Because of Bob

This past week marked a year since the day when Bob crashed.

 

We still look back and wonder, Why?

 

We press forward, with the hope that one day it will all make sense.

 

Pastor Rob was inspired to come see what he could do to help support and inspire missions and missionaries after hearing of Bob’s crash.  Pastor Rob runs a ministry of summer camp, that has impacted my boy’s lives every summer.  Without any hesitation, Summer Camp, would be at the top of Aubrey and Andrew’s summer highlights.  Often over family vacations (ouch).  Their one week experiences at summer camp have not only taught them to love wake boarding and have an incredible time with old and new friends, but they have also had many spiritual “high” moments there.  So to have Pastor Rob come to Papua, Indonesia…..was in essence bringing a little bit of favorite summer memories to our doorstep.

 

As the calendar would reveal, there was only one great date for Pastor Rob to travel, we welcomed him to our home and Papua last week.  The older boys were able to wiggle out of an extra day of school, already a long weekend.  And were able to travel with Darron and Pastor Rob into the far interior.  The purpose of this trip was to check out if it would be a good location to build a jungle chapel church.  The younger boys and I, stayed home, praying that their time would be beneficial.  Upon their return three days later, clothes and shoes covered in mud, they shared their stories.  Stories of poverty and men wearing gourds, deep faith and jungle hikes.  Except, Pastor Rob said, “That was no hike, that was a mountain scramble.”  They ate plants along the trail and dreamed of building churches to support members in remote places.  Pastor Rob told me that he enjoyed watching Darron in this setting.  He said, “Darron was so relaxed, that he made me feel relaxed.  Whatever Darron did, I did.”  He also commented that Aubrey and Andrew were great in their interactions with the people and mission at hand. 

Pastor Rob was with us until this past Wednesday.  We were able to take him to one of our beautiful beaches on Monday.  On Tuesday, Darron and he checked out another church building site in a low land setting off the ocean coast line.  In the evenings we would mull and plan.  Groups coming to help build these churches.  To give hope, to keep doing what Bob loved to do.

We are excited at the possibilities all of this could bring.  Multiple small mission groups a year.  We are also not in denial that it could mean a lot of work on our end too.  Especially in the kitchen!!!! : )  However, God is already providing with food dehydrators and cooks and friends who are willing to help.  Our kids are super energized at the thought of young adults and teens coming from America to experience Papua in radical remote settings.  So we will see how God leads…..

……we don’t understand, but it is in part because of Bob.  Thank you Bob and Jan (and kids) for the work that you did and are still doing in Papua.  The seeds are sprouting because they are falling on good rich fertile soil.