One Last Post ~ By Tiffany

I have been intending to write “just one more post” ever since returning to the States to begin our new life here and finally almost 6 months later I am getting to that – wow, time sure does fly!  So although the news is a little old, I cannot resist sharing the beautiful things God has done and the ways He has provided for this next step in life!

As most of you know, we chose to leave China after completing our second year.  This decision was made final when Eli joined our family.  We knew that he would need medical attention, and to play catch up educationally being 7 and not yet knowing his own language.  We were unable to provide those things in China, to the level he needed, due to the language barrier and the limited resources there for the deaf.   So although it was very hard to leave a work that was going so well, we knew that it was God’s work, not our own and He would carry it on to completion.  He was the one who lead us to adopt, so if adoption was leading us back to the States then we could trust that was where we needed to be.   

Deryk knew that he wanted to preach but how does one go about deciding where to send a resume?  To just search online when you know nothing of the people or place seemed off.  We didn’t want it to be us choosing so we decided to wait on the Lord.  We prayed that God would open the right doors and direct our steps.   We knew He would – He has shown Himself to be so faithful.  But, we also knew that God’s timing was different than ours and that He had a way of providing what was needed, RIGHT when it was needed – AKA not with a lot of advance notice.  As our time to return drew nearer and we still did not know where we would go, I’m sure to the world around us it seemed like we weren’t doing anything.  Perhaps it seemed a bit irresponsible.   That was hard but we only wanted to be somewhere we knew God had placed us – so we continued to wait.  Then one day a good friend of ours that we served with in Cuenca, Ecuador, Ron Mc Clung, sent us a message on Facebook asking when we were coming back to the U. S. and what we planned to do.  Deryk wrote him back and told him we planned to return in just a couple of months and that he wanted to preach and asked Ron to keep him posted if he knew of anything.  Ron wrote right back and said that he was at lunch at that very time with his dear friend who is a preacher – a preacher who wanted to retire.  They were discussing how to go about finding a replacement preacher without just posting it online and getting people you know nothing about!  He told us we should send our resume to their congregation.  We did, and then we continued to pray and wait.    We received a call from the church of Christ in Cedar Hill, Texas, and made a couple of visits down to meet them and preach.  We could clearly see and feel God’s hand in the whole thing.  From the vision of the elders to the warm welcome and involvement of the members it was an easy decision on our end.  They called and offered the job and we were there within just a couple of weeks!  We settled in quickly and got to work after just two weeks.   After being out one night visiting with a member who was going through a really rough time, Deryk came back home and said with a contented smile, “I was made for this”!   He is feeling much contentment and peace in being where we are at and doing what he is doing.   He sees God is changing him day by day to better equip him for the job He has put before him.  We feel very blessed!   What indescribable peace comes from walking in His leading.

To add to the obvious way the Lord had gone before us, we found out that there was a charter school established for the deaf that is located just 20 miles from our home.  Several years later the school has come to have more hearing students than deaf, but they all learn to sign and the teachers sign while talking so that all students are included!  Despite the fact that there were over 100 children on the waiting list, the principal called and said she wanted Eli to come and join the school because they wanted to help serve him in his unique situation!   She even worked out a bus route that would pick Eli up only 6 minutes from our house!  He is learning quickly and LOVING school.  He loves the routine and the fact that each day he is learning to communicate more and more.  He is also learning to read and it is all so beautiful to watch! 

I love how God provides!   Before leaving for China we decided to downsize in a big way. We didn’t sell everything because we knew that would create a huge expense upon our return that didn’t seem wise, but we also couldn’t see storing things that someone else was currently in need of.  So we asked God to show us who needed what, and that is exactly what He did.  People began calling us or telling us about someone they knew who was in need – a bed, a couch, a dryer, kitchen appliances etc., so little by little we were able to pass things on to just the right people.  Two years passed and we returned to the States.  Remember me saying how God has a way of providing right when the need presents itself?  Well, we were on our way to the store to get a bed for ourselves and our newest member of the family when we get a call from one of the elders at the church we were going to.  He wanted to know if we had need for a bed.  He had one in his barn just sitting there that we were welcome to use!  Then we got to Cedar Hill and arrived to our new home where we found our brothers and sisters waiting to help us unload.  What a kind welcome!  They unloaded everything, set up beds and even had food waiting – I think it was all done within just a couple of hours!  Then a brother said that he and his wife wanted to get us a dryer for a house warming gift!  I didn’t even go one day without.  First night in our home and I was able to do laundry for all those blankets and sheets that had been packed away for the last two years.      Next we went to the store to buy some things we needed to get – one being a vacuum and before we could even get it out of the box, another member of the church called and asked if we needed a vacuum because she had a brand new one that she could not use because it was too heavy!  These people didn’t know we needed most of those things specifically but God put it on their hearts to ask and they were the exact things we needed.  He replaced everything we had given away and then some!  The stories could go on and on, bikes, a play set, a grill and even money for those random things we might need to restock.     Just like that we had a home, vehicles, couch and all the other little things you can think of.  He overwhelms me with His provision!

Hannah jumped right in to a new school within only three days of moving.  She has been a trouper of all troupers!  We knew that there would be some challenges with so many changes all at once, but it was Hannah that came to us and said she thought she could do more good there than to stay at home another year.   It has always been our intent to homeschool them in order to prepare them to one day go out and be a light and that is what she felt ready to do.  We could clearly see from the very start the ways in which God had been preparing her and us for the very specific things she was facing.  It is a mission field of its own and she is there for the Lord.  He is giving her a voice there as she recently ran for student council and was elected secretary.  We are blessed to watch Him work through her and blessed that He uses us period! 

Saying goodbye and being separated from our dear friends in China has pulled on our hearts in deeper ways than I can even begin to describe, but God is faithful to provide wherever He guides.  That is why we wait on Him.  We would have it no other way but to know that we are where He would have us to be.  Because of this, even when times are tough or uncertain we know without a doubt that it is still ok.  He has shown us over and over again that we can trust Him, and so we will.  Remembering all He has done reminds us of His promises and His faithfulness to them.  So that is why we love to share His stories with others - that they too may remember and take heart!   Thank you for allowing us to do that with you over the last two years while we were in China - what a blessing it has been!                                                                                          

Signing off~  The Pritchards