June 23, 2009

June 23, 2009
Dear Friends,
For me right now life is a lot like stepping out onto my front porch on a foggy autumn morning where I can see a short distance into my yard and nearby trees but further on things are hazy and indistinct. Right now I can see the immediate, the current activities that take up my time and energies. But what about further into the future? What am I to be doing and where? What about next year? What about the rest of my life? Where do I belong? Should I stay in OMF? Do I carry on with my present ministry, or do something else? Could I return to the Philippines? If so, what would I do there? If not OMF, then what? Do I stay in “the ministry” of look for “secular employment”? At age 63 what would I do?

Losing Karen has resulted in much more than losing my wife. I have lost my co-worker as well. We were a ministry team. Our gifts, talents, temperaments, and personalities blended in such a way as to make us effective servants of the Lord. Now half of me is gone and I am having to rediscover who I am. What can the single David Lampinen do? What should the single David Lampinen do? With the help of an experienced career counselor I have taken the time to access my gifts, talents, and work experiences in an effort to discover where I would best fit in a ministry or work situation.

I have been seeking the Lord and asking him to guide me into the next chapter of my life. I am talking with OMF leadership about various options within OMF. Several others have been praying with me as well. Psalm 25 has been a real source of encouragement the past two months. In it, King David is asking God for guidance for his life and future. “Show me your ways, O Lord, and teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.” (v.5)
“Who then is the man who fears the Lord? He will instruct him in the way chosen for him.” (v.12) What is God’s chosen way for me? So far it still remains out there in the fog beyond my sight. But what I am hearing the Lord say is this: “Be still and know that I am God.” “Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him.” God is still doing a work of healing and restoration in my life and in Wil’s life as well. We need time to heal from the hurt and losses we have experienced. I am confident that in his time God will make plain to me what it is he has for me to do, and where. So do pray for this waiting, healing and restoring time for us, as well as for God to make his will and way known in his good time.

What happened last month? Wil graduated from Damascus Christian High School on June 5. On June 6, my sister JoAnn, age 58, passed away quite suddenly. I went to Upper Michigan for her funeral and time with her family. My birthday (63) was the day of her funeral service. What can I see in front of me? Speaking, teaching and counseling opportunities, time with potential candidates for OMF, a possible Perspectives* course for our home church here in Damascus, and possibly leading a GriefShare** support group here as well.

Waiting in faith on a faithful God, Dave & Wil

*Perspectives on the World Christian Movement –a 15 week course on discovering God’s heart for the nations www.perspectives.org
**GriefShare –a 13 week church based support group for those who have lost a loved one www.griefshare.org

Posted by David at 2:08 PM

June 6, 2009

Another loss

I received word this morning that my sister JoAnn passed away early this morning due to pneumonia. She also had lymphoma which had compromised her immune system.
JoAnn was 58 years old. Please pray for her husband and her 8 adult children. I will be flying back to Michigan on Monday to attend her funeral. I will be there until Saturday. Pray for Wil as he stays home on his own for that week and works part-time.

Wil graduated from high school last night. It was a delight to be there for that ceremony and see him reach this milestone in his young life.

Posted by David at 2:41 PM