Ever since we lost our first twins in 1986, "it is well with my soul" usually moves me to tears. Horatio Spafford was a Chicago lawyer and real estate investor who lost, in 1871-73, first a 4 y.o. son (to a contagious disease, scarlet fever,) then his real estate holdings (in the great Chicago fire,) and finally his other four children in a ship accident. (These events took place in the decade after the end of the American civil war. Horatio and his wife went on to have three more children, including a second son who died by age 2, and found a caregiving ministry in Jerusalem. http://www.christianhistorytimeline.com/GLIMPSEF/Glimpses2/glimpses210.shtml)
Our three kids have not been swept away, they're just going to college in Houston. We didn't have great real estate holdings--and we're not in debt. True, 2008 was a year for us of dislocation, separation, and financial decline, but 2009 has begun with the same rock at the center of our well-being, and really things aren't too bad at all! (That's a chinese idiom meaning things are still very good.) Our ministry finances are also being impacted, but so far it is a minor impact. We will continue to trust that God will supply what we need and to seek to be good managers of what he has provided. This is our sincere hope for each of you as well in this new year. In Taiwan, they're preparing for the year of the ox. We've got some pictures of the oxen courtesy of the Taipei airport, as well as a "new friend" with whom we had our picture taken as we were leaving Taiwan Wednesday. We'll post them on our picture site on the web.
We've already said goodbye again to Sarah, Joey, and Robby (early 1/1) and taken a trip back to Taiwan (1/5-14). Bob and Judy Long, retired from Taiwan, have returned for six months to be available through the Center for Counseling and Growth. Judy is a counselor and Bob is a retired pediatrician. We welcomed them into our house the second night we were back, and before we left they were hosting us for dinner at our own table! We're happy that they can be back in Taiwan and taking care of our apartment, too. Join us in asking that their time will be enjoyable, beneficial, and peaceful. We also welcomed a new partnership in Taipei with a Chinese Christian counselor who will be registering our Taipei location with the government as a psychological therapy center. We believe this will complement our ministry of pastoral care, particularly with members of the local community who would like to receive Christian care. Again, please join us in asking that this association will be useful for ministry and for effective care, and that our path together would be smooth.
For Laura and I, the spring holds several trips with some time in between in Colorado. In February, we're headed to Houston for Bridgepoint's annual conference. In March, we're going to do a spring break trip with our kids, then head east to Maryland for Forcey's annual conference. In April, we'll head back to Asia to check in with the team at CCG in Taiwan, then head to Hong Kong and Thailand for two separate TEAM-related consultations.
As I write, the "miracle on the Hudson" is all over the news. What an exciting escape for the passengers and crew of this airplane. I'm sure there will be many more exciting events in our world of billions this year. Some will end well, many others not. May we have souls that do well no matter what circumstances we encounter. And may we have the grace to care for one another, whether we are in the same boat or facing very different challenges.
With love (and jet lag,) Steve and Laura
PS If you would like to contribute to our ministry, to TEAM, or to the Center for Counseling and Growth itself, you will find links and further information on the websites below. The google group includes links to all the other websites. We invite your partnership, and celebrate the team of partners that has brought us this far!
Dr. Steve and Laura Spinella, Sarah, Joey, Robby
Da Yi Street, Lane 29, #18, 2F-1, Taichung 40454, TAIWAN
011.886.4.2236.6145, of 4.2236.1901, fx 4.2236.2109, cell 9.2894.0514
USA: 9685 Otero Ave, Colorado Springs, CO 80920, 719.528.1702, cell 713.408.7208 (new cell #, note Houston area code)
TEAM, PO Box 969, Wheaton, IL 60187, 800.343.3144 <www.team.org.tw/ccg>, <http://groups.google.com/group/TEAMspinella/>,
<spinella@alumni.rice.edu>, <lauraspinella@alumni.rice.edu>
