Timing is often important, though not always. Sometimes it is of the utmost importance, like when Chris was pretty much racing me to the hospital as Lucas was about to be born. It happened in a hurry and nothing could postpone Lucas’s arrival!
Timing has been important ever since God.
Creation had timing, the Savior’s birth had clear timing – the Bible is clear that the Lord is purposeful in his timing. His timing is perfect, though not always our preference.
In late May, when we told our kids we would be returning to America for a longer period of time, Luis specifically asked, “Will we ever return to Thailand?”. I was hopeful we would return, but the timing was not clear or sure.
From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.
Matthew 16: 21
God’s timing is perfect, and His plan was revealed to his disciples at exactly the right moments!
Though not an easy or simple decision, the Lord has given us clarity. Our family plans to return to Thailand on December 29th. Our medical team, our ministry leadership, and our extended family are supportive knowing that Chris can get very good medical follow up care in Thailand. Our medical team here in Grand Rapids will continue to keep Chris as a patient so we can consult with them if any unusual results occur.
Please continue to pray for Chris and his recovery. It feels a little like postpartum recovery – a necessary exercise in patience. Chris still has symptoms of neuropathy in the morning when he wakes up. He also senses that chemotherapy has advanced his presbyopia. The nurses said that the physical effects of chemotherapy can last 3 months or longer so he is generally trying to recover from the past several months of treatment.
Please pray for our children, and for us to help them enjoy the present, adapt to the coming changes, and wrestle with the not yet.
This post features an amazing picture capturing a hawk as it flew in front of Chris’s birthday-present-drone. Chris set out to capture the fall colors of our neighborhood and didn’t realize until he reviewed the footage that a hawk had flown in front of the camera for a single second. Something amazing and beautiful was captured in that moment – only God could have orchestrated such timing!
That is wonderful news! I’m so Glad things are working out for you and we will continue to pray!!
We are so excited and thankful for this wonderful news. Praise God!! We just let our 5 neighbors know of this news and to thank them for praying. I am so glad you were able to share with them back in June and for them now to see how God answered their prayers.
We are so thankful that you can go home and we will continue to pray for all the details to work out. Thank you Jesus. Blessings, Diane and Gerry Pedersen.
Yes God’s timing is perfect even when it might feel disruptive. I knew your hearts were eager to return home and so it looks as though December is the month – my birthday even! My prayers for your re-entry go with you as you settle back into your normal routine.
God bless the journey.
Ann Fackler
Praise the Lord for this wonderful news!! So thankful for Chris treatment being successful and that his continued care can be done in Thailand. Prayers continue for all of you as you continue on this journey. Love seeing Emalenes excitement at her 1st time carving pumpkins!! Hoping the kids enjoy all the wonders of Michigans ever changing weather and all the new experiences it brings! Love you all Tammy❤️
I thank God for guiding you through this decision! Glad you can return home.
It’s encouraged me to follow your story as it unfolds! Thanking God and praying over the next two months and return back to Thailand. Look forward to seeing you again!
So glad things are going well enough that you can return to Thailand. Praise God for clear direction!
Paul & Kim Fields
This is great news, Hirts! We’ll keep praying for recovery, strength, peace for all of you and precious times with family and friends over the holidays.
Good time to fly to warmer climate! Ed loved seeing Luis in the cool bike shirt. :>) Praising the Lord the healer and helper of MKs and parents readjusting to “home” again.
Our prayer team in Eastern Michigan is rejoicing with you. We are giving all praise and thanks to the Lord for His healing touch on Chris and His abiding faithfulness covering all of your family. His promises are sure and true – He does know the plans He has for all of us – plans for a hope and a future. May He set your path straight all the way. . . leading and guiding you in your ministry journey. Love and prayers!!
Good news! We are so happy for you!
This news makes us “dance in our office chairs”…such a sweet answer to concerted prayer over months. This has demanded much from your family…patience, grace, time, energy…how wonderful to see the color back in Chris’ face and to see pictures of him exercising with vigor. Wonderful that you have such support of family, friends, colleagues and your ever-close Abba.
We join you in praising God for His wonderful provisions for your family as well as Chris’s miraculous
Cancer reports.
