Haydens arrive, Dangaran heads home

26

MARCH, 2019

[Ed. note: On March 24, Dave and Cindy Hayden arrived in country from Salem. Two days later, Steve Dangaran returned home, having finished (for now) his time in Arab Lands.]

Cindy’s and my introduction to the RTI Project began with a brief conversation between Steve Dangaran and Cindy at a Salem Alliance staff meeting. Steve asked Cindy if we might be interested in a project in Arab Lands that the Lord seemed to be preparing. Later, that same day, I received a text from Steve asking if he could stop by our house that afternoon. We met and began discussing Cindy’s and my participation. Our initial response was mostly affirmative, but there were many things to consider.

My mom had just been diagnosed with lung cancer, was facing partial removal of her right lung and likely would need chemotherapy. It’s never easy to make the decision to serve far from home for several weeks but mom’s diagnosis added to the challenge. We also needed to sense a clear call from the Lord and, hopefully, not just follow our own instincts. And then, there’s Cindy’s job. The advance planning required, and added demands on coworkers during her absence, created more decision making obstacles.

Although surgery revealed a significantly larger tumor than initially anticipated, mom’s prognosis became more hopeful following surgery. The Lord’s call became more clear, as we prayed and processed the project. A plan was created to help cover for Cindy while she was away. We were gaining certainty in our decision to become a part of this project.

The dates of our participation were set, our airline tickets were purchased, fundraising was begun and we began meeting and planning with our team. Several months into team preparation, we received the unexpected news that Cindy’s mom was diagnosed with cancer. What was assumed would be a relatively simple surgery revealed more extensive cancer that will require a specialist at OHSU. Six months, to the day, after my mom’s surgