Pulling together some random thoughts!

Life has been crazy with Popa's eye surgery. The surgery itself went very well; the problem being .... now that the cataract is gone the extensiveness of the problem is exposed to Popa and he has been anxious about just how much his eyesight is affected. The pressure in his eye was up last week and so we have had some extra doctor appointments. We are still putting in eye drops four times a day and will return to the doctor this week for more evaluation. We have also been traveling every week-end to be in a church about 100 miles away while the pastor is out of town. We will be traveling again this week-end as I will be preaching on Mother's Day at City Blessing Church....then the following week-end our good friends are saying good-bye to their pastorate and taking up a new ministry while other good friends are being installed as the new Senior Pastors about 75 miles south of here they have asked us to come be a part of the transitional service. Life seems to get busier and busier....I can't help but ask myself 'what does it all mean?'. We were able to spend some time with Violet, Herbie and Big Weld this week-end. In fact I did their parents the awesome favor of taking the grandchildren to McDonalds and buying them Happy Meals with the singing 'American Idol' toys. Let's just say it is great being the 'Nona' and not the Mommy. I will pick up youngest daughter's son from kindergarten today and spend a little time with him, he loves 'Tom and Jerry' and eating snacks at my house. I wonder if God is delighted by the simple little pleasures of spending time with his family? Wonder is not exactly the right word, of course God delights in the pleasure of spending time with us...it is more about the wonder of the intensity of the delight. I trust our lives make HIS heart glad. I want to encourage you today to purpose to delight the heart of God with your lifestyle. More from the busy Nona later.

Week-end Thoughts!

It has been a long week. Popa had some doctor appointments and actually ended up at the surgery center one day to have an epidural injection, which helped with the low back pain. The eye doctor scheduled him for cataract surgery on April 28th. He has three appointments on Tuesday this week, I can't imagine we will get anything else done. My joints are achy and swollen again today. I hope this can be rememdied soon as I do not enjoy pain. The local grandsons are here today and their parents should be showing up any moment, I think they are ready for a change in venue and I am ready for a quiet nap. They are delightful little guys whom I love more than I ever imagined I could. Looking forward to some time with princess and her twin brothers next week after we go to Grants Pass to celebrate YaYa's husband's 60th birthday. It should be fun, good friends are hard to find these days and we are blessed to have several in our lives from years gone by. No real news, we had to make a trip north for an appointment on Friday, God is always faithful and our time was fruitful. Keep trusting Jesus, HE truly cares for each one of us. Nona

Nona's Thoughts Today April 9, 2008

I am a bit overwhelmed with the lack of purpose I feel now that I find myself home in Oregon. Popa and I are ernestly seeking the Lord for direction. We find ourselves truly dependent upon HIM, the maker of heaven and earth. How does one traverse these difficult waters of decision without God's leading? We are pressing into God with all we have and know HE has a plan that will satisfy the longing of our hearts. It has been a real joy to see our darling grandchildren and visit with our daughters and their hubbies. They want to see us fulfill all that God has for us and they are praying for wisdom and guidance. I once read that a missionary is only truly happy when they are in the "air" coming or going....it might be true!!!! Jesus is all together lovely and HIS ways are perfect. May you find yourselves leaning into HIM with all your being. HE will never leave you or forsake you. NONA

My thoughts are just my thoughts!

I cannot believe we have been home for five days. I must admit that the No Jet-lag pills we got from AAA really helped. I am still not completely turned around on this time thing but I am at least functioning to some degree. Someone asked me if my trip seemed surreal now that I am back home...the real problem is that life in Sri Lanka and even life in China had eternal purpose and I for one am not willing to return to life here in Oregon without that eternal purpose. God alone knows where I can best serve HIM and I want to find myself in that place very quickly. Popa and I have never been people who can sit on the sideline and let life go by; I do not believe that is God's plan for us now. Our last Sunday in Sri Lanka....Popa and I both got to share in People's Church it was wonderful to be able to minister God's word and to minister to his people. We anxiously await our return to the beautiful island and the people we love so much. In case, our friends next door to the flat are reading this blog, please email me....I forgot to get your email addresses. The American Nona of three Sri Lankan grandchildren.

Nona's Thoughts in Sri Lanka

Today is March 24th and Popa and I were able to spend the day at Mount Lavinia Hotel south of Colombo. It is a beautiful beach and the weather was perfect. We had a buffet breakfast and fish and chips for an early supper. We got too much sun! Our time here in Sri Lanka as been fabulous and we are sad to see our visit coming to an end. Popa and I have been playing Wii with the kiddos next door to the flat, oh what fun. Popa was quite exhuberant in his competitiveness this evening. While he played I went for a quick birthday visit for one of the pastor's wives. We had chocolate cake and a nice visit. The availability of products is quit surprising and life is actually quite enjoyable now that we have air conditioning to sleep with. We enjoyed a wonderful meal yesterday with our Sri Lankan family and then went for espresso with the eldest son and his wife. It is amazing to be old friends and to share the goodness of God with one another. One week from today we will begin our journey towards Oregon, where oh where has the month of March gone. My thougths today are simply about the faithfulness of my God, the true and living God! I am overwhelmed with HIS love for me and want to remind each of you that HE loves you. The travelling Nona.

Nona in Sri Lanka

Today is Monday, March 10, 2008. Popa and I are at People's Church in Colombo, Sri Lanka using their Wi-Fi, after using other modes of internet connection this is superb. I am also sitting in an air-conditioned office awaiting the morning tea. My oldest daughter is going to be disappointed as I cannot find the sweetner you hold between your teeth as you drink your tea. This has been an adventure of a lifetime. It has been amazing to return to this beautiful island after 24 years and meet old and new friends alike. My hair has begun to curl, I do not know whether this is good or bad or if it even matters. Popa is excited to be able to get a latte on a daily basis and we are enjoying the rice and curry. The traffic is horrible and that is putting it mildly. I just close my eyes and trust God to get us to our destination safely. The fact that has become crystal clear to me is that no matter where we go, God is there. His word says, HE will never leave us or forsake us and so we are always in HIS keeping. There is no better place to be than in the hands of our God. May you each one find time to reflect on HIS guidance in you own lives today. More from the travelling Nona later.

Thoughts from Sri Lanka

Today is March 3rd, 2008, we arrived back in Sri Lanka two days ago. It is a bit overwhelming to return after 20 something years. We have been emotionally challenged the last few days with memories and wonderings about what ifs. It is beautiful here, the palm trees and the beautiful flowers. The people are much as we remember. Those we knew are older just as we are older. It is the favor of God on our lives that allows us to be here. Popa has suffered daily with the heat and my leg has swollen to three times its normal size but these are physical trials that do not compare with all surpassing glory of our Lord. We are humbled to think God would ordain us to once again serve him for this month in Sri Lanka. I have so many thoughts I do not know what to share in this blog. We had three divine appointments enroute and felt God sustain us physically on the long journey. Our friend and interpreter from years ago has been serving in Lebanon for the past 10 years as a missionary with her husband; they will be returning to Sri Lanka in April. If they are coming the first part, we may extend our stay in order to see them. We are expectantly waiting on the direction of the Holy Spirit. Be encouraged God has plans for all of our lives, plans to prosper us, to give us a hope and a future. More from the beautiful island of Sri Lanka later. love, Nona