Battling deadlines. Facing opposition. Dealing with equipment break downs. Lack of understanding due to language and culture. These are all familiar to missionaries around the world. One of the lesser told tales of hardship however, is when it hits home and yet we view it from afar. We faced it several years ago when my brother-in-law passed away. Not having two coins to rub together, we couldn’t get back for the funeral. We were torn. Our hearts were ripped apart at the thought of being away from family when they needed us the most.
We faced the difficulty of being afar again this week. Central Pennsylvania got hit with flooding. Hit hard. Some were saying it was worse than Hurricane Agnes which hit in 1972. We saw our home towns of Pine Grove and Hummelstown transform into islands through the countless facebook postings. Places that brought back memories from childhood ceased to exist. Friends saw the rushing torrents flow by and sometimes through their homes. We’re so grateful to God our families were kept safe. We spent more time on Facebook this week than the past year combined, watching, listening and gasping at the devastation.

We know we’re not alone. At dinner last night with a Japanese family, we heard their sadness as they were struggling with being away from loved ones back home who are facing cancer. Separation can be one of the most troubling aspects in a crisis situation.

I wrote how we were praying for our friends back home, but still had such a sense of helplessness as we couldn’t be there to help them pick up the pieces. I know that doesn’t sound very spiritual—after all prayer is the strongest weapon in our arsenal—but didn’t the prophets weep over Jerusalem from afar, yet express their desire to go back and place stone on top of stone with their hands? Encouragement came through a supporter who shared our prayers “are helpful enough!” It was as if they said, “you are here … through your prayers.” I may not have realized it, but I think I needed that little bit of encouragement.

In the end, we realize more than ever, the Lord shall be our Peace. Through these times we hate to face, He can and does bring comfort.

Last year we visited the butterfly house and zoo, Papiliorama. Ever since then, the children have been asking when we’d go next. It was time for another visit. Leaving earlier in the morning, we took the train from Oensingen and made several connections before arriving. I must say, if you’ve ever been to Switzerland and not traveled at least once by train, you missed out on a great experience. Once at Papiliorama, we spent a long time in the butterfly house. They must have liked the smell of Christopher as they tickled him quite often. It was a brilliant display of God’s creativity and handiwork. Nocturama, the nighttime display, was our next trip. This is certainly not for the squeamish, as bats fly all around you. The jungle canopy display was the last of the indoor displays, with it’s large variety of tropical birds and foliage. One even has a chance to climb the winding staircase and get a view from the top of the canopy. The drawback is the temperature kept rising with each step. When you arrived on the catwalk, it’s like being in a sauna. Finally, the children enjoyed a long time of play at the playground and childrens’ ropes course.

We were able to fully enjoy the Swiss national day (August 1) by feasting at Tim and Sue Shirey’s just down the road. They graciously hosted a party for several families. We even played Dutch Blitz … something we’ve not done in years. As twilight came we made our way to the top of the hill overlooking the town to watch the fireworks display.

A note about fireworks: there’s no official group lighting them off. Everyone can freely purchase them in the days leading up to August 1, so there’s no one place to look. All over town fireworks were set off, turning the village red, green, white or blue. Sometimes two sets went off at the same time at different parts of Holderbank. A huge bonfire was lit on the opposite hill, casting a glow which reached high into the sky.

We had a chance to visit the outdoor pool in Balsthal, taking our lunch and making a day of it. It was refurbished over the winter and spring, and is not just a pool, but a semi-water park that kept us all busy the entire day. It was a great chance to just unwind.

A visit to the castle Hallwil was another highlight, with it’s moat and well done museum. Of course, the kids enjoyed dressing up as knights and exploring the many rooms. We walked to the nearby pier on the Hallwilersee and took a boat ride around the lake.

While Brent’s vacation was over, Amy was able to participate in the camp at Kilchzimmer. She had a blast running around with other English-speaking children, playing games, participating in Bible lessons and traveling back to Papiliorama. By the end of the week she was worn out.

Jen had a chance to work on her quilting … normally a difficult thing to do with two young children. That was her chance to unstring the bow, and she used every opportunity.

We’re thankful for the time off and are just as grateful to get back into a routine again.