Off We Go

See the old guy in the middle of the photo?  He’s a long-retired Episcopal priest.

What does he have to do with me?

He is a model for me.  You see, Father Bob and his wife spent many years in Belize.  They organized a seminary, founded new churches, and generally, did a lot of people a lot of good. 

Back in 2002, the MGB and I were getting ready to return to Việt Nam for the first time since the war.  We were going for two weeks – that’s all.  Prior to our departure, Father Bob filled in for our regular priest.  The sermon that Sunday was a simple story – the story of a businessman and his wife in their fifties who made a two week trip to Belize.  After mixing concrete and working hard on some projects Fr. Bob needed done, the couple went home, took early retirement, sold their expensive apartment in New York City, and moved to Belize.  Today, the man pastors the three churches he founded.

Okay – cool story, but I also had the feeling it was directed at me.  After the service, I made a beeline for Fr. Bob.  In the belief that the story was somehow meant to give me a hint, I said “If you think for one minute that I will live in Vietnam, you’re crazy!”

We had a good laugh.  Today, we still laugh about it because the rest is history.  We did, of course, live in Việt Nam.

It was only fitting that this gentle man send us off once more.  The folks from our church gathered around us, put hands on our shoulders, and asked for a blessing on us and our work.  We were sent out into the world to do the work God gave us to do.

You won’t be reading this until we are somewhere over the Pacific.  We’ll see you in Việt Nam.

Comments

[Paul Stanley]

Godspeed Doug & MGB. Just like Father Bob, you all are showing us how it can be done. Thanks for the example of living by your convictions.

P