Companions on the Journey

I've had the privilege during this home assignment to be a part of a
weekly Bible study group with a group of wonderful women from our
church. Together we studied the books of Colossians and Philemon using
a study guide by Max Lucado. Paul writes the book of Colossians to the
church in Colosae to encourage and challenge them. He spends most of the
last chapter mentioning the names of saints, men and women, who are
partners with them in their journey of living for Christ.

I can't help but relate this to my own life and all of our
partners/companions in our journey. You who pray for us, support us
financially and simply give us encouraging words are our companions on
this journey. We are joined together in this journey. Thank you for
that. We treasure each of you!

Likewise, we are companions with you on your journey. Colossians 4:12
says, "Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you,
always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect
and complete in all the will of God." As we prepare to return to PNG,
we want you all to know that in the same way that you come alongside us
as companions in our journey, we want to walk with you in your journey
as well. As the verse says, we labor "fervently for you in prayers,
that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God." We DO
pray for you. In fact, if we have a "prayer wall" in our home in PNG
with photos of our "companions" The photos on this wall serve as a
reminder to us of those that walk with us and reminds us to pray for
you. If we don't have a photo of you, please send us one.

Speaking of praying for you, I'd like to mention one more thing....in
living oversees, we don't know what's happening in the your life unless
you tell us. We have found that people don't share their struggles with
us because they don't want to burden us. Please hear me when I say that
we are companions in this journey. We want to know what is happening in
your life and we want to be able to pray specifically for you. So,
please tell us how we can be praying... we really want to know. We also
want to rejoice with you in the good things, so please tell us those
things as well! Not only does it help us know how to pray, but also
help us feel more connected to our companions, our fellow-laborers, YOU!