That’s Teddy, Abi’s and Matthew’s dog in his Christmas jammies. 🎁 Teddy and Matt got their pajamas early this year for Christmas because Matthew wanted to see Teddy’s and his before he left for his mission. Teddy’s going to miss Matt, his roommate, big time!!! 😥 Matt tells us, “You’d better be good to him for two years and when I get back, I will be taking Teddy to college with me, and he will be my dog after my mission.” 🐶 We’ll see how Abi handles that one. 🤣
Seems like only yesterday that I was helping my eldest son Stephen pack for his mission to Taiwan. Wow, time flies when you’re raising kids! 😳🤗 As I have been going down the list of items Matthew will need: how many shirts, how many suits, jackets, gloves, thermals, socks, shoes, etc... it made me think today about all the special steps we, as parents, have had to take to prepare our sons and daughters to enter the real world for the very first time. Then, in a blink of an eye, it’s upon us (and we pray don’t we?), that we have provided them all the tools and resources needed to be productive citizens as they step out into society.
As I passed by my son Matt’s suitcases last night, lyrics from a song by the late John Denver keep ringing through my head. “All his bags are packed, he’s ready to go... and yes, he’s leaving on a jet plane...” I changed a few lyrics in my head. 🤣Today, this Mom is thrilled to announce that my son Matthew Plašil has been called to serve the beautiful people of Michigan! ♥️
My 18-year-old will be following in the footsteps of one of the most significant Christian missionaries in history... the Apostle Paul! Like Paul, Matt will be spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
It wasn’t so long ago that I traced St. Paul’s inspiring steps in Ephesus, Turkey, where he survived riots, stonings and even imprisonment as a missionary. I reflected last night on what an incredible experience it was to walk the streets of a ruined city, visit the marketplace where Paul preached to the Corinthians and see other biblical landmarks.
Paul said, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth...” (Romans 1:16)
On the 20th of December, Matt will also embark upon an unforgettable journey, filled with life-changing experiences, teaching those with an open heart that the Gospel *IS* the power of God unto salvation through Christ. My son is very blessed because his mission is in a land where very little persecution is experienced and where people have the freedom to worship as they please. May God bless him and may God bless you and your loved ones, whether they are serving: missions, people, neighborhoods or country. We are all so blessed to live in this beautiful world, in this great age of time! ☺️#HappySunday and Merry Christmas! 🎄💋🙏