The word resilient carries a bit of history for our family in our journey with MAF.  A couple months back a friend/co-worker made this post on social media.

How do you spell resilient? I spell it DOLE. This family has faced multiple medical evacuations, a deadly earthquake, and now flooding and landslides here in Sentani…and that’s just in the last 12 months. And yet they remain on mission here in Papua- homeschooling their kids, and flying our amphibious Caravan into isolated areas only reachable by river. My hat goes off to you Greg and Julie…thank-you for your sacrificial service!

Allow me the opportunity to give credit where credit is due.  During the application process specifically in our psychological check.  It was noted that I (Greg) lacked resiliency and was not recommended by the psychologist for overseas service.  Thankfully those that were making the decision on whether our family would be a good fit for MAF, were able to see pass this weakness in my personality and still allowed us to join MAF.  This resiliency is still a weakness I believe for me however it has also become one of my strengths.  God has provided the resiliency for us as we would not have been able to say to you after these past couple years, that we are excited and looking forward to getting back to Merauke.  This is due to words of 2 Corinthians 12:9 being very true in our lives.  2 Corinthians 12:9 “but he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”  I will all the more gladly boast of my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”  I think this verse speaks well of how God has been and will be glorified in our (my) weakness.  I’m so thankful for Christ’s resiliency that has been given to us as He has walked with us through these past challenging times.  With this we can confidently look to the future that His grace will continue to be sufficient to sustain us in our weaknesses, and troubling times.

Blessings,

Greg, Julie

Franklin, Isaac, & Jaclynn