Greetings part B

Moving on:

Steve and I are the same...  which is a GOOD thing.  We love each other and although we think it is impossible to love each other more... we continue to grow more in love.  Steve is working still trying to grow his business.  I am still working in ICU at night.  I have found out that our lives are conducive for a person to work nights with it being quiet and dark... I just can't.   I feel like I've aged 10 years, so with that I am going back to days as soon as I can.  I am checking daily for openings and come March I will start calling my connections to see what they can do for me.  Please pray for this to take place.

Mary now up to the plate:

Well, where do I begin?   Okay, from the beginning.  Last March (2010) Mary was asked to travel to Uganda to help some missionary friends with a situation.  After much prayer she went.  (Please understand that as I share this story I am doing so with a smile on my face.  Putting this on black and white just does not do the story justice... hopefully she will see you soon and share it with you personally)  While there she met the staff of a ministry called: SOS (see link to the right).  There she met a man and soon there after ended up ... well they were drawn to each other.  Anthony is a Ugandan and attended The Master's College in California; recall that is the same college Mary attended.  He graduated in May 2003, she started attending August 2003.  He was on the basketball team; she was on the volleyball team.  Her v-ball coach who was engaged at that time married Anthony's best friend; who was also one Mary's friend. Anthony dated one of Mary's v-ball team mates for a short time... Do you see the connections?  Do you see the hand of God leading these two to meet each other???   There is more... after Anthony graduated he went to Texas for a number of years.  While Mary was in college she had ... you know those special friends that make your years away amazing.  One of those friends was Michael who introduced her to his sister and brother in-law which the Lord created a special bond.  They are the missionaries in Uganda.  While in Texas, Anthony lived with Michaels parents for a time.

I had expected Mary to come back from Uganda wanting to adopt a baby...not invite a man home! Well,Mary followed her dad's advice when he asked for her to "Bring the young man to dinner" and in June/July that's what happened - we had a 6'8" Ugandan black man live with us in our little apt. Mary & Becky bunked together for a month, which they both appreciated that special time together during this special time in Mary's life.

Since then they have stayed in contact and if any of you have had a long distance relationship...imagine one literally on the other side of the world.  Does the word SKYPE mean anything to you?  :) It's invaluable, though not as reliable as Mary would like.  Mary made another trip to Uganda in January and came home knowing that the Lord continues to draw her to Uganda. 

Now the kicker to Mary's story from my point:  When Mary was in elementary school Steve and I remember her telling us that God wanted her to be a missionary in Africa.  As parents we smiled and said something like 'that would be wonderful'.  Over the years she would mention that she felt the Lord wanted her to be a missionary... to AFRICA.  Her education, her hearts desire... placed her as a missionary yes... to Africa.   She even spoke to her aunt in Arizona whose brother is a missionary in Africa many summers ago about this desire. 

Steve and I marvel over what the Lord has done in her life.  She loves people and more than that she loves telling them about the Lord and sharing the Gospel.  After meeting Anthony and learning his heart desire his love for the Lord and how he shares on a daily basis... if not multiple times daily the love of the Lord and the saving grace of our Lord Jesus and hearing and seeing his amazing testimony and love for others.  Steve and I can not wait to see what takes place next. 

FYI:  Anthony is coming to stay with us again in May or June.  During this time Mary and Anthony will fly to California to see friends and her 'adopted' college parents (hopefully) and then travel over to Arizona to see family and friends then come back to Kentucky.  We all look forward to seeing him again.  Becky has developed a close bond to him as well; he has been an encouragement to her as had all of you!

My goodness!  This blog note has turned out to be long.  Please pray for all of us. 

We love you all.

Beth