“Give thanks in all circumstances (inclusive; no exceptions!), for this is God’s will for you…” 1Thessalonians. 5:19
Recently a missionary friend posted a picture from our field’s Missionary school. It was taken in what we called “the little dorm” in our early years on the field. In the picture of about 15 children were my two daughters. Christina was about 4 and in the foreground was a less than 2-year-old Kim. The picture was not significant in itself but the fact that I could not recall when my girls could have ever been in that picture was significant! I, literally, burst into tears!
Christina, my eldest daughter, reminded me that they had spent 6 weeks in “the little dorm” after I was flown out of our village with a ruptured appendix. There was unrest in Panama City (guns in the streets, riots, etc.) and the Military Police were closing the airport! We were the last fight allowed to land or take off. I was hastily loaded onto a gurney directly out of the plane and I watched our Cessna take off into the stormy skies with my two little ones inside!
I was unaware of most of what was transpiring around me but I knew my circumstance was bad. I was rushed to the Military Hospital and was rapidly being moved down the corridor, when Ralph heard someone call his name. He turned to see a Surgeon that we had recently met through our Pucuro partners. She had been on duty for 72 hours when she caught a glimpse of Ralph in the hall and instantly turned to help us, never leaving our side until she had run tests, completed my emergency laparotomy and safely escorted us to the ICU hours later. God had gone before us and sent her to us in His perfect timing…
This is the posted picture! Are these not the cutest missionary children…ever!!
I am emotionally astounded that I was so desperately ill that I did not know where my two little girls were in those first days! My recovery was slow and I ran a low-grade fever for a year after this event. Wanting to reunite our family as quickly as possible and return interior, which was our home, we found ourselves in a quandary because we could not get a release from the doctors to go back interior…!
What could we do??
As I’m writing this, my past and present merge and the surge of gratefulness is overwhelming!
How many people can you think of offhand
who have benefited your life in the past?
Whose name immediately comes to mind?
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!
~Jackie Johnson - I am a former tribal missionary to the Kuna Indians on the Colombian border in Central America. Fluent in several languages, my husband and I currently pastor a Spanish-speaking church in Southern California. My passion is discipling and equipping dedicated young women for life, marriage, motherhood, and beyond. I am the mother of two daughters and the grandmother of three Princesses and four young Knights.
