Dear Friends,

With Thanksgiving just passed we continue to be excited by the response to the World Mission Offering.We heard from Valley Forge recently that at the end of October the offering response was already $430,000 more than last year with most churches still to report.It will be January or so before the full results are known so keep praying.

In recent weeks I have been asked to speak at a couple of Lahu New Rice celebrations.November is the traditional rice harvest time here, so new rice celebrations are not too different from our idea of Thanksgiving Day.In giving thanks, 1 Thessalonians 5:16 – 18 tells us we should: "Be joyful always; pray continually; and give thanks in all circumstances…" At times it is easy to be thankful, but at other times it is difficult.

During our last "US Assignment" year, I bought a GPS unit and a set of topographic maps of Thailand.Now for the first time in our years here, we're able to see just where our travels take us.Shortly before Thanksgiving, I took a trip with the head of the Karen Evangelism department.We were cutting through the mountains on a route we hadn't traveled before to reach an area where the Karen concentrate some of their evangelism efforts.Marking the spot where we left the paved road, we traveled 54 miles over a narrow, winding, rugged, and steep dirt road.Taking full advantage of the 4-wheel drive, we still averaged less than 7 miles per hour.

The road followed the path of least resistance, which at times was the creek.Another section of the road was high up, near the top of a mountain, just barely wide enough for our truck.Above the road was a wall of mountain, and below the road were just short rice stalks. Hugging the mountain wall, I peaked out the window longing to see the edge of the road, but the only visible bit of earth was far below with only air and rice stalks in between.Others in the truck marveled at the scenic vista.I'm sure the view was spectacular, but I thought it better to focus on the road ahead.

We finally arrived at Huay Nam Khao (White Water Creek), our destination, and plotted our route on the map.Had we been a bird and flown straight to Huay Nam Khao, it would have only been 18 miles, just one-third the distance we had to travel by road!For those living in mountainous areas, this is probably not too surprising.Maybe, it shouldn't surprise any of us.I am personally convinced that God does not like straight lines.Rivers, mountaintops, animal trails, lightening, practically nothing in nature is straight.The paths of our lives are not very straight either.How many people study one subject only to find their work in a completely different area?Opportunities open and close first in one direction, then another.Some parts of our lives are uncomfortable and some places we find ourselves are down right scary.We have our zigs, zags, ups and downs and soon the path of our lives looks like a mountain road.

The purpose of our trip to Huay Nam Khao, however, was not only to get there, but to also get introduced to the villages and people of the area.Had we been a bird and gone straight to the final destination, we would have learned virtually nothing about the many villages in between.We also went with a guide.He knew the area and the path we needed to take to make the trip worthwhile and to accomplish all the goals of the trip.In that light, it was much better to take a round a-bout route.We got a little tired, had a late dinner and at times were uncomfortable, but in the end, it was worth it all.

Likewise, the Lord has a purpose for our lives.Often the wanderings our lives take, and the collection of experiences and people we encounter only make sense looking back.The Lord is our guide.He will take us on just the right path we need to fulfill His purpose.On a day-to-day basis, we might not be all that happy with the route He has chosen.We will get tired and uncomfortable, but the end result will be to His glory and for our enjoyment.The trip will be worth it all.Looking back on Thanksgiving and ahead to Christmas and a new year, the goal is to "rejoice always, pray continually and give thanks in all circumstances" no matter the path the Lord is having us travel.

Many Blessings,

Duane and Marcia Binkley