Jonathan and Melodee's Flash Furlough Report
October 2009
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 Today, after exactly one month, Melodee and I returned home after a taxing yet wonderful one month furlough. On September first we left Italy. We visited many of you from Michigan to Ohio to Pennsylvania to New York to New Jersey to Pennsylvania to Maryland (passing through Delaware) to Pennsylvania to New York to Pennsylvania to Michigan. Actually, it worked out quite well. We tried our best to be as effective as possible in seeing as many of you as possible and to share the blessing that this trip was to us. Tuesday night was the grand finale as we had an open house at our sending church in Grand Rapids. Many of you came out to share if only a few treasured moments together. The hardest part was always saying goodbye (with being punctual a close second). It was also very difficult to be away from the field, especially with news that my Dad, who is the lead missionary and pastor, had four mini-strokes. We had decided to take a mini furlough with the hopes of not being away from the ministry for too long. We feel it was a wise choice, especially considering the circumstances of my father's illness. We praise God that he is doing quite well now. Thank you. Thank you for your encouragement, for your prayers, for your support, for the fun evenings and days we shared. We are incredibly blessed to know you and to be your partners in ministry. I wish we had pictures to show you of our trip, but at the moment we still have not completely unpacked our bags! Our prayers are with all of you in Christ, Jonathan and Melodee |
