New Beginning

Kevin and Angie will celebrate their 10th anniversary on September 1. They have been physically together for about 5 of those 10 anniversaries. It will be a great day. I was reminiscing about their wedding day as I drove down the street one day this past week. It was the culmination of several months of wrestling with the INS to get her fiance visa. When it was finally granted, they had 90 days to get married so that she could legally remain in the US.

Their wedding was special - we tried to do as many things as possible to make it what she wanted it to be. They spoke their vows in Swahili, and even my brother, who performed the ceremony, learned a few words so that he could make the final proclamation in that African language. Since her parents could not be here, we had some special words from her dad read to the audience.

But one of my favorite things was when they turned to the congregation and we all sang "Great Is Thy Faithfulness" together. Little did any of us know how much we would have to depend upon that faithfulness as the years unfolded. And He has never failed to be faithful.

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father;
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;
As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be.

Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

Refrain

Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

(Lyrics by Thomas Obediah Chisholm)

Kevin flew home last Wednesday to begin the arduous process of closing down Angie's life here in Colorado and moving her to Maine. A friend is flying in Sunday and they will drive a truck and their car back, beginning next Tuesday, the 31st. What a lot of change has been Angie's to deal with over the 10 years. She has been faithful and true to her vows and commitment she made on that wedding day. It has not been easy. But she has kept things going and will now be starting over again. We are excited for them, at the same time as we will miss having her around here.




Last night we had one more opportunity to hear Kevin speak at our church. It was such a blessing. Once again, a song spoke truth, as we sang together before he spoke.

I don't know about tomorrow,
I just live from day to day.
I don't borrow from it's sunshine,
For its skies may turn to gray.
I don't worry o'er the future,
For I know what Jesus said,
And today I'll walk beside Him,
For He knows what is ahead.

I don't know about tomorrow,
It may bring me poverty;
But the One Who feeds the sparrow,
Is the One Who stands by me.
And the path that be my portion,
May be through the flame or flood,
But His presence goes before me,
And I'm covered with His blood.

Refrain
Many things about tomorrow,
I don't seem to understand;
But I know Who holds tomorrow,
And I know Who holds my hand.

(Words by Ira Stanphill)

If you think of them, please pray - this is a huge step of faith. Angie has had one personal interview and 2 phone interviews. All of them have been very positive, but she needs to be residing in Maine before she can land one of these jobs. Kevin's position with Teen Challenge involves just a small stipend. But they are confident that God will not leave them nor forsake them at this point in their lives.

If you don't know Kevin's story and would like to, please let me know and I'll be glad to send you the document by e-mail attachment. We plan to write the sequel soon.