Happy Birthday, Josh!

My husband turned 31 last week. I was thinking that I've only been able to celebrate 10 of his birthdays with him - only a third of his life, and yet how marriage melds you, until it seems like you've been a part of this person forever. How thankful I am to have been an integral part of these last 10 years. I couldn't have asked for a better and more faithful life partner.

Anyway, I guess last week was one of those ministry moments where you see for a brief minute the benefits of all the time and energy you've invested in people and in a work. One of the brothers, Gaston, decided he wanted to throw Josh a party. Well, generally, we are a family that prefer to do more quiet celebrations here at home, but at his insistence, we eventually gave in. And it grew from a simple lunch party to a whole church dinner party! Everyone showed up at Gabriella's house, who had graciously agreed to host the party - Gaston cooked 8 chickens for everyone - everyone pitched in to help with the cost. And Josh felt very blessed by the demonstration of everyone's love. As I looked around the room, I felt a mixture of emotions - naturally we are so excited about our furlough. After all, it's been 2 and a half years since we were back. But at the same time, I'm thankful in a way that it's been that long, because I felt that night what a family we have become here, and how I will look forward to coming home to Bolivia and seeing these familiar faces again.