The Weaving of Friendship

[Pictured to the left, Adele with her adopted Nana and Mimi along with babies Abby and Bekah]

[Pictured below are the Eichelberger children and the Henry children]

I am going to try to do some posts on our time in PA. We had a great visit, though, as always, it went by way to fast. And, this time I was exhausted a lot of the time trying to keep up with my three kiddos sans Paul! I was never so glad to have him back home again!!!

[Pictured to the left, Dawn with baby Abi, I think!]

One of the highlights from our trip was a mini-trip the kids and I took to Pittsburgh area to visit a family we have grown to love and know over the past four years. The Eichelberger family is a member of Calvin PCA which is one of our supporting churches. Four years ago Paul (the dad of whom I have no pictures!!!) flew out to Bangkok with some others from his church for a short term trip to work with our team. I remember the strength of character in this man and his wife, Dawn, as they waited on God because right before the team left the States, their four month old had emergency surgery!!! God led Paul to come to Thailand and baby Eliab (now 4 years old) recovered and did great while his Dad was on the other side of the world. So, over the course of the past four years, we have spent time here and there with the Eichelbergers and mostly have conversed via emails and through partership meetings and things of that sort. I met Dawn for the first time when we came home from Thailand two years ago. I immediately felt comfortable around her and enjoyed hearing her godly wisdom...as she had 5 children at the time..and now has eight!!! (I'll get to that soon!) So, I didn't see Dawn again until this past November when she and Paul came down to Chattanooga for Mission to the World's Global Missions Conference. She was pregnant...and I was too, but didn't know it yet! We had a few hours together with our husbands and once again enjoyed chatting but it just wasn't enough time. So, when I knew I was heading to PA I thought how nice it would be to go and spend some time with the Eichelberger family. I had only met two or three of their children and I wanted my kids to get to know their kids. Also, PJ and their 8 year old, Nate, have been pen pals for the past six months or so. Dawn must have been thinking the same thing because just as I was about to email them about coming to visit, I received an email asking if we would be able to come and visit!

And visit we did! The kids and I drove down on a Wednesday morning and stayed until Thursday afternoon. We had a wonderful time...and again I was so encouraged by Dawn's love for her Savior and for her family. Dawn gave birth in March to twin girls!!! It was so fun to hold these baby girls, Bekah and Abi and to meet the other six children, five of whom are boys! Yes, my boys had a blast playing!

Dawn's mom and Paul's parents all live together there on the property as well. So, we got to spend time with them as well. Adele took right to Mimi and Nana and became instant friends. She was also quite taken by the babies...and I think it helped to get her ready for our baby!

As I reflect on our friendship with this special family I marvel at God's weaving of lives together. He is so good to give us family in His church. It astounds me that God could bring two families together on the opposite side of the world and keep that friendship going over the course of years! Paul and I have truly been blessed by the friendship of this family and we thank God often for them.