Who Knew?

If anyone had told me 18 months ago, leaving Guyana would be every bit as difficult as leaving St. George, I would have, most certainly, argued the point!  Yes, we are anxious and excited to see our kids and grandkids again, but the idea of getting on a plane on Monday, June 11 and leaving behind those we have come to love to the depths of our soul, was extremely difficult.  We pray each day we have made a difference in some small way in their lives by helping them identify skills, find jobs, get into school and/or enjoy wholesome social activities together.  But in addition to improving their lives, our lives are also changed forever as our family circle has been enlarged to include “my other kids” Christopher, Navin, Marcia and Skippy, Temica, Marissa and Alexis, Leon, Yvonne, Nicardo, Jamaal, Simeon and Selwin.  And, oh, how we will miss the Treseders, Summers, Cooks, Benns and our wonderful, faithful church members in Georgetown, Berbice and Linden.   

When we queried our young mission president – who goes home with his beautiful family to Guadeloupe at the end of the month – as to whether we have made a difference, he reminded  us, “we do missionary work because we want to be like Christ.  You are angels sent by the Lord . . . and, no effort is wasted.”  Who knew our purpose in being here was also because our Savior and Redeemer had people He wanted us to meet, help and love His children in Guyana forever? 

Of course, we look forward to being with our family and renewing our friendships back home, but every day for the rest of our lives, our thoughts, prayers and a large piece of our hearts will be in Guyana . . . and from now on, when anyone asks me how many kids I have, I am going to say 41 . . . the six I gave birth to and 35 beautiful Guyanese kids!!!