Traveling

by David Burka

This week we say goodbye to a family we all know and love. Kevin Hines will be working in Japan for the next 21 months, and that means his lovely wife Stephanie, son Daniel (age 4 1/2), and daughter Emma (age 3) will live there, too. Our parting from them is bittersweet. We'll probably see them again here; we KNOW we'll see them in heaven. They'll be fine and will probably enjoy the experience, but we'll miss their cheerful faces and beautiful spirits.
The Apostle Paul traveled and lived abroad a lot. He had many times of departure and reuniting with those he loved. The tender greetings and farewells in his letters express many of the same thoughts we have when facing a time of separation from Christian friends. As he put it in Philippians 1:3-6: "I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all...For I am confident...that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus." As a world traveler, Paul also wrote of his feelings about living somewhere different in Philippians 4:11-13: "Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me."
We'll keep you in our prayers, Hines family. We eagerly await your return, and we want to support you in any way we can. It may be tough, but we know our God can supply anything you need. As you worship with the congregation in Japan, remember us and know that we are offering "prayers with joy" in our remembrance of you all. See you in 2005!