Monday, April 29, 2013

Now...How About Ours? "There's this guy I want you to meet."

Germán and I began our journey together almost 40 years ago, when I was 19 and he was 25.  I'm going to give you a "framework" into which we can go placing the events of our rather unusual beginning.

Germán is Ecuadorian by birth but, being adventurous, had spent some time in the States. He had a fairly serious girlfriend, but they broke up when she let him know she would not go to Ecuador to live. So he decided he wouldn't marry an American (!) and came back to Quito to look for the wife for whom he'd been praying for two years.

I was raised in Ecuador, having arrived here when I was one year, nine months old with my missionary parents. Most of my schooling was in Ecuador,  in English, in missionary schools, but I had Ecuadorian and friends, and spoke Spanish fluently. Since I had skipped a grade, I graduated early, and stayed for a year with my parents in Santo Domingo (Ecuador), the small town that was a hub for the different groups of the indigenous people with whom they worked.  I worked home-schooling several ex-pat kids.  I also had a sort of serious Ecuadorian boyfriend, and my dad wisely insisted I do at least one year of college before considering marriage. I returned to Ecuador the next year and broke up with my boyfriend two weeks later.  My mother asked, "What happened?"  So I told her. Then she said, "There's this guy I want you to meet."

She had already met Germán, as he had returned from the States several months before I did. He had told her that he'd been praying for a wife for two years, but she hadn't appeared yet.  And Mom thought, "Well, she'll be here soon."  Germán's brother Enrique lived in Santo Domingo, too, and between him and my mom, they decided that Germán and I would be a good match... and plotted accordingly!

Not long after I got back, Germán decided to go to Guayaquil, where another brother pastored a church, as he figured church was the best place to find a Christian wife.  He had to come through Santo Domingo, so he stopped in to see his brother Enrique...who saw a great opportunity!  There was a song night at our house that night, so he brought Germán, persuaded him to stay over, and took him to church the next day. Germán had been praying for a musical wife, and noticed that I played the pump organ.  Other details "clicked", and that afternoon he asked me out...and the fun started...and interesting things began to happen!

Meet me here in a few days (probably Thursday) for the continuation: "Wedding Suit and Weekends" !!

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

"WE DO"...and THEY DID!

Many years ago, my daughter Debbie told me that even if she fell in love with someone, if he wasn't also considering mission work, she wouldn't marry him. When she met Steve, he was already working with a small mission out of El Paso, TX...the very place we had moved to for a furlough! And Debbie, having just graduated with her nursing degree, was living with us. 

Eight years ago they were married, and we thanked God for this addition to our family. Steve is a remarkable young man, and a really good father, besides loving God and our dear daughter. (It was sort of cool to find out that Steve's family is also from northern Indiana, as is mine; and his mother is also named Becky.) They now have two gorgeous little girls, and are in the Middle East learning Arabic. It's hard not being able to see them more often, but we can Skype, something which missionaries in generations past didn't have!

I wrote this poem for their wedding:

                                                                  WE DO 

Come, take this hand that feels in yours
the strength and tenderness that blend
to promise that, from this day on,
'tis you will be my dearest friend.

                    Come, take this heart that sees in yours
                    the future that I'm dreaming of,
                    and share this pledge: from this day on,
                    'tis you alone will be my love.

Let's take God's hope that reaches out
to bind our spirits, so they hold
the essence of eternal trust
embedded in our bands of gold.

                      Let's take His peace and let it be
                      an anchor for our confidence,
                      a calm that heals, that feeds and seals
                      our faith in God's omnipotence.

Let's take His joy that swirls around
our souls with firm and gentle grace
that lifts us up and bids us dance
in answer to its sweet embrace!

                         And then we'll take our sandals off,
                         kneel side by side on sacred sod,
                         and vow before the Burning Bush
                         that He alone will be our God!
                                                                                                      -Becky Rhon
                                                                                                   (All rights reserved

(Note: my poetry has been used in prayer letters, church bulletins, retreats, etc. which is great, but PLEASE let me know!! Thanks.)
                                                                                                               


Saturday, April 13, 2013

WERE YOU MARRIED IN APRIL?

As our kids were growing up, may husband and I prayed for their future spouses. The main qualifications we sought were that they love God and love our children. The answers to these prayers were awesome!

After four years in the Marines, Dan met KC at college (Azusa Pacific U.);  so did our daughter Debbie, as KC was her discipleship group leader. The two girls became good friends, and as graduation day approached for Dan and KC, Debbie reflected on the fact that most college friends lose track of each other over time. She hoped it wouldn't happen with KC.  Imagine her joy when she found out that KC was going to become her sister-in-law!

Dan, now a major in the Army and a doctor of physical therapy and of orthopedics, says that KC's support through all his education and professional formation (besides adapting to the role of an Army wife)  has been vital. And KC says that Dan's support and involvement in the rearing of their three (beautiful, intelligent) children has also been vital. They make a great team!

They have been married now for 11 years today. And, yes, KC loves God and loves our beloved son. (And we love her!) I wrote this poem for them just before their wedding:


                                       THE JOURNEY

          Where will your footsteps lead, KC and Dan?
          The top of your hour-glass is piled high with sand
          just waiting to spill out the hours that will span
          every smile, every tear, every dream, every plan.

                       Where will your footsteps lead, Dan and KC?
                       Up through the mountains, down to the sea!
                       An intimate journey that binds and sets free:
                       binds you to learn to love, frees you to BE...

          BE who God made you; and take every chance
          that you have to converse with the Lord of the Dance.
          Ask Him to teach you the steps that enhance,
          the steps that forgive and lead back to romance;

                     some intricate dance-steps, some running in place;
                     some moments of triumph, some pleadings for grace.
                     Whatever delight or dismay that you face,
                     secure both your hearts in Almighty's embrace.

          For here's where your future starts, KC and Dan!
          Your names are both carved on the palm of His hand.
          Take laughter and courage to love's Promised Land,
          all the wisdom and wonder and trust that you can.

                        I bid you God's peace, my new daughter, my son,
                        as you enter the mystery where two become one.
                        When your sand's gone...a lifetime of fire, faith and fun...
                        may you both hear the Father say, "Children, well done!"
                                                                                                               (Becky Rhon)


Join me again on April 23rd, and I'll share with you the poem I wrote for our daughter and son-in-law's wedding!