Dear Keith,
We pray you are staying safe and healthy, well occupied and at peace during this crazy time!

Kathy and I decided two days before our ticketed departure in late March to postpone our trip to the States, as our Pacific NW and West Coast appointments had all been cancelled by Governors’ orders limiting group gatherings and shelter in place to hopefully limit the spread of CoVID-19. By then our supporting churches were meeting only on-line and many of our friends/partners live in communities closed to outside visitors. As lockdown and quarantine orders and flight cancellations rolled out from day to day, it appeared doubtful we could travel from state to state connecting with people, but would be compelled to self-quarantine for up to six of our intended 10 weeks in the US. Rather, we felt we would likely be more secure at home in Chiang Mai, confident of the Lord’s provision for us and of opportunities to serve others more freely from here.

We've felt sad we couldn't enjoy time with Jon and Libby, Ethan and Sophia, our churches, and friends/partners across Washington, or visit Jared and Claudine and long-time friends in California. This week we'd planned to be with Mom Redman in Wyoming, to celebrate her 95th birthday and Mother’s Day and also connect with other family and long-term friends/ partners in the region. Our itinerary had us heading to Michigan next week to be with Joel’s family, life-long friends and ministry partners, with forays to visit relatives in Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky before heading back to Thailand in early June.
"If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that." - James 4:15 ERV
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Backed-up by Chiang Mai's
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Like us, you’ve surely experienced disappointment and loss, grieved lack of face-to-face connection with loved ones, friends, co-workers, and those you serve. You may have lost beloved family members, neighbors, or friends, and been constrained by shelter-in-place orders from gathering with family and friends to celebrate their lives, grieve their passing, comfort and encourage one another. Babies have been born that grandparents could not see or hold. Seniors have graduated without ceremonies. These things are hard.

We are both healthy and in good spirits. We mostly stay indoors but can shop for groceries, pick up food from restaurants, pay bills, and keep medical appointments. We walk around our tiny subdivision for a bit after supper; exercise walking is uncommon here so we’re social distancing automatically. Averill often walks another mile or so after that in our semi-rural area; few people out, no problem.

We work from home, like many friends around the Globe. Cornerstone has temporarily shifted to remote counseling, so Kathy counsels from an ‘office’ in our guest room. She doesn’t really prefer doing on-line counseling, but at least can continue caring for people during this difficult period; we’re thankful for that. But it means Kathy must sit at her computer for many hours. She tries to remember to get up and move around from time to time, as she still has edema in the leg that had knee replacement surgery. I stay in touch with and encourage folks serving in Thailand and Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Malaysia; some are now stranded in places like North Carolina, Indiana, Colorado, and Washington.

Our bi-weekly home fellowship group now meets on-line for prayer and Bible study with friends from our church in Chiang Mai, including long-time members now hunkered down in Michigan and Scotland. It’s not as satisfying as meeting face to face but, since all are in cross-cultural service, we’re able to share daunting challenges folks are facing in far flung regions of the world, and ways God is moving through His people to creatively bear Jesus’ words of life, His care and healing, hope and love to people in dire circumstances. God is being glorified and many people are embracing hope and life in the face of death.

Revised Travel Plans: We now hope, if the Lord permits, to see you in October, November, or December.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and he shall direct your path.” – Proverbs 3:5 & 6

Thank you for sustaining us in service with your prayers and giving. We thank God for you!!

Enough about us. Your plans have undoubtedly been upended as well. How is that impacting you and your family? How can we help bear your burden in prayer?