Joyous Reunion
We were overjoyed to be reunited with David recently. As a result of surprising providence, we are currently visiting the US. We are staying in West Virginia where Ben has been asked to do the printing for a small homechurch ministry here.

West Virginia is 3000 miles from Lookout, California (David's home) but gratefully, our flight took us into LAX – the Californian airport, where David and his family met us.

The single day visit was wonderful, but far too short. We waved David off for our day of domestic flights regretfully.

But less than two weeks later, we met up again in sunny Florida for a conference. West Virginia in February is freezing, but the visit to Florida was reminiscent of our QLD home.

Our Florida experience extended for a week and we found ourselves thanking God for giving us the chance to be there. Much time was spent in opening the word together, meeting new brethren, enjoying the sights (alligators and squirrels) and catching up with David. It is impossible to convey how precious this time was and how we savored the moments!

Air Time
It was Ben's first flight to America, and I was reminded of how long it is! We had eight and a half hours between Brisbane and Taipei in Taiwan, a six hour stopover there and then another ten hours on to LAX. But we were together.

When, two days later, we boarded a flight out of California on our way to West Virginia, we were denied that privilege. We tried everything to get our seat allotments changed. We spoke to the staff, and then tried swapping with everyone in our row. No luck!

Could I have guessed that God had a purpose “for good” in our trying seat arrangement, I might not have turned my face away to hide the tears when my new seatmate attempted to make a comforting comment.

“Too bad you can't sit together on Valentine's day! I'd be happy to swap, but my leg is too stiff to change from an aisle seat.”

He was a very kind, friendly man. Before too long, I felt blessed in God's choice of my companion. His father had been a US ambassador, and he regaled me with colourful stories of countless places all over the world. He told me that Australia was one of only two places in the world he had not visited.

Genuine enjoyment was exchanged for my mild curiosity when our talk turned to the spiritual. Soon he was telling me of a close Uncle of his that had just died. “He lived the teachings of Christ more than anyone else I ever knew” he told me. He told me that, though he had grown up in an atheistic home, because of the influence of this Uncle he “had a lot of time” for God. O the power of influence! How this realization struck me! The influence of one true disciple had made all the difference to this man. From that point on, our conversation became a true sharing experience. I knew then that this was God's purpose for separating Ben and I for this flight.

As we discussed the life and teachings of Jesus, my favourite book came to mind – the Desire of Ages, which is so beautiful on the life of Christ. I found myself wanting to share it with him, but feeling helpless because I didn't have one with me.

Just as we began our touch down, I found myself making (what I thought was) a strange request. “If you'll give me your address,” I told him, “I want to mail you a book.”

It was then that I learned my new friend's name was Kerry. He has been brought to my mind a lot recently and I have felt the need to pray for him.

Ben and I had several connecting flights in our trip across the states. But that was the only time we were separated.