Road Warrier

I know that I have said it before but I cannot thank you, my friends and family, enough for all your prayers over the last couple of weeks. I have seen the love of our Savior and Lord poured out in abundance for my father, family and me through so many people, words alone are not enough to describe.

While in Taiwan I was going to write about my adventures of driving a scooter in an Asian country and title it “Road Warrior.” However I will briefly share how I have been a “Road Warrior,” since I have been back.

The day after I arrive in Texas I drive from Temple to San Angelo, about three and a half hour drive. Not much for a Texas drive but you have to take in consideration that is almost the amount of time it would take to drive from Southern Taiwan to Norther Taiwan. The following weekend I drive roughly four hours to go to a family reunion just east of Lubbock on Saturday. Then on Sunday I drive another four hours to see a good friend outside of Dallas for a couple of hours then head back to San Angelo that afternoon, another three to four hour drive. On Tuesday after the memorial service go with my dad to Oklahoma to drop off my grandma, stay the night in Tulsa, and drive into Northwest Arkansas on Wednesday.

Tomorrow, Saturday, we will be heading back to Texas where my dad will drop me off in Temple where I will spend some time with my mother. In the last two weeks I have been doing more road travel here in the states then in the last two years I before I left for Taiwan. But it has been a wonderful time of seeing family and friends, and if I could choose to do it differently I wouldn't.

I may be a bit tired from all the traveling, but I have been extremely blessed by the time I have spent with loved ones; whether it is my family by birth, or my family in Christ.

I still don't fully realize it, and I may never, but I am coming to see how blessed I am to be surrounded and loved by so many people. I may not have great sums of money but I can see that I am truly wealthy in ways money cannot buy.

I truly love you and will write again soon

Joshua

Another day

It has been about a week since I left Taiwan and came home in a flurry of events. Since I have been home I have not done that much except spend time with my dad. He is doing well, his church has been an incredible blessing to him. We have not had the memorial service yet, we will do that on Tuesday next week.

Ever since I made it back everything seemed to be surreal, while I know that my stepmother has passed away it still doesn't seem real is a sense. I am not denying what happened, it is just that the weight of what has happened has not hit me yet. However I know that we all go through grief in different ways and in different stages.

In the mean time I am just resting when I can and helping my dad as I can. There is more that I could say, however at this point I am still processing what has been going on. One thing that is certain and is the source of my strength and confidence is that we have a redeemer. Paul said that to be ascent from the body is to be present with the Lord, 2Corinthians 5:8, so it is our comfort, our joy, our hope that even though Connie is no longer with us that she is in a coveted place, that being in the presence of Jesus.

Thank you all for you well wishes and prayers

Joshua

A quick overview of the last couple of days

As you most likely know by now I have made it home to my dad's and that my stepmother passed on from this earth on Thursday July 16, 2009. However, because I was traveling I did not find out that she left us until I arrived in Texas on Thursday morning.

I will try to be brief but a lot has happened over the last couple of days, and I am still reeling from the all the transitions.

Over the last couple of weeks I have been talking with my dad about Connie's condition. Early last week I got the feeling the I should start planning a trip home soon. By Wednesday I figured that I should head out within a week or so and I spoke with my boss about it. Thursday my time (Taiwan is 13 hours ahead of Central standard time), I got the word Connie had 2 or 3 days left so I stared to plan on leaving on Saturday. Friday morning (my time once again) I made made calls about getting plane ticket for Saturday as well as tell my boss that I need time off. I found out there was a typhoon coming toward Taiwan and it would be better to head out that evening so I would not get delayed so I booked the ticket for Friday evening.

So I packed some stuff, made quick arrangements and left Taiwan at 8:30pm. I flew from Kaohsiung where I live to Hong Kong, to L.A., to Dallas and finally landed in Austin Saturday morning at 8:30. I made it home in just over 24 hours, which is the fastest I have ever made it across the ocean, it usually takes over 30 hours so I know that the Lords hands were in my traveling. I would also like to thank everyone for your prayers.

I spent Saturday getting adjusted to the time change and getting a bit organized for my time here. Sunday afternoon I left Temple and arrived safely at my dad's Sunday evening.

As I have stated earlier I did not hear about Connie passing away until I made it home so it was a bit of a shock, and to tell the truth the weight of it has yet to hit. I know that she has finally made it home with our Lord and that is comforting and in a way I am jealous because she is in the presence of Jesus. But I am also sorrowful that she is not with us and that I was not able to say one last goodby.

Anyway I will keep you updated on what happens.

I love you and ask that you are blessed with the peace that only comes from Jesus

Joshua

No title

Although I was planning on planning on writing on the stresses of driving in Taiwan for my next post something more urgent has come up.

As I sit to write this I am in the process of making plans to head back to the States because I recently got the news that my step mom will soon pass away. Right now I don't have all that much to say but as I process this I will keep you informed.

Blessings

Joshua