My Saturday morning began as usual, with me sharing some Good News through my stories on Facebook. I also watch over Susan’s page, since she rarely looks at it these days and Her page is our primary link to many of our friends and family scattered around the world. I let Susan know she had a message from her cousin in the Philippines and that’s how it began.
Rowena’s daughter Kim will get married next month in California, but they can’t get a travel VISA in time, so she and her husband won’t be able to make it. She asked if we could attend and support Kim. Even though Rowena and Susan haven’t seen each in a very long time, they are family. More than that, Susan and her sisters lived with their aunt and grew up with Rowena. Thanks to Facebook, we have kept in touch in recent years. We rejoiced when they were blessed and prayed when they suffered. Rowena and Arnel invited us to their wedding vow renewal in the Philippines, but we couldn’t attend. This wedding gave Susan another chance to support her family and enjoy a trip to California.
It seemed simple enough, we would drive our car, Susan’s sisters would ride with us, and we can share hotel rooms and save money. The problem with that is, I can’t go! The wedding will be on the Sunday our Pastor will be attending International Student Convention (ISC). More than that, he is taking his son and most of our Sunday help. That leaves our Assistant Pastor, what’s left of our helpers and me to conduct the Sunday service. It sounds like we have a lot of people, but Pastor Bob and his son are always having to work out problems. Did I mention that we rely on a generator for power because the electrical company hasn’t connected us and that messes with our camera, computer, and sound? Besides those who attend in person, hundreds of people around the world watch our services on Facebook. Our Church is like family to me, and I didn’t want to let them down again. They needed my help last year during ISC, but they got excuses. I need to support our Church and Susan needs me to support her family.
That dilemma bothered us all of Saturday as Susan tried to figure out how they could get from Los Angeles Airport (LAX) to the wedding location and back. She is used to flying but is scared to drive in unfamiliar places. She worked with Kim (the bride) and will have to arrive early to get a ride from the airport, but she was still stressing over the unknowns. As I drove to Church on Sunday, I had made the decision to let my Church family down again and take care of Susan. I didn’t see another way to make it work. It would add yet another burden on our Pastor and more stress on our Assistant Pastor, who would be left in charge. They graciously accepted the news, but it wasn’t what they wanted to hear. So why is this story posted as “Good News to Share” when it isn’t? That’s not the end of the story. When I returned home Susan told me her brother-in-law would go with them and drive a rental car from the airport, PRAISE GOD!
Why are you praising GOD? I recognize His work and He answered our prayers! Why would He bother with your little problems? It’s a family thing! “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16 KJV). I believed and became part of His family!
Wayne Lance (2022) – That’s Good News to Share!