Memories, laughter and a flood of tears

Chris and Lynne Strange were heading into the village for the last time.

“It’s hard to even type,” Lynne shares. “We found it difficult to think about it and we dreaded it for months. Our throats close up and tears spring into our eyes before we attempt to control them.”

“God fills our lives with good, no—excellent—gifts,” Lynne Strange writes, “And they are almost always about people. Well, the best of them are.”

And Chris and Lynne were dreading the most difficult task they have ever faced as missionaries. After years of loving and living with their Banwaon family and friends, it was time to say good-bye.

“We know it will be in Heaven when we next greet some of these brothers and sisters,” Lynne shares. And so Lynne and Chris prayed that God would enable them to adequately express to the Banwaon people how much they mean to them and “how we would carry each of them in our hearts no matter where we might live on this earth.”

Lynne says they were working on plans for their final journey back to the village when both of their computers squawked the word that they had incoming messages. The messages were all about the news that their Banwaon friends had taken up a collection for a Pogsalamat (literally means “thanking God”) celebration with them.

Lynne says, “The news stunned us and then sent us into a flurry of activity. Suddenly we had to shop and weigh and pack everything they ordered for a big celebration. We were on full tilt!”

Flight plans had to be changed, chickens had to be ordered.  Chris heaved heavy sacks of rice to go into the plane with them.

Lynne says they were overwhelmed by this visible outpouring of love from their beloved Banwaon friends. “This is a difficult time of the year for them, yet it was on their hearts to give and celebrate with us. July is their ‘hungry time’ before harvest in September,” she explains. “Food and funds are at an all-time low during these months. … Their expression of love literally fills us up to overflowing.”

During this special Thanksgiving feast celebration, the hundreds of people who came to express love and gratefulness to Chris and Lynne consumed 27 chickens, 220 pounds of rice, 38 pounds of noodles and too many cans of fish to be counted.

Lynne says that she and Chris were deeply touched. In view of the lean times in the tribe, there was visible evidence of the hunger that many had experienced in recent months. “It was especially wonderful to see folks that were thinner since our last visit enjoying the food and also laughing with us one last time.”

Before the celebration meal, Chris and Lynne shared their heart-felt expressions of thanks and love. “We shared that, just like God had instructed us to ready ourselves to leave home and dear family in the USA to come and live among the Banwaon, we continue to follow Him wherever He leads.”

And the Banwaon responded with words that touched Chris and Lynne deeply. “They replied that even though they will miss us terribly, the only right way to live is in obedience to God, our Father. They added that we might be separated here on this earth, but because of God, we can look forward to Eternity when we all have ‘one house’ in Heaven.”

Lynne shares that she and Chris feel “family-connected” to the Banwaon people and very much hope that someday they can return to visit them. “‘Difficult’ is not adequate to describe our tearful good-byes,” Lynne says. “‘Heart-wrenching’ isn’t either!  We eternally thank God for allowing us to be a part of the work He is doing there.”

Pray for Chris and Lynne Strange as God directs them into new paths. Pray for health and protection and guidance for them. Pray for the ongoing ministry to the Banwaon people and for Albert Castelijn and his family who will soon be living in the Banwaon village, continuing to share the love of Christ, which powerfully binds together hearts on earth toward a grand future celebration in Heaven.