Stateside…again!

Thank you for your prayers!

After 33 hours, 8,000 miles, three flights, one monster of a migraine, two airline barf bags… and one more challenging interview at the US border, I am back home again!

In between riding the waves of jet-lag I’ll be sharing more stories from my journey here.

The next three weeks I will be on the road and back in the air.
This Wednesday I will attend the Fall Pastor’s Conference for Foursquare held in Colorado Springs. On Friday I will head over to my dear friends at Vernal Christian Church for their annual Mission Fair weekend and then onto a week of Mission teaching at YWAM Cimarron, Colorado. I will return to Denver to fly to Saskatoon, Canada for another week of Mission teaching in the YWAM Global Force school from November 2 to 7.

I’ll return to Denver on Monday November 10…this means another encounter with US Immigration at the border. Please keep me in your prayers. Every time I reenter the USA is an act of warfare…its His grace and favor that keep me coming and going and not afraid.

This was my first experience with airline barf bags…they sure hold a lot! What about you? Have you ever used one?? 🙂

Delayed by the Rain…

Four days ago I awoke to the tinkling sound of rain drops dripping from the trees outside my bedroom. I headed to the front porch for a view of Mt. Rockaposhi. At 26,000 feet she was hidden from sight behind a thick and heavy blanket of cloud that covered all of Gilgit. During the night, the lower crags had been dusted by snow and now in the early morning light the outside world seemed to glisten and glow. Birds were beginning to stir, singing out their morning tunes and the smell of the rain was invigorating. Gilgit was washed fresh and clean. I knew there would be no flights that day. Minutes later the phone rang to confirm that the plane from Islamabad would not be coming…nor would it arrive the following day. How could I mind? After all, it was the Rain.

Two days later, surrounded by fourteen veiled local ladies and five chubby babies, we boarded the Pakistan International Airlines plane (fondly called “Prayer In the Air” for a host of reasons!) right behind their men. I had missed my international flight back to the USA but I was not worried as a quick visit to the Qatar Airways office in Islamabad would solve the problem. I buckled myself in ready for the full throttle blast up the runway necessary to clear the mountains just ahead. I was the only foreigner on board and I felt totally at home.

My heart was happy and overflowing with gratefulness. It had been a rich ten days in Gilgit. Rich in relationships, rich in Kingdom vision and rich in the promise of His salvation coming to this mountain land.
To be delayed because of the Rain was so perfect!

I’ll be Stateside Saturday the 18th. Please pray again for God’s favor at the border.
Getting back to reliable internet, I’ll be sharing more of my journey so please check back here for more of His story and how He is continuing to rain on Northern Pakistan!

Missionary and Auntie!

Today I leave for Islamabad, Pakistan.
I have been busy stuffing goodies into every empty nook and cranny of my luggage. Besides the much in demand Starbucks, chocolate chips and Ranch Dressing packets, there are a few cans of pumpkin pie filling and yams! There are also some special treats for the children of the Shining Light Academy, Gilgit. Neon colored squishy balls, jigsaws of the world, coloring books and markers galore. There is a bucket of sidewalk giant chalk and a tub of Gumballs…a special request from one of the volunteer teachers who realized she had been using “gumballs” in her lessons and discovered that the kids had no idea what they were! Imagine the excitement next week when 100 or so kids pop a gumball for the first time!

Stowing all the fun and educational stuff for the Pakistani Christian and Muslim children close to my heart has made me think of some other kids very close to my heart.
I am Auntie to two beautiful nieces and three handsome, rambunctious nephews! Yesterday I received the following email from my eldest niece Ashley…whilst I’m packing supplies as I head to the mission field, she’s busy on the farm, packing eggs and praying for me!

“Aunt Leonie:
We are doing well! We butchered our bull Duke, did you know that?? And we have three cows pregnant. That is all our cows and then we have one bull you know? Howie. Our chickens are laying about 15 eggs a day! We sell them for $2.50 dozen.
Love,
Ashley”

Now you know where to get the best eggs! Check out their farm www.kentfamilydexters.homestead.com

Ashley, Johnathan, Joshua and Benjamin in Missouri and my Down Under Aussie niece Samantha (Sammi).