Dear Roy & Barbara,
It is 5:15 am on 6th December as I write. In the last few years I have taken advantage of ‘retirement’ and taken to sleeping late….mainly because I go to bed late then listen to Christian podcasts. So around 8 - 9 am is my rising time and I now have my time with God mid morning.Today is different because at 4:50 am (yes I checked the time), one of our local blackbirds, who comes to bathe in our bird bath daily, and joins the sparrows and green finches in a morning breakfast ritual on our lawn (thanks to Col), decided it’s time to sing it’s pretty song. At first I was irritated and then I thought, "no, I am thankful for the blessing of being able to hear that bird." So began my early morning prayers and after 30 mins I decided to get up and have my quiet time so I brewed my coffee.
As I poured the amber liquid into my mug, my thoughts rolled back to many happy stays in your home. The blackbirds didn’t wake me there, but the wonderful smell of your coffee brewing used to fill the air when I rose to have my time with God. Often you had beaten me to the coffee and were already reading your Bible and writing in your journal in the lounge where I would join you in quiet fellowship.
What wonderful memories I have of my times with you in Vero Beach, Florida…..Roy’s Cuban coffee, lunch in one of Roy’s ‘holes in the wall’ as you called them, fabulous mall shopping, floating in your pool, visiting Busch Gardens in Tampa Bay, eating at beach restaurants, visiting Roy’s sister, 'Miss Emily' and so on.
Then there were Women’s Refuge events, planning, teaching times, fundraising lunch (or was it breakfast?), counselling sessions, training sessions, meeting God’s wounded women who were finding healing and wholeness through your wisdom and counsel.
There were long Sunday drives to Dunklin Memorial Rehab Camp to have Bible Study before church with Pastor Micky, then church with the men, often preceded by breakfast in the cornfields on the way, then ‘all you can eat’ chicken lunch somewhere else. If I look back through my journals I know I would find so much more of rich times we have spent together. Sometimes just me after a conference in the USA, and sometimes with Col as well.
Tomorrow (our time) will be Mr Roy’s' 90 something birthday' and I want to wish him a wonderfully happy birthday and to thank you both for the wonderful gift of your friendship and mentoring for over 40 years. Since our first meeting in Papua New Guinea in the early ‘80s we have shared so many happy times together not only in the USA but also in various places in Australia, perhaps in Hong Kong too. How blessed we have been in the times we’ve shared.
Now, sometime in the not too distant future, we can look forward to sharing eternity together because of our faith in Jesus Christ, our Saviour, whose birth we will celebrate in less than 3 weeks time. How blessed we are to have such hope!
God bless you our dear ‘forever friends’,
Much love,
Jackie xx
