Perfect Peace

The prophet Isaiah makes a promise I have clung to often over the past ten years. "You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in You." 26:3 Yet again just days before we were set to return to East Africa, this Scripture came up in my study and I knew...1. There would be causes to need to trust and 2. He would be faithful yet again.

We all six got to trust in some new and intense ways in our few days in Uganda and South Sudan, but we praise Jesus...once again, He proved Himself faithful to our family...when there was no reason for human understanding...He kept us in His peace! Hallelujah! Praise God Forever!

We shared our two dogs with friends who run a local radio station when we left Arua.
We knew there they would get food without any other person loosing out on food and
we hoped they might be a blessing to our friends as security dogs at night!
We were told a few weeks back that one of the two had died of cancer.
A vet had cared for her, but sadly she had died. That was Marori.
One of our least peaceful moments was visiting Wilmore.
We missed her mama, Marori,
and it made Arua not seem as much like home,
since she was no longer ours.
Trusting Jesus, we prayed even as we left Wilmore that day
that Jesus would provide a dog for us in Scotland in His time...
and that MIRACLE will be another post!

One of the coolest things as we visited our home-home was Elsie Jayne's mango tree.
She planted it with me when she was two...for her birthday.
And now it was nearly as tall as the roof!
So cool, but so much life this plant has lived, our yard has seen since we have been away.
It was another reminder that this home isn't our home home now,
but we were thankful for the memories that fill this place and that home it has been.

One more group photo at the sand pit mango tree!
Jesus has been so kind to us in this yard!
We rejoiced again at His many good gifts!

Saying farewell to daddy as he flew into South Sudan.
I was nervous I would be so unsettled at this point...
and Jesus was my perfect peace!

and then Sophia got bitten by a snake!
And He was still faithful!

It was either a non-poisonous one or He sweetly and speedily
healed her! We rushed her to the clinic and she enjoyed
her chocolate lollie while we watched the swelling go down.
Hallelujah! Praise God Forever!

The stories of Billy's time in South Sudan are incredible and horrible.
I'm not sure what I can tell and what must be held quietly in our hearts due to the political situation there, but I can say here...Jesus was our peace.
There was no peace outwardly at all.
Our friend who traveled with us said of his first journey to South Sudan,
"They welcomed us with bullets."
And yet, by God's grace, they came back to tell the story.
I know Billy will here one day, but for now, THANK YOU for praying.
Jesus Himself was our deep peace.
Please keep praying for His peace in South Sudan.