Busy

Lately, it has been rather fast-paced for me at work. About two weeks ago, it was particularly stressful. Things went crazy in one of our cases, and the assistant in charge was out of office. So they had to draw on every resource possible, and one evening, I even got home only after 8 PM. Since the end of last week, the workload has become lighter again, but this is only the peace before the next storm. Now another one of my colleagues is on leave, and we will have to replace her with two huge tasks. Bottom line: I really look forward to my vacation in August!

I've been praying for the leadership of our church in Belgium. At the beginning of June, there were elections for the next 4-year term of the Conference officers. The Pastor of our English-speaking church, who is also the Conference President, didn't want to continue in his office, but they absolutely didn't manage to find a successor. Each eligible person declined. In the meantime, our Pastor also accepted a call to Quebec. So in principle, him and his family will leave Belgium in the fall. However, a replacement for him is still to be found, as well as somebody who could become the new pastor in our church. But who shall take over these tasks? I think our church in Belgium is facing a big challenge, and I've been praying that the Lord may establish a leadership according to His will. I'm sure He has a plan for this little country, nonetheless this appears to be a very difficult time.

I keep receiving not-so-good news from the US. While I was staying at Uchee Pines, we had a lovely elderly couple helping out for a while. Dr. Jackie worked as a physician and her husband Duane helped on the farm and with maintenance, until they decided to finally retire. I just learned that he died from cancer last week. I'm sorry for Dr. Jackie. I'm also very concerned about Dr. Strachan, the psychiatrist at Uchee Pines. Back in February, him and his wife Lou Ann were in an automobile accident on icy road conditions in Oregon. Lou Ann didn't get a scratch, but he was severely injured with complicated neck fractures, which left him paralized. The last thing I heard is that he is finally home in California, but is still in critical condition. He still needs a ventilator to help him breathe, and he is very weak. Nobody knows if he will ever fully recover from this injury. I've been praying a lot for him. He was such a blessing at Uchee Pines, and now it looks like he will never be able to do this work again. I really don't know why the Lord allowed this to happen. But He who does all things well, He knows.

I recently came across a very beautiful song. It's about how the Lord comes through to us in our trials. Click here if you would like to listen to it - it's definitely worth 5 minutes of your time!

We pray for blessings, we pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering

All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops?
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near?

What if trials of this life
Are Your mercies in disguise?

We pray for wisdom, Your voice to hear
We cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough

And all the while You hear each desperate plea
And long that we'd have faith to believe

Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears?
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near?

And what if trials of this life
Are Your mercies in disguise

When friends betray us, when darkness seems to win
We know the pain reminds this heart
That this is not, this is not our home
It's not our home

Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears?
And what if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near?

What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst
This world can’t satisfy?

And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are Your mercies in disguise?