End of Night Dive

The 4 blue TOFs

Sorry it has been so long since we last blogged. Many things have occurred both good and not so good.
  The rest of January went well, and then February hit and was a blur. The visiting team that I came with last year returned, and those it was good to see old friends and acquaintances, and most of the children did very well, including 4 very blue TOFs, (PIC) who were so blue that travel would have been hard, the losses were/are still very heavy!! 

  March has flown by with more organization, follow up for new kids, and planning for Heart Camp at the end of April (a very exciting time where we get to really see that all those hours, time, and heartache are worth it, as seeing healthy repaired kids do whatever they want is so exciting!

  Also for Kristy, her school Heritage just ended last week with wonderful news. The school is being recommended for full Accreditation!!! So proud of her and her colleagues as this has been a multi-year process!

   As we think about the future, where and with whom, and even about the next year plus here, as song from church yesterday really spoke to me.

   Back in the day, BC (before children), while in med school Kristy and I were big divers. Like 200+ plus dives in 19 months in the Caribbean, big diver types. One of our favorite dives was a night dive. Now night dives can be pretty scary. It is dark, you can’t see, sometimes it is hard to tell up from down, where the boat is, eels are out at night, what if my light quits, or I run out of air and can’t see my octo, etc. Yet as you descend with the light working, a whole world opens up that you never see during the day. Then as you sit in the sand, and turn your light out, and (calm down) a whole world of phosphorescence begins to sparkle and twinkle, and it is just amazing. But the absolute best part is at the end of the dive, laying on your back, airing up your BC, and just floating on the waves as you look at the stars, and thank the Father for the gorgeous creation that He has made.

   SO on Sunday we sang Oceans (where feet may fail), and this is described quite well, as well as summing up a lot about our time here so far, and what is ahead!

   “You call me out upon the waters, the great unknown where feet may fail” (Uganda, or wherever God calls)

  “And there I find You in the mystery, in oceans deep my faith will stand” (He is so real, where we are about to drown!)

 When seeing if your weight is enough when diving, (you have to put on a weight belt, to counteract the air, buoyancy, etc) you try to float just with your eyes above the water.

 “I will call upon your name, and KEEP MY EYES ABOVE THE WAVES, when oceans rise, my soul will rest in your embrace, for I am yours and You are mine”

 For the God who walks on water, the oceans rising is no issue, but it sure is for us, as then we can see what is about to overwhelm us. Riding the waves at eye level is hard, either you use your snorkel, and pray the wave doesn’t go higher than the snorkel, (then you drink it), or you have to use your precious air supply through the reg, but either is not without anxiety.

  Yet, “your grace abouds in deepest water” (not shallow, deep), “Your sovereign hand will be my guide, where feet may fail and fear surrounds me, You’ve never failed and You won’t start now” (!!!!!) 

   Here we are, feeling like we are in deep waters, trying to kick up, as only our eyes can see, but our mouth is submerged, yet trying to trust for the now as He has never failed and won’t start now.

  But as we know He has us, we pray for the future to: “Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders, let me walk upon the waters, wherever You would call me, take my deeper than my feet could ever wander, and my faith will be made stronger, in the Presence of my Saviour”

  So we ask that you pray for us, for the next year, that I will rest in Him in all. That I will float on my back and allow HIS hand to hold me, as I marvel at all He has created, and not be overwhelmed by the waves, coming over my head.

  
  And that He will guide us on the future, wherever, with whomever, as we seek to minister where “He calls” “deeper than our feet could wander, to make our faith stronger” so He is glorified!!!

 Thank you all for praying, supporting, and partnering with us on our journeys!!!  

God Bless, the Vanderfords