Thankful for our adopted family, sad for the loss of one member.

Being a missionary is a strange experience. It is more like being a part of a big family, than being employed in a company. This comparison encapsulates the love and care, as well as the holistic nature of what we do. Our mission organisation wants to know and has a say in things that is none of the business of a usual employer. For example, which church we attend and what house we can rent. We do two-year reviews that includes questions about how much exercise we take, what we do to relax and whether we get enough time to spend with our children.

That might sound scary, but it is balanced out by a genuine concern for our well-being. And, as we found out last month, a commitment to supporting us in times of extreme challenge.

In practise that meant we were getting regular emails from the Crisis Management Team that OMF Japan put together to advise us as well as emails from our Field Director. It meant phone calls from our Regional Advisor, Field Nurse and Australian State Director. Wow! We felt cared for.

In addition to all that we have a large number of people (more than 300) who receive regular newsletters from us and many of those pray regularly for us. Amazing support! How many Christians living in their home country could boast of so much love and concern surrounding them? We are truly blessed.

When the earthquake news hit Australia we and our families and others who know us were inundated with emails and phone calls enquiring about our well-being and assuring us of their prayers. A wonderful outpouring of love and concern for us that truly sustained us in a difficult time.

Yesterday we heard that one of our special supporters lost her long battle with cancer. Mary with her husband are very special to us. They are one of the handful of supporters who've actually come and visited us in Japan.

Here are a couple of photos from their visit. Can you tell how long ago it was? Our eldest son is in the photo - when he was still an only child (for a couple more months anyway).

We have good memories of that visit. Of Bjorn trying to strip the seaweed off the sushi and of him fixing various things around the OMF holiday house where we stayed for a week with them.  Of them managing a two-carriage country train and wondering when to get off. They weren't rich, but they stepped outside their comfort zones and generously travelled out of their way to see us.

They visited us during one of the most challenging times we've ever experienced - language school, before we'd been in Japan for two years. Their visit was just the encouragement we needed.

So we grieve Mary's passing out of this life. Bjorn's loss of a partner, our loss of a faithful friend and pray-er and ever cheerful face. But we are also thankful that her pain is now over, that she can now be with the Saviour who she loved so dearly.

Back to where I started today. You may think that we suffer as missionaries or that we have lost a lot by following God's leading to another land. However, in losing some things, we have gained many more - one of which is a large family-like group who love us and support us. We've learned to rely on them (on you, perhaps) when times are tough. We are thankful. Our cup is overflowing with thanks at the people God has put around us.