Loss and Gain

My mother-in-law (affectionately known as 'belle mere' or Janou) wrote me an e-mail to let me know she is praying for us. She included a quote by David Livingston.

< "I never made a sacrifice." -David Livingston

But I think my belle mere said it better. She was a missionary in Africa for 25 years 'ish.'

"We have encountered, which you and Heidi may have as well, individuals who talk about the sacrifice we make in going to Africa. We have said that no—is not at all true. In fact the sacrifice would have been to have stayed in the U.S. and sacrificed God’s blessing on our family since He had called us to go and we must obey that call. Africa was where He wanted us to be. It was not without its difficulties, the hard times, the sickness, the separations—all like Livingston mentions. But, the blessings far outweigh and overshadow the other things."