Back in August I got an email from a guy named Isaac that was interested in different opportunities of working with us here in Northern Iraq. I was kind of busy at the time, so just asked my wife, Dawn, to answer the email.
Dawn shared a bit of the trials that we have walked through the past couple of years and just the overall difficulties that Westerners have faced trying to live and work here in our remote city of Soran.
Undeterred by Dawn’s ‘cautionary tale’, Isaac asked if he could call us and just give him a chance to explain further.
As Isaac shared more with me on the phone I was taken by his whole story, especially how he grew up in the jungles of Papua New Guinea. Then, as he shared more in depth about his friends, Sam and Jessica Porter, and their commitment to work together in the Middle East one day, things just started to click in my mind.
After getting off the phone I can remember running downstairs and sharing with Dawn, “I am really sensing God in this. You've got to talk with them.”
After just a couple more emails, Isaac asked, “Would it be possible to come over for a visit and just sit with you guys and see if this is of the Lord?” And, less than 2 weeks later, I was picking them up at the airport. Oh, my goodness!
We had a wonderful 5-6 days together, praying together, and asking God to reveal His plans to us. It goes without saying that we couldn’t feel more confident that the Lord had ordered our paths together. We met with the Mayor of Soran and got his nod of approval and even found them two homes to live in close together. Yeah, God did something amazing — something we just weren’t looking for.
Back in 2009, God had whispered in my heart, “I want you to build platforms for others to run on.” And now, 10 years later, we are finally seeing that vision come to fruition. Sometimes it just takes 10 years!!!
Welcome the Hatton's and the Porter's!!!
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