Time Capsule, Time Spent, Preparation Time, More Time – I’ve been thinking and talking to God about the significance of this moment, this time, that God has blessed me with, blessed us with. We get the privilege and opportunity to go back to our Thailand home one more time, to say goodbye and do lasts together as a family in the place where our kids grew up. Returning to our home, like opening a time capsule, is a mix of emotions and joys, remembering things and experiences that have already somewhat faded into memory. Thank you Jesus, for one more time here in Thailand, and for 1 year of remission!
Leaving and packing up our home in a matter of weeks will not be easy.
“How lucky am I to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.” ― A.A. Milne
But in the tears, I will remember that tough goodbyes mean it was well worth it.
Here’s a challenge for me and you:
- Where is God inviting you to be fully present instead of always looking ahead to what’s next?
- Are you investing your time in the people and priorities that matter most?
- What unfinished conversations, expressions of gratitude, or acts of love should happen before this season ends?
- If every day is a gift from God, what would it look like to steward today’s gift more intentionally?
Thanks again for walking with us on the journey!
Pray along with us:
Thank you Lord for excellent scans and bloodwork from our trip to Chicago! Chris’s treatment continues to stay the same through the next year, scans every 3 months along with medication to prevent recurrence. Please pray with us that we will not have the same insurance challenges (two denials and our medical team advocating) which we had last December to continue with this medication.
Prayers for our kids, as they return to their normal in Thailand and find ways to say goodbye to people and places they have loved since their births. May they find courage and comfort.
Prayers for the logistics of finding homes for our things, we want to bless people as God has blessed us.
Praise God with us: Lucas and Emalene were baptized last month!
(picture above: Lucas caught these two birds on camera mid-flight!)
Praying for you in this time of saying goodbyes. May the Lord show His goodness and faithfulness.
As an aside, I am in Bangkok now until June 8 for the Global Leadership Team of the mission I advise.
Love in Jesus,
Bruce
Praise God for 1 year of remission! Currently, my hemoglobin has been stable for 1 1/2 years! Thanks for your challenging questions. I will spend time pondering them and seeking the Lord. Blessings to your family as you have closure in Thailand!
Angie
What an example you, Becca, your whole family are representing Christ and his finished work on the cross as you live out your lives here, returning to say good bye all in His mighty power, love and peace.
You are each loved by us and Him
Your updates always leave me encouraged and challenged. Praying for safe flights, warm goodbyes and settling of your possessions. Amen that Chris is in remission. Thanks for sharing the baptisms of Lucas and Emalene!
Thank you for this really good reminder about time…and the questions to go along with it. I am praying for your time in Thailand, asking God to give each of you what you need as your experience “lasts” and say goodbyes to those you hold dear in a place full of meaning.
The picture that Lucas took – so beautiful!
I was present when Lucas and Emalene were baptized. It was a beautiful morning hearing both of them speak of their faith in God and how he is working in their lives. I just watched their baptism service again because I knew hearing their testimonies again would be encouraging.
Hi,
I’ll continue to pray as you walk through this vital return to Thailand to farewell well. It will be (as you’ve expressed wonderful and difficult. I give you this link to “A liturgy for embracing both joy & sorrow” – a free download from Every Moment Holy Vol II. https://www.rabbitroom.com/post/a-liturgy-for-embracing-both-joy-sorrow May bless.
Karen
Hi,
I’ll continue to pray as you walk through this vital return to Thailand to farewell well. It will be (as you’ve expressed wonderful and difficult. I give you this link to “A liturgy for embracing both joy & sorrow” – a free download from Every Moment Holy Vol II. https://www.rabbitroom.com/post/a-liturgy-for-embracing-both-joy-sorrow May bless.
Karen
Praise God! Praying for your trip. Love the encouragement and the baptism video. So grateful for the Lord’s faithfulness to your family and for your testimonies ❤️
So thankful you are in remission, Chris! So grateful for the baptisms of your two children! Awesome!
Praying for strength and comfort as you all travel and go through your good bys.
The Lord bless you and keep you!
Always love the updates. Prayers for safe travel and your time spent in Thailand. May you have a great time of fellowship with much celebration, many thanks and praises, and time for reflection on all God has done and continues to do through you, your family, and the whole Wycliffe team there.
Thank you for your thoughtful and encouraging words! God is so good to give you these days of health and purpose. We are praying for your trip to Thailand.
That’s great news! Praying for your family and the trip to Thailand!
Praising God for your remission and for his mercy and grace for all of our beautiful Hirt family!!
Prayers for your travels to Thailand. May you have times of joy, laughter and peace as you say good bye to your Thailand home and friends.
Love you all so much snd will miss you 🥰
Aunt Dawn
Attended the retirement dinner of Ed and Linda at Park Church. I didn’t realize until then that and Linda were active in your recruitment for Wycliffe. we are members at LaGrave and are linked with you through the Beets Society.
Praising God for your remission and for his mercy and grace for all of our beautiful Hirt family!!
Prayers for your travels to Thailand. May you have times of joy, laughter and peace as you say good bye to your Thailand home and friends.
Love you all so much and will miss you 🥰
Aunt Dawn
I am so grateful, Chris, that you are experiencing this remission and have been for an entire year. I really like your son’s photo of the cardinal in flight and what appears to be a hairy woodpecker on the feeder. We don’t usually see cardinals here but I see downy and hairy woodpeckers here every day.
I’m grateful for the grace you’ve been given to return to Chiang Mai as a family for this brief time of goodbyes and pruning. Pruning that means the end of some things that never fully developed. But pruning that is necessary to prepare you for future fruitfulness that you can’t even imagine yet.
May the Lord reveal Himself in the pruning.
You are loved!
Terry
May God bless you all on this trip to Thailand 🙏 Thank you for this open-hearted update and the challenges you’ve shared.
I’ve just watched the video of Lucas and Emalene being baptized – God is good!
Please send Becca, Lucas, Louis, and Emalene my greetings. 🇳🇱
PS: Beautiful picture, the birds will miss you too 😄
Thank you Chris and Rebecca, We are praying for you. Time is precious and our life on earth is limited. You rightly feel that your expected time to live in Thailand was cut short but you are demonstrating the Father’s care and companionship in all things. Thanks for the reminder to live in the moment and not always look beyond to a next thing in the future.
Blessings
Praise God for the continued remission & Gods healing! Praying for you as you return to Thailand & say your goodbyes. May God bless you & others through you during this time of closures.
Praise God for one year of remission, baptisms, powerful testimonies, and beautiful birds. May God show Himself to you all in new and restorative ways as you go home to pack up a very familiar home and say goodbye to those who are family. May He give grace for each and every hard moment.
Thank you for the reminder about time.
Praise the Lord for remission.
So touched to listen to the baptism testimonies.
Praying for your time in Thailand to be meaningful.
Can’t wait to see you!
Dear Hirt family……praying for sure.
Hope your time inThailand is joyful and brings you peace and hope.
We are praising God with you for Chris’s one year remission and what a joy to see Lucas and Emalene’s‘s baptisms and hear their testimonies of faith in Jesus! We are praying so tenderly for you as you say goodbyes that are heart wrenching. We trust God will continue to comfort and console you with his love and mercy. We are so thankful that you have the opportunity to be able to go back, and we are asking for the grace and power of the Holy Spirit to guide and provide for you all.
And what a great picture of the birds! 💕
We are praying for your family! I can’t imagine how difficult it will be having to say goodbye to the people and places in Thailand, and pray that you will feel God’s grace and presence as you are there. Also thankful to hear of the good reports for Chris! We have been blessed to get to know your family and are thankful for how God has been able to use you here in the United States, despite it not being how you may have planned or imagined life going a few years back. Thanks for letting Him use you wherever you are!