April 20th, 2010, Our "See You Later" Sendoff Party at Dwayne and Donna Brown's home in Bucuresti, Romania. We are still recovering from the party given in our honor Tuesday night. These folks from, Mississippi, Tennessee and Missouri sure know how to throw a shin-dig! The men and women in these pictures are the fellow missionaries we have had the honor of serving with in Bucuresti. They are a great group of people to work with. We have such sweet fellowship and brotherly love that only comes from our foundational relationship with Jesus Christ.
I suppose you could say Randy and I have been "Roasted". It really wasn't so painful, but impossible to keep a dry eye. It's very touching to hear your colleagues say such complimentary things about you and know that they are sincere.
Randy or I neither one felt prideful in any way as we sat and listened as each person took their turn to speak. For me it was a humbling experience, what ever good quality they saw in me, it was of the Lord, it wasn't me. I am leaving the mission field a different person from when I arrived, the Lord has done a work in me. I'm most grateful to the Lord for the work He began; and He's still working on me.
When Monday rolls around, we load up the suitcases and our colleagues escort us to airport it will be so very hard to part. Randy and I will not leave Romania whole, we will be leaving a part of our hearts behind. We learned to love this Country and the precious people here who need to hear the plan of salvation. We were called to Romania according to His purpose. Now it's time to go back to the U.S. and a new mission field with the Lord. In time our hope is to be able to return on a mission trip. We will see our colleagues again. It's not goodbye, it's we'll see you later.
We thank God for the awesome opportunity to have served as missionaries in Galati and Bucuresti Romania. Our lives have been changed forever. What a privilege to be a servant.
