Missing our friends

John and Linda have left for Canada for their 4 week holiday to celebrate their 25th Anniversary. We’ve come to love them dearly in the week and a half we’ve known them. We spent lots more time with John than Linda, and it only took a day or two for him to become like part of our family. Sadly, we will leave a few days before they return. They will always be near and dear to our hearts though!

Here are a few things I learned from John while he served as our tour guide, chauffeur, translator, pastor, cultural broker, and best of all friend:

• Laughter and stories brighten the day.
• It’s the people that are beautiful, and they are eternal.
• Great hospitality makes an impact.
• Small gestures can be very meaningful.
• Focusing on the positive makes a huge difference.
• Relish your surroundings.
• Carry the load – be the responsible one so someone else can savor the moment.
• Get to know those you are serving. Speak highly of them.
• Love and invest in lost people.
• Try to know at least a little bit about almost anything.
• Savor the moment.

John and Linda….we miss you tremendously and we are so thankful for having a season in your path! We love you both! Happy Anniversary! We hope you have a wonderful trip!
John reading to the girls.
John would entertain the girls in an activity so Jeff and I could look around.
Lending a helping hand.
Pushing the girls on the zipline.