It's strange . . . I know that we will only be gone for two and a half months but I have been feeling a weird sense of raw emotion. Family comes to mind immediately and I get a sense of emptiness knowing how much I will miss everyone.

Two words came to mind today as I was thinking about leaving on this "test" trip for the summer: anticipation and uncertainty. Anticipating what is in store for us as I try to "fit in" at Payap University in a role that I am somewhat unsure of (at least for this trip). Which leads to the uncertainty of how this will all play out and what is in store after the next school year here in Spokane. Kalya's anticipation of what ministry to be involved in, whether it's child trafficking or one of the many orphanages and the uncertainty of what her role will be there.

The more I thought about Anticipation and Uncertainty the more I realized how those words are such good descriptions (from a human perspective) of faith and hope. We hope in what we don't see so that we will wait for it with perseverance. It's funny that the things that seem uncertain to us and look to be very "risky" are not that way at all. That's why we can have a hope and exercise faith because God is trustworthy and will take care of us.

So, while it's hard to leave, I am anticipating exciting things of which, in my own mind, are uncertain but held in God's hands. Please pray for us (me expecially) to exercise "Jai Yen" (a cool, calm heart) in Thailand and listen and discern what our steps should be as we live in Thailand this summer.
- Bryan -