A Change of Plans

Brooke Army Medical Center

Well, I am sure you have all been following our journey the past 3 months, either on Facebook or by email.  I just wanted to update our blog to let you know how things are going and what our plans are.

 

The devotion for Friday, Nov. 14 was this:  A Change of Plans

Ecc 11:5  “Just as you cannot understand the path of the wind or the mystery of a tiny baby growing in its mother's womb, so you cannot understand the activity of God, who does all things. “

Briefly:  On Saturday, Nov. 15, Steven, was shot in Afghanistan...we were flown to Germany to see him there in the hospital…they put us on the plane with him to the states….we have been here at Brooke Army Medical Center at Ft. Sam Houston in San Antonio, TX…he has had 3 surgeries…our sponsor in England lost their license for sponsorship so our visas were cancelled and we were not permitted to return.

It all sounds like a big nightmare, but in reality, we have seen the Lord’s hands in this at every turn and we have had an amazing peace that He is in control and He knows what He is doing.  In fact, it has been awesome to just stand back and watch to see what the Lord would do.  Steven’s last surgery was a real answer to prayer.  The doctors were able to do exactly what they had hoped, they are very pleased with the outcome, and he is healing well.

Purple Heart and Bronze Star ceremony

In every place, we have been literally surrounded by believers who have prayed with and for us and encouraged us in so many ways.  It is amazing how many believers are here at this base and working in this hospital.  At times, we have almost felt like we have been sent to a Christian retreat center.  The majority of the doctors and nurses who have been assigned to Steven have encouraged us with their prayers and awesome care.  Most of the army people we have dealt with are also believers and just amazing people.  It is mind blowing!  They are continually asking how we are doing and if there is anything at all they can do for us.

These guys prayed for us in the hall at Walter Reed

We are living with Steven in the Liberty barracks which is for soldiers who are recovering from illness or injuries.  It is basically a fairly nice 2 bedroom apartment so we are all together. 

We have applied with a new sponsor in the UK and are waiting for the confirmation from them to apply for new visas.  We are hoping that by the end of March we will be able to return to England and continue the ministry we were doing there. 

What I really want to share with you all (ha..Texan accent coming on)  is just how awesome the Lord’s hand has been in all of this.  We couldn’t have seen any of this at the beginning, but in looking back we are absolutely amazed at how He has worked it all for good.

When we left for Germany, we had no idea that our sponsor would lose their license and therefore our visas would be invalid.  When that happened, the UK government required us to leave the country and return to our country of origin to apply for new visas under new sponsorship.  If the army had not sent us to the states with Steven, we would have had to purchase plane tickets to come back, find a place to live while we looked for a new sponsor and got new visas, and then paid for plane tickets to return to England.  We have had to renew our passports because they will expire within 6 months of the time our new visas will expire…the UK requires them to be valid a minimum of 6 months past the expiration of the visas.  There are fees for the new sponsorship, the new passports, the new visas and the plane tickets to return.  All of that comes to around $3800.  That doesn’t include living expenses here while we waited. 

Since the army sent us here, they have made sure we have not had to pay for anything out of our pocket. In fact, they have been giving us daily living expenses every day since we left England and also paid us travel expenses for the travel days and miles.  Most of the time we eat here for free and we have been given a car with paid insurance. Since we are living in the barracks on the base, we have been able to save up all the money we have needed to pay for the passports, sponsor and visas and still continue to keep up the rent and utilities on our cottage in Ivybridge.

The UK is requiring that we prove that we have had at least $2500 in our bank account every day 90 days before applying for new visas.  This we will be able to do!  When we return to England the army will pay for it!

So, even though this whole situation has been a very difficult one (for Steven especially), the Lord has turned it to good.  Living together has actually been a good thing for us.  We have enjoyed being together and it has made this whole trial more bearable for Steven by not having to be alone in it.

Grandma came to visit

Alamo

We are so very, very thankful that our God is such a loving, gracious and good Father Who sees and knows way beyond our understanding and works in our lives His perfect plans.

We are also very, very thankful for all of you who have prayed and loved and supported us through this time.  We are overwhelmed by the care from all of you to us in so many ways.

We are anxious to get back to our lives in England and continue the ministry there to the people who are so hungry for hope and encouragement….and it is only to be found in the One Who is the Giver of all hope and in the knowledge of His Word.

Thank you for your continued prayers for Steven and for us.  We love you and pray the Lord blesses you all greatly.

Isa 55:8-11  "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," declares the LORD.  For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, And do not return there without watering the earth And making it bear and sprout, And furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater; so will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.”