One of the hardest things to do is say "good-bye". Jason has reminded us many times that it is not "good-bye", but more a "see ya later!" but it doesn't seem to make a separation any easier.
Yesterday was our last Sunday with Cornerstone Baptist Church. Pastor preached a fabulous service in the morning as a challenge to us as we get ready to embark upon this new ministry in Dover and also a challenge to the congregation. The interesting fact was that it was the same passage he preached on when Taigen was ordained six years ago. That meant a lot to us.
Sunday night we were able to sit back and enjoy the service. I came prepared with a handkerchief, a package of kleenex and a wad of Puffs. Pastor had told us that he had a few testimonies lined up and then he was going to open it up for others who wanted to say anything to encourage us.
It was such a sweet time. The comments the people made were so precious and encouraging. "Precious" in that comments were made about how we have made a difference, and "encouraging" because it motivates us to go on and continue to minister for the future...to keep on striving. God has been sooooo good to use us here. My heart ached that we were leaving this family of believers. I cried and cried and cried. My eyes actually hurt from weeping so much! They have become family to us when we have had no family near and have challenged us and been an example to us. We will cherish those comments forever. I could go on about the service, but you just had to be there to really understand how touching and heart wrenching it was. The music, the love offering and the testimonies were just...unforgettable.
It has been a JOY to serve with them for the past seven years. "Joy" seems like such a small word along with "love" and "thank you". They all seem so small, insignificant, & insufficient. We wish we could just open up our hearts to let them see the difference they have made in our lives and how much we love them. It is our family that has been blessed by the Cornerstone family. I know that these dear people are only 45 minutes away, and that we can see each other more often than if we had moved to the other side of this continent, but it is the bi-weekly interaction that we will miss.
Many of the CBC family will be checking in to this blog to get the lastest news on our family, and for that I'm grateful. My biggest request is that they will keep us in their prayers. They will be in ours...as well as in our hearts. Thank you. We love you. You are a joy to us.
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