On the 15^th of August after missing a flight and having to spend the whole night sitting in the Las Angeles Airport we finally returned home.  Exhausted we spent the weekend in bed trying to recover.

Our trip home had many good events and many trials.  Our attempts to raise support (after experiencing a drop in our personal support) had resulted in no responses.  Support for the organic certification for the farm so that we could sell and export our crop (which is going to harvest in late January) only reached the halfway mark of what we believed that we need to raise.

So exhaustion, the difficulties of travel, a sense of being disconnected from people, combined with the financial issues fed into a feeling of discouragement.

As we went into the first week of being home we both got very sick (COVID or the flu), the treatment was the same.  So we purchased the medication we needed and began a week of flu-like symptoms, weakness, endless sleeping, and an inability to focus or get anything done. 

We both are still struggling with some of the symptoms, but the medication we took worked and we are back on our feet for the most part.  Natalie had an especially hard time adjusting.

So, with a dark cloud riding over us we started into that next week.

On Wednesday nights we have an in-depth Bible study that has been meeting for over two years now.  The people who make up this group are people from five different denominations, which make this a unique group, indeed. 

These are people who are committed to growing in the knowledge of the Word of God and then applying it in their lives.  We had spent most of the time studying through the Westminster Confession of Faith and had spent some time on our need to be involved in making disciples.

Our preparation for mission work had stressed the importance of preparing individuals from the culture to do the work within their culture.  We were being called to pour our time and lives into these individuals and then they would go out and reach others.

I tell you all this so that you can fully understand what I am going to share with your next.

During the Wednesday night Bible study that week a brother shared several pictures with me.  He had spoken with a couple of people in his church regarding joining a discipleship group. This had occurred during our first month in the States. 

By the time we had returned 11 people were now attending his weekly discipleship group with others indicating their interest.

It is amazing how rejoicing with others can lift you up.  Since that Wednesday we have had multiple people share with us the impact of our involvement in their lives – God knew we needed to hear this!  Of course, all the glory goes to the Lord and the work of His Spirit.  But, the encouragement has been powerful.

My dad shared this verse with Natalie and me in an email:

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

 1 Corinthians 15:58

My spirit, even in the struggles, has been lifted up.  To see God working and to see others growing and moving out in obedience to the Lord brings such encouragement and joy.

He lifts us up in our despair.

for His glory,

Stephen Goff
Stephen.Goff@N-Response2.com
www.N-Response2.com
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My Blog Page: Nicamoments