Why we are going - Part 1...more coming soon.

I would be very naïve to think that everyone that knows us well has not, at some time or another, thought to themselves, “What are they doing? How can they sell their house, cars, furniture and anything else that is not nailed down? Why would Pat give up a business that has been very good to his family?” And let’s not leave out this one, “How can they take away the grandkids? It’s not right. How can they be so selfish?” I am not sure if it is to that extreme, but in one way or another I am sure that our sanity in making the decision to leave everything and everyone so we can move to a developing country where we don’t speak the language and the culture is quite different from our own has been questioned. The simple answer would be, “God has called us to do this and we want to obey Him.” For some of you that take the time to keep up with us, that may not be the most adequate explanation. I am writing this post to help you have a better understanding of why we are doing what we are doing. The best way I know how to do this is to tell you a story. Anyone who reads this can find themselves somewhere in the story. So here goes…

Many years ago there was King who lived in a distant country. This King was very powerful. He had a Kingdom that was impenetrable by any force. Along with being so powerful and having an impenetrable Kingdom this King had a court that served Him 24 hours a day 7 days a week. He was loved and adored by all of those in His Kingdom. One day the King heard of a city that was under attack night and day. The King had such a great heart of love and compassion that He immediately left His Kingdom in order to free the city that was under attack. When He arrived in the city, what He had heard was true. The people really were under attack. As He walked through the streets of that city there was so much heartache and pain. His heart broke for the people. The King decided it would be best if no one knew He was a King. He decided to disguise Himself so He would blend in with everyone else. He looked like any other man in the city. The King began to live His life in and among the people of that city in order to get an idea of the enemy and what it would take to free these people. While living there He befriended a young man. This young man had no idea that the King was really a King. All he knew was this man was friendly and he could trust Him. One day the King asked the young man, “When does your enemy attack?”, and the young man said, “He is a devious enemy and he gives no warning. He comes at any time, day or night.” Then the King asked, “What type of things does he do?”, and the young man said, “He constantly steals, kills and destroys. He belittles us and makes us feel completely worthless. Anything that we have that is of any value he comes and takes it away. This enemy is ruthless. He kills for the pure joy that it brings him. Everything that we have he has taken and destroyed it. And now he says he is coming to take our lives and destroy them.” This news greatly troubled the King. Now His heart truly was breaking, not only for everyone in the city, but now He had a personal investment in the young man. The King knew that He could only do one thing…confront the enemy.