Dear Friends,
We recently heard a Christmas sermon on how God does the unexpected. The Christmas story alone is full of examples. No one expected the son of God to be born in a manger or to have to spend time in Egypt as a refugee. Mary did not expect to be the mother of Christ and Joseph did not expect to be his father. The shepherds weren't expecting a concert by a choir of angels and Mary and Joseph did not expect to be visited by the wise men. God works through the unexpected and gives us our share of challenges.
This is certainly true for us during this past year. We didn't expect to start the year with news that Marcia had breast cancer. But that led to other unexpected things – deciding whether to have treatment in the US or Thailand, the challenge of breaking into the US medical system, quickly arranged trips to the US, 3 weeks with the kids in Thailand and Marcia and Duane in the US, 5 months of Marcia in the US and the rest of the family in Thailand.
The unexpected led to challenges – Marcia tolerating chemo and radiation, the kids surviving on Dad's cooking, packing up things in Thailand and getting settled in the US, Erin & Shannon facing the unknown in a new school here in the US, Sean graduating from High School in Thailand and getting started in college at Houghton College, Sean adjusting to life more on his own and the higher expectations and work load at college.
Living with the Lord though, brings blessings in the midst of the unexpected and the challenges – The joy of seeing the kids grow and move through their stages of life and make their own adjustments. Wow! Sean in college and Erin and Shannon in high school. Where did the time go? Their independence and ability to take care of themselves when they were alone, the outpouring of encouragement from our brothers and sisters in Christ from around the world as Marcia faced her illness, the blessing of healing, being able to experience God's awesome power of creation as we visited the Cascade area of Washington state and the NW coast of Oregon on our way back to Ohio from Thailand. Having a nice place to live in Ohio, being able to re-connect with family and friends again and visiting churches around the country that have been so faithful in supporting us and our ministry. God has truly been good to us! Thank you for your part in it all!
As we've spoken in churches this fall, we have also been struck by the number of Karen that are now being resettled throughout the US. With their Baptist roots, the Karen have often sought out local Baptist churches in many cities. We have already visited several churches hosting Karen. These churches have been energized by their new neighbors even as they minister in the resettlement process. I have spoken with Karen who say how they never expected to be in America, the US church never expected to have Karen attending their services, and Marcia and I didn't expect to come across so many Karen here or anticipate the impact it would have on the churches and us. From life in the refugee camp in Thailand to a new life in the US requires a huge adjustment so please pray for these new residents and the churches hosting them. In 2006 only a few thousand Karen have come to the US but the pace is expected to pick up in 2007. So please also pray for the churches that are and will be working with the Karen.
For 200 years, the Karen have been accepting us as missionaries and have accepted the Gospel. Their Christian history goes back to Adoniram Judson. With missions as one of the main reasons we came together as a denomination, and the Karen at the foundation of that mission work, they are very much our brothers and sisters in the Lord. Now, with the Karen being settled virtually across the US, it is our hope that our whole denomination will take a special interest in them, help them get established here and help them get integrated into our ABC churches and denomination. We have long heard how the world is getting smaller and that international mission is at our front door. Maybe we didn't expect that it would be so close to us, but with the Karen coming to the US, it is more true than ever before. Already in many churches, international mission is sitting in the pew cross the aisle from yours!
Jesus, the former refugee is looking to find a home in our hearts this Christmas. The Karen, former refugees are looking to find a home in our country and our churches. At Christmas and throughout the coming New Year, may we be expecting the unexpected and may our response to the challenges bring glory to God & blessing to others.
Merry Christmas!
Duane & Marcia Binkley