Coming to the End of a Chapter

A well-written novel often leaves you hanging at the end of a chapter, excitedly awaiting what will come next. That's where we are right now. After much prayer and consideration, we decided (some time ago) that it was time for a new chapter. With one wedding behind us (Jen & Keith, May 2015), and one coming up (Joel & Rachel, June 2016), we felt it was important to be able to invest more relational time closer to home and get to know the newer members of our family better, as well as be closer to other family and friends.

Supporting some church friends at a concert debut

So we are headed back to the US, landing in Boston on December 28, where we will spend some time with Joel, Rachel, and her family, before bringing in the new year with Janet's family. The rest of the chapter is still unwritten. Tom is sending out his resume, looking for a full-time position at an English language center at a university where we can be at least somewhat near family (probably in the DE-PA-NJ area).

"Colour Walk" supporting stroke survivors

It will be hard saying goodbye in Malaysia, as we have invested much of our hearts here, and will be leaving many close relationships, but perhaps God will bring us back for another chapter in the future. We are certainly open to such a step, as we have enjoyed and learned so much during our time here. Some highlights from the last few months:

Our involvement at church (CDPC) will keep us busy right to the end. We have been active on the leadership team at a significant time in the life of the church, which at 5 years old, continues to take steps toward growing in maturity and reaching out to the community. At a recent meeting, taking part in planning priorities and goals for 2016, it was encouraging to think about what God has been up to, and how he continues to use the church as an instrument in people's lives.

Tom's book club carving pumpkins at Sunway

What that looks like for us right now is helping plan a Christmas program that brings many ministries
together. We will be having a family-friendly Sunday that includes crafts and games, as well as a service of lessons and carols, telling the Christmas story through puppets, and celebrating through song, including a Christmas choir that just began practicing this week (it was awesome!). We anticipate a big crowd, including our own church families as well as families from the community who enjoy our Children's Library and monthly Playgroup.

Passing on pie-making skills

We have also enjoyed co-leading a small group using CCEF's How People Change curriculum, with the hope that the curriculum can continue to be used when we are gone. We have learned much at CDPC about deepening relationships in small groups, and this group has been a good example of that. Case in point--everyone in the group found time to get away for a night so that we could learn and grow together, have fun, and of course enjoy food together! Fellowship Malaysia-style.

Other highlights mostly revolve around people. Meeting up with good friends from church. Walking alongside struggling counselees. Sharing meals with students (especially when they cook for us!). Stimulating discussions at the book club. Interacting with children and their parents at the playgroup or children's library. Sitting in to help with other small groups. Helping young adults pursue their dreams. In a word--community.

And of course another highlight is the get-aways we've tried to squeeze in before leaving this part of the world. We've covered much of Malaysia during our time here. In the last few months we were able to add Thailand to our list of visited countries--both Chiang Mai in the north, and the beaches in the south. A lifetime would not be long enough to visit all the amazing things God has made around here, but we've enjoyed a few!

Elephant-riding in Northern Thailand

We would appreciate your prayers as we finish up our last couple of months here. We want to finish well in our day to day responsibilities, and leave them in good hands when we leave. There's no way to "finish up" in the same way with our friends, but hopefully there's a sense in which part of us remains here, and our friends come with us, at least in terms of the impact we have had on one another. And of course we look forward to being closer to family and friends on our return. Hopefully God will give us more clarity before we go as to where we will end up!

Blessings,
Janet & Tom