River's Coming Home!

Our daughter River has been in Africa and Asia for almost a year. Well, actually to get technical it has been 8 months but that is a long time considering there have been no visits, no River at Thanksgiving, or Christmas :( We can't wait to see our daughter again as she returns home in May! She is only 18 but has traveled the globe helping the poor, learning new languages and basically practicing for her future job as a nurse missionary. We are so proud of her. Her most recent host home in Chengdu, China wrote us this sweet e-mail as River was out in the mountains of Tibet/China area for a few weeks before returning to their home. I wanted to share their letter with you:

Hi Tracy & Juan,

I know you have probably been seeing the pictures that River has posted on Instagram so you know she is having a great experience!  We text each other and this is what she said in one:

“We got to welcome a new sister today, a blind massage person. Sooooo awesome!”

Another one:

“The sky has been like a gleaming blue jewel, and the mountains seem to bear it up, lifting it high in the air with their great strength and majesty.  And this morning the clouds streamed over them like a silk scarf. So beautiful.”

I love how River uses words J 

We have been to the area she is at several times.. Google KangDing and you can see more pics and read about where they are. 

We are all excited for Fri night – when everyone is back and we have a worship and praise time all together J

I’ve been meaning to send you these pictures…. In the winter we can buy sweet potatoes on the street… they are yummy and work as wonderful hand warmers J 

I know you will hear all about the conference from River… so many wonderful things happened.  I just want to tell you that your daughter is such a joy to be around!  I love how free she is and loving to people she just meets.  She fit right in with everyone, danced during worship, let other people use her material wraps (forget what they are called) that she brought from MZ to dance and worship with too….  We all were blessed beyond words and it was so fun to have River with us!  I hope you saw the picture she posted of her painting….I never did get a photo of it but it was GREAT and really blessed a dear Mongolian sister who was going to pass it on to her friend.

As your heart misses your sweet River take comfort in knowing she is being such a blessing to all she is around."

Love,
River's Host Family

I want to say a HUGE THANK YOU to the wonderful family that has been hosting River in China over the past months. You  are an amazing family and we appreciate you so very very very much!!!!!