A TIME... for every purpose...

And the time for going back home to the United States had come. Changes in my husband’s job…would have us to leave this land that had become so much a part of our hearts and lives.

When we were first making preparations to leave the U.S. I remember looking around the town I lived in and thinking…

I’ll never see this place again…my home church…the familiar scenery…and the faces I loved.


When we made our decision to go to Switzerland, it was for a permanent life there in our desire to serve the LORD. Little did we know, that in his will… it may be for just a TIME.

I have learned from this to take each day with the LORD. Take each day in service to him. Yielding to his will and his timing and his place.

There is nothing more peaceful to a Christian than to be in the PLACE that God’s wants you to be, doing what GOD desires of you and at the right TIME.

As Paul states in the book of Philippians an exhortation to be content..

Philippians 4:11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

I Timothy 6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.

With patience in well doing…God can work in you and through you to perform a fruitful work that you can find contentment in ...no matter where you are. It is a matter of yielding your will to His.

It might be in very small areas of your life as well. He might be working in your own life…to perfect a growth you need spiritually. Dear Christian take it and let Him have his way with you. TIME is His and we benefit from the purpose he sets forth in our lives to accomplish a good work.

Many hearts had touched our lives living in Switzerland. Oh that some of those would trust the LORD Jesus as their Saviour. We could only pray now that our life had some impact on them and that seed had been sown and fruition come forth.

I called Kathryn to tell her the news. She was devastated that our family was leaving. She would try to visit as much as possible before our departure.

Now saved, she was seeing the hand of the LORD in timing… and confirmation again that a blessed work had been accomplished. The salvation of her own precious soul.

In my journal I have written:

"We will soon leave Switzerland. I’m looking forward to being with our brethren back home…our Christian family. I pray that during this past two years the LORD has been able to prefect that which he desired of me. I will leave behind two years of my life that will be more memorable to me than any in my life. I will also leave lost souls for whom my heart desires salvation. The Lord did indeed purpose a work here and now our time to depart has arrived.

I hold dear the life of my precious son Stephen and the memories. One never forgets the loss, but Stephen gave me a closeness to my LORD that I now cherish. I pray to always walk daily by my Saviours side."

We went to visit many of the acquaintances we had met in the two years to say our good byes. Jack and Anne Marie had us over for dinner one last time. We cried, we rejoiced and we thanked the Lord in prayer together.

People from the village came by our home to hug us and leave gifts for the children. It was so very emotional and how grateful to know that we had touched their hearts. I knew seeds must have been planted, by the tenderness of their good byes.

As we loaded up our van with suitcases, Claudine’s husband and family stood by helping…tears in everyone’s eyes. Claudine could not understand why we were leaving. My heart ached…I didn’t know how to explain GOD’s will over ours.

“It was just time, Claudine”

It was difficult to express our thankfulness for all she had done for us. I don’t think she could comprehend the impact she had on our lives…and how we hoped our lives had just the same on hers.

She promised to keep flowers on Stephen's gravesite.

It was just as hard waving good bye to them as it was leaving our friends in the U.S.
Strange…the tightness of those heartstrings. People that mean so much to us.
Memories that give such joy…and impressions that remain all through our lives.

If this has happened to us….it surely has happened to them.

Our hearts knit by a common bond… friendship.

Oh how the friendship means so much more in Christ. Kathryn met us at the airport and truly both of us knew…we were sisters now…we had a bond that would last forever…truly forever in our eternal bond with Christ Jesus ..by faith.

How hard it was to say goodbye…

It was like seeing a small bud of a rose plant…hoping it would one day bloom into it’s full beauty.

We encouraged her to be faithful, to trust and to wait patiently on the work of the LORD in her life and her boyfriend’s.

We prayed together, hugged and parted with hope of a continued work in all our lives to God’s glory and praise.

And as if then a hymn had been sung:

Meet Me There

On that happy golden shore, Where the faithful part no more,

When the storms of life are o’er, Meet me there,

Where the night dissolves away into pure and perfect day,

I am going home to stay- Meet me there.

Meet me there, Meet me there,

Where the tree of life is blooming, meet me there;

When the storms of life are o’er, On that happy golden shore,

Where the faithful part no more…Meet me there.

Where the harps of angels sing, And the blest forever sing,

In the palace of the King, Meet me there.

Where in sweet communion blend, Heart with heart and friend with friend...

In a world that ne’er shall end…

Meet me there.

Henrietta E. Blair 19th century William J. Kirkpatrick 1838-1921