Special Friends

The past 2 weeks have been incredible. Our good friends, Chad and Meredith and their 5 kids are visiting us and volunteering at Beautiful Gate. The fact that they are here was definitely a God appointment because we almost did not find time to get together while we were on furlough.

Bryan and I have known Chad and Meredith for 15 years. They were volunteers in our college ministry through our church when we were attending Calvin College. They were kind enough to invite Bryan and I to join their bible study after we were married and for 8 years we met together faithfully every Thursday night. We really felt like they, and many other members of our bible study, were like family after meeting together and sharing our life and faith for so many years.

I never could have even imagined that Bryan and I would be living here in Lesotho and that God would allow our friends to bring their family and visit us. They are such encouraging friends and sharing our “new” life with them has been exciting. Seeing Beautiful Gate through their eyes has been amazing. Seeing their kids bonding with the Beautiful Gate kids and sharing special moments with them has been rewarding. Sharing the details of all that has happened in the last 3 years with Chad and Meredith has been encouraging also. They have such good insight and advice and are amazing listeners as well as great with asking questions! Meredith has formed special friendships with some of our staff and is enjoying going from house to house helping her daughters during feeding time and playing with all the kids during play group. Chad has been off campus more and been working with a local clinic that rarely has access to a doctor, but has also been able to help in the houses and give a check up to a few of our sick kids (including Faith who had good timing to get sick while he was here).

A chance meeting where God was stirring in their hearts to do a family mission trip, my son Elijah in his excitement of sharing about BG encouraged them to bring their family and come because we had something for everyone in the family. God gave us a special gift of renewed friendships and new friendships formed as our kids have had the chance to get to know one another. God is good and this is just one small example of His goodness. Looking forward to enjoying another week with our special friends.