Great Is Thy Faithfulness, Part 1

"Give thanks to the Lord, our God and King, His love endures forever!"  These were the words that Dan's little sister, Linda and her new husband, Christian, heard over the car radio on New Years Day as they pulled into Dubuque, Iowa - their new home for the next few years.  What monumental words to mark the end of one era and the beginning of a new chapter of their lives.  Fifteen days before, they had tied the knot by candlelight before family and friends, spent a week honeymooning in Mexico, then packed up their things and said goodbye.  Over and over throughout the wedding festivities, our family has had time to look back and reflect on Linda's life, and over and over we have been well aware of the goodness and faithfulness of our loving God.

"Forever You are faithful, forever You are strong, forever You are with us, forever..."

Linda has lived her whole life in the same house, just down the road from Dan and me.  She is eleven years younger than Dan, and has always been a joy to have as a little sister.  In 2008, when she was nineteen, Linda went aboard a missions ship docked in New Zealand and spent the summer serving on it.  It is there that her path crossed with Christian, who was also on the ship...all the way from Paraguay.  Yes, you heard that right -- Paraguay!  Their romance wouldn't spark for another year (they spent many an hour on Skype!), but before too long, we found ourselves celebrating Christmas with a tall blond stranger from Paraguay.  Fast forward two more Christmases and we found ourselves celebrating with the week-old Mr and Mrs Christian and Linda Neufeld!  Dan and I are both so pleased with the man that God gave to Linda.  He loves the Lord and is committed to following Him and taking the role of husband seriously.  We are thankful for God's faithfulness in providing just the right man for Linda and are so thankful to see them both loving the Lord and desiring to follow Him with their lives.  We wish them the best and trust God is going to do great things both in and through them.
Here are a few pictures from their wedding:

First look!

Linda dancing with her dad

The four of us

Mr. and Mrs. Neufeld!

Sadly for us, the next step for them means moving to Iowa where Christian will be attending Emmaus Bible College for three years or so.  That is far away from us, but we couldn't be more excited that Christian gets to experience the college that Dan and I graduated from.  Our time at Emmaus was invaluable and we consider it one of the best experiences of our lives.  They arrive as newlyweds, just as Dan and I did when we finished our last year there.  We are so excited for them!  Our first year married in our little apartment in Dubuque was such a special time and we are sure they will make some great memories there, too.  One of the many signs of God's provision was that they were able to arrive on New Years Day and go right into their apartment that they found over the internet before their wedding.  Now Linda will be looking for a job (since she completed her college degree at Portland State just before the wedding!) and Christian will start his classes next week.

The Lord has blessed Linda throughout her life in so many ways, and we have all been blessed to know her (...and now Christian, too!) and see God's hand of faithfulness.

Fourteen years ago, when Dan went away from home for the first time (to Emmaus!), he wrote a sweet song for his little sister who was thirteen-years-old at the time. It's a prayer that we are thrilled to see answered in so many ways and it's a prayer that we still desire for them now as a couple.

"Linda's Song" 

Since I went away, I've had a prayer for you

That you would love the Lord and walk with Him in truth

That you would come to know Him and the power of His death

and live His resurrection with every single breath

That you would stand up strong and let your faith be known

And, standing up for Jesus, don't be afraid to stand alone

That you would discern what's right and walk in the light

Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and might

As you grow up in years and reap the things you've sown

I pray your roots grow deep in all that you have known

The birds will try to steal, the sun will try to burn

The seed that God has planted

So I'm praying that you'll learn...

and that you would stand up strong and let your faith be known

And, standing up for Jesus, don't be afraid to stand alone

That you would discern what's right and walk in the light

Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and might

Lastly, here are the lyrics to the song that we were honored to write and sing for their wedding.  It was custom-made just for them.  It probably won't take you long to figure that out... =)

"Walking Hand In Hand"

She shared a smile and spread her joy 
Every single day

He helped his mama serve a meal
Seven thousand miles away
Through different ways in a different place
One thing was the same
The memories along the road
Are all lavished with His grace

The Lord was watching over us

On that lovely summer day
When He would cause our paths to cross
Half a world away
We couldn't know the beauty then
In the future He had planned
Now today begins a lifetime
Of walking hand in hand

We don't see yet clearly

All the plans that God has made
Each step we take is one of faith 
On the path that He has laid
Where He leads
Is where we'll go
Today begins a lifetime
Of walking hand in hand

We love you, Christian and Linda!

 "Part II" to come...