Tragedy on Day One

We had just arrived in Honduras when we learned that one of our former students, Jose Daniel (left in photo), had been killed earlier in the day. He was serving in the military and refused to give up his military-issued firearm during a robbery.

Immediately, the weight of our burden to care for and reach the young people of Honduras for Christ has been burned deeper into our hearts. Pray for Jose Daniel's family. But also pray fervently for the next generaron of this nation's leaders. They so desperately need peace.

I'm not the only parent

I'm not the only parent who has ever had to say goodbye to an only son, but today it sure feels like it. Tonight when I hug Nick goodbye, it will hurt more than any other time before. I know it's part of being parent to let your kids go. But what about when you're the one going? Sending him off somehow seems easier.

We're missionaries. We're supposed to understand leaving family behind. We've done it many times before. But no one ever prepared me for today. I'm not sure I really understood sacrifice until this moment. I'm not sure I understood what trusting the Lord with all your heart looked like until I had to trust him completely with this treasure. I'm not sure I'm doing this right.

But I am absolutely certain that no matter how it feels, I'm not the only parent who has had to say goodbye to their only son. And today I'm just doing my best to lean into the One who did it so well.