God's Timing

God is full of surprises isn't He?  It may come as unexpected news to many of you (it sure was to us!) but we are moving back to America in May!  "Moving back to America..."  this statement makes me want to laugh and cry at the same time.  This was not suppose to happen so quickly.  This was not the plan I had in my mind.  This was not how I imagined it would be.  But God is good and He had something else lined up for us.

One evening back in January, Mike and I sat down and discussed the possibility of moving back to the States in a year or so.  There were couple reasons that led us to this conclusion but we both felt that it was the right decision.  Please note that we were thinking "in a year".  Well that SAME week, Mike received an email from a good friend of ours asking about our time left in St. Kitts and our timeline for going back to the States.  The reason for the email was because his older sister, Dr. R was looking for an associate for her dental office.  This email led to more emails, then to phone calls which eventually led to a great job offer.  The last time we had spent the weekend with her and her husband was about two years ago at our friend's (her brother's) wedding.  During our time together, she had casually and jokingly told Mike to contact her for a job when we were done with our work here in St. Kitts.  Little did we know that God was working for our future plans even back then!        

This is happening really fast.  Moving in less than 3 months?!  It sounds crazy!  But after much thought and prayer, we really feel that God is leading us and has lined up this next chapter for us.  Although Mike has appreciated and learned a lot from being the director at the S.D.A. Dental Clinic here, he is excited about this next step in his career.  It is truly a wonderful job opportunity for him.  Have we told you that it is only about 4 and a half hours away from his parents' house in Washington?  and we can take a direct flight to Japan from Seattle to visit my parents?  What an incredible gift from God that this amazing job opportunity happens to be so close to our families! We are super excited to live close to them again and for our children to be able to spend more quality time with grandparents in person and not just over Skype :)

It is definitely going to be bitter sweet to leave St. Kitts.  I have days that I am super excited about living in America again.  But I also have days I am super sad about leaving this beautiful little island and the wonderful people we have come to know.  Change is exciting yet change is hard.  We ask for your prayers as we get ready for this big transition and for the S.D.A. Dental Clinic.  Thank you so much in advance!

I was telling a good friend of mine this week that I'm used to waiting for God to answer prayers.  But that this situation is teaching me a whole new lesson on trusting in "God's timing".  Instead of waiting for God to answer my prayers, God has given me the answer already and I am the one dragging my feet saying: "Wait God! I wasn't quite ready for this!"

During my devotions, I was rereading one of my favorite Bible verses Philippians 4:6-7: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."  Then God pointed out to the little note I had written in the Bible many years ago:

"Yuki, let ME be the Blessed Controller.  

Surrender.  

Accept my timing.  

Accept my ways.  

Accept my outcome.  

Let your trust be in me alone."  

So today, I choose to surrender again.  I choose to accept again.  I choose to trust again.  God led us to the decision to move to St. Kitts three years ago.  Knowing my God, I'm sure He has great things...no, AMAZING things in store for us in Salem, Oregon as well!