July 11 -  Introduction

SEND AARON . . .

Christ called me to Himself when I was 23.  He worked really hard for 5 years to get my attention and help me accept the truth.  I had many reasons for denying the truth or postponing any commitment.  Mainly, I was afraid of what might happen in my life if I repented and turned to Him.  At the time, I was terrified that God might send me to Africa (Sorry to all my precious African students, but that was my fear.) to be a missionary.  Well, God did send me (along with my husband) to a far place to be His spokesmen.  But He used the  next  23 years to refine me so I could be a useful vessel.  And I guess it took all of those years to do that!  Refinement did not easily come.  

So, where did we end up?  In Central Asia in a former Soviet country called Kazakhstan.  The accent is on the first syllable.  KAZ-akh-stan.  

For years we had talked about doing something radically different after our children were grown.  Allen had no desire to stay within the corporate environment.  Through a series of miracles (Perhaps only from our point of view; many  saw some  events as disasters.) Allen enrolled in seminary while still working 40 hours a week. All of that time, I was so proud of him.  I told everyone, “We are going on the mission field.”  About three semesters before he finished, my pride turned to terror. I loved the idea of being a missionary.  But the reality was something else.

How did terror become eagerness?  Tell ya later.