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Staff Reports
Reports of recent Trips and Work by Godspeed Missionary Care
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Staff Missionary Reports
Reports and Experiences of the Godspeed Staff
He Who began a good work...
Dear friends and family,
My turn this year to prepare the Thanksgiving meal, and as a
result we will be breaking some traditions. It is isn't that
I don't cherish the classic turkey and dressing and all the
other familiar items, rather my cooking skills have limited
the focus to a few food groups. Thus the family Thanksgiving
meal underway as I write (things in the oven) will be
tapas-sized portions (and plenty of them) of cold shrimp with
two sauces, slow-cooked filet mignon, the
always-a-guy-favorite-while-the-game-is-on little smokies in
barbecue sauce, and (thanks to Karen and Caitlin) homemade
cheese spread before and Derby pie after.
We had a time at church this morning where we shared amongst
those there all the ways God has blessed us this past year.
Many of the blessings were not necessarily comfortable ones.
While I was there the mental image of a recent "Antiques
Roadshow" episode came to mind: a lady had brought a very old
piece of furniture; when asked if she had refinished it, she
indicated that it had once been painted and repainted, with
the last coat a distasteful green, evident when she
inherited it. She had removed all those old coats to return
it to what she thought was the desireable original
appearance. She was dismayed when told that had she left
it alone it would be priceless. It made me aware that I
am old enough to have accumulated quite a number of layers
of finish; this past year's layer has at times seemed to be
an unappealing shade of green that I would like to cover up
or remove. But as I step back and look at all God has done
and is doing in my life, and that of my family, I see the
rich patina of His overall grace, His love, His purpose. We
are richly blessed...
Karen and I leave tomorrow for Mozambique, a quick trip
(quick at least on the working side; the travel time is rather
extended) to assist a team through some times of interpersonal
conflict. We thank you for your prayers for us and the work
we are allowed to be part of. May your Thanksgiving and this
upcoming holiday season be rich with awareness of how God is
applying His finish to your lives, brush stroke by brush
stroke...I look forward to hearing from you about the
outcome...
Godspeed,
Barney, for Karen and the Godspeed team
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