Fort Wayne

  When we began exploring dates for our trip to Fort Wayne, our hosts, Ted and Deb, asked if we would be interested in attending a production of Carmen  Saturday night at the historic Embassy Theater.  The performance made it easy to choose the first weekend in February for a drive to the frozen tundra.  We jumped at the chance to soak in Bizet's brilliance, but we had no idea that the theater itself would be such a delight to our eyes.  

Sunday morning, we were so excited to be back at Christ's Community Church.  Since we connected with them when they supported printing the entire Solomon Islands Pijin Bible for its launch in 2008, this church has encouraged us.  Aaron shared an update on the Lavukal project during Sunday School, but the highlight of the trip was sitting around the table after church.

There is something about the table and food and the connections that occur when that nourishing foundation is laid.  When the gift of peace is given.  The conversation deepens and people that were strangers just a few hours ago now feel like intimate friends as we share more than just physical sustenance.

And these two couples?  Both sets have been married for more than fifty years.  I came away from our time together encouraged that marriage can indeed grow sweeter with each passing year, despite the sorrows, despite our sin nature.  This is indeed what God designed when He said, "It is not good for the man to be alone.  I will make a helper suitable for him."  

(Genesis 2:18)