Twenty years ago today I said, “I do,” to the love of my life!
What did we do for our 20th Anniversary? Well, the day started out at 4am when we woke up to get ready to be at Immigration by 5:30 to get our new visa. Molly (our fur baby) was confused by the unusual early hours so we couldn’t get her to eat before we left the house.
As I sit here in queue, I am tired from not enough sleep but I am overwhelmed because I feel so very very blessed to be here with Simpson. I am thankful to be right here in this very place even though I know there are many hours of waiting ahead. I am thankful because we are together. Not just together literally but we are also one in mind, heart and spirit–something that hasn’t always been true in our years together.
On our wedding day, we promised to be there for each other, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish each other until death parts us. Our vows that day were spoken in truth and integrity and with fullness of heart. But they have become so much more meaningful after daily choosing to live them out over the past two decades.
A recent photo taken of us while in Hawaii
Recently, we were able to return to Hawaii and spend time with some of you during our visit. After almost a year of living abroad, it felt surreal going back to the place where we grew up, met, fell in love and lived our whole lives. On one hand we experienced such joy in seeing friends and loved ones … soaking up time with people who are a part of us. But there was also an odd feeling we couldn’t quite shake. We felt like vagabonds or travelers on a journey, like Bilbo Baggins, living out of suitcases for weeks and staying in different places. As we talked and processed this, we realized that a large part of it is because God has given us a new home in Thailand. Our hearts are in two very different and far away countries at the same time. So although we were back “home” in Hawaii, we were at the same time no longer “home” in Thailand.
Our weeks in Hawaii and part of the Mainland U.S. were filled with blessed, sweet times with loved ones. We were able to support our fellow missionaries as they rode Coast-to-Coast raising awareness of Human Trafficking and funds for ZOE International. We also got to “break bread” and be with many of you in Hawaii. We wish we had more time. We wish we could to see each and every one of you. But we are so grateful for the time we had. We are also extremely humbled and thankful for each of you who are on this journey with us. We know better than ever that we are not alone on the mission field. You are here with us.
Simpson driving the Road of Justice Support Vehicle.
Brad and Lori Ortenzi, fellow ZOE Missionaries and Tina Hipp, ROJ rider on the road in Colorado.
(Read more about their journey at http://gozoe.org/blog/)
Arriving back in Chiang Mai, we adjusted quickly and well. We are at home. Which is again odd and new. This is something we will need to get used to…that returning to Hawaii will feel like going “there and back again”.
So on our 20th Anniversary we are more excited than ever about what God has in store for us. It’s quite fitting that we received our one-year-visa on this day. I love Simpson more today than the day I married him. We love God more, and we seek to continue to please, honor and glorify Him in all we do. We want Him to shine in our marriage and in how we love each other and those around us.
Thank you for being a part of our lives. Thank you for pouring into us! Thank you for your prayers and support and partnership in the work God has called us to.
As we begin our 2nd year on the field, we ask for your continued prayers for us:
Pray that God would continue to protect our marriage.
Pray that God would help us master the Thai language.
Pray for His provision for our monthly support (we are at 80% of our funding).