The first thing your precious daughter did when she came to church was to run to me, give me a big hug and announce that “we are going back to Thailand”. There is nothing sweeter than going home after a long journey. PTL.
Judie Rudolph
Romans 5:6
For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.
In every detail of life, God’s timing is the only timing. We are so grateful for this good news, for the wonder of treatments and modern medicine. For the wonder of His love for each of you, for us. xo
SO happy for your family to be coming through a very hard year and being able to see a return to “normalcy”. What an amazing photo! “He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” (Is. 40: 29-31). I think it’s a hawk, not an eagle, but it sure made me think of this verse for you all.
This is wonderful news!
May God direct every aspect of this next leave-taking for all of you: there have been so many new relationships begun in such a relatively short timeframe. More change, more loss, more anticipation for the return.
The drone photo with the hawk is stunning — so unexpected, yet so fitting as an image for this whole unexpected chapter.
ขอบคุณพระเจ้าเป็นข่าวดีสำหรับครอบครัวเราที่จะได้เจอครอบครัวของคุณ เราจะรอและจะอธิษฐานเผื่อครอบครัวต่อไปคะ
To God be the glory! So thankful with you. I will continue to pray for the transitions ahead. And the hawk in that picture….wow!
That hawk is beautiful!!! Such a sweet gift from a doting Heavenly Father.
So thrilled to hear you’ll be back the end of December!
Holding your family in prayer as you transition again.
He’s with each of you every step of the way. His presence is your perfect provision.
Love you
Dear Chris and Rebecca,
Great to hear this news! Wow, back in the saddle! Amazing. My treatment and recovery from GBM (Glioblastoma Multiform – brain cancer) has been a long road. I’m off medical leave, but still having difficulty with stamina.
Anyway, Chris’ drone picture of the hawk is amazing! I’m jealous!
Blessings,
Ken
BTW, you have a beautiful family. Love those family photos! K
God’s timing is perfect, and we are so thankful for your good news and will continue to trust the Lord for care and provision and guidance. I love the perfect timing for the hawk in the picture—it’s like a God-wink saying, “I’ve got this!”
Glad to hear you’ve received the Lord’s next steps. We should arrive in Thailand the day after you do! Looking forward to seeing you on the other side! Really cool picture of the hawk as well.
What a neat God picture of the eagle flying into the photo. God is and will continue to protect you as He leads you in His ways.
May all go well in closing up another chapter of life I preparation for what’s ahead.
See you at conference, Lord willing.
Praise the Lord! such good news to hear you will be going back to Thailand. God is good
I was wondering if the hawk was a personal capture using a drone. How exciting! We are just as excited as we look forward to seeing you all soon!
Thinking back to the start of your Wycliffe journey – who knew all it would bring? Of course … GOD! And He knows all the steps ahead! I’m praising Him with you and the family, and looking forward to how he’s going to use this latest chapter to bring glory to Himself through each page yet to be written.
Celebrating with you all! So thankful for good news! We’ve been praying with you the whole way and will continue to pray! Looking forward to your return.
Isaiah 40:31 “but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”
Praising God with you for how the journey is going forward and the plan to head back to ministry work in Thailand. Grateful for the opportunities and experiences you have had in West Michigan. May God continue to restore you to full health Chris.
The verse is my “notice” of the image the Lord captured for you with the hawk (my eagle) and the drone video. It looks like a photo off National Geographic. You couldn’t have captured that shot “on your own”- Only God!!
He has got you Hirt family- and our River Rock prayer group will continue to go forward with you in prayer.
Great news but so sad that I will miss you all in Chiang Mai! Will be there in just a few days.
Blessings continue for you all and have a wonderful holiday season with your families.
So thankful you have direction and timing! 🙂 Gorgeous pics – and I’m so excited for you to return to Thailand!
Awesome news and great family pics. He goes before, with you, and behind you as you plan and execute your return to Thailand.
So thankful that this decision seems clear to you 🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼
Always grateful when that happens, and when you may have difficulty in the going and returning to Chiangmai, you can return to this well documented account as to how the Lord has and is leading you. Continued prayers for the preparation and yet another round of farewells.