning to the USA. We’ve been reading Burn Up or Splash Down: Surviving the Culture Shock of Re-Entry by Marion Knell and Re-Entry: Making the Transition from Missions to Life at Home by Peter Jordan. Both books made us realize the amazing experience God gave us and the wonderful support we had from fellow missionaries, friends, family and churches.

Moon rise walk on Hyatt Lake's dry lake bed.

Another homework assignment is a “Seasons Devotional” based in the seasons King Solomon wrote about in Ecclesiastes 3:1-14. It starts “To everything there is a season, and a time for every matter or purpose under heaven…” It has been good to talk over the seasons we have been through in the past ten years. On one of the questions I (Bridget) wrote:

God has used different seasons to

... teach me new aspects about Himself.

...facilitate growth and change in me and in my relationship with Paul.

...connect me to a local church, Bible study, home group, and community.

...expand my skills, abilities, experiences.

...better equip me for the next season.

Ultimately the different seasons of our journey are preparing us for our home with God in eternity.

Please be praying with us about:

- A productive debrief with Tim and Ericka.

- God guides us to where we can serve Him in work/ministry and any training needed.

- God provides us a place to live and a church.

- God gives us wisdom as we make decisions.

We are grateful the Lord has given us this time of transition and for His provision. We have been encouraged by your hospitality, prayers, financial gifts, and potential opportunities for ministry you have shared with us. We are anticipating the next season of what God has already planned for us.

Information on how to make a donation is on our blog https://paulnbridget-thejourney.blogspot.com/p/donate.html .

To God be the glory!

Paul and Bridget Abbott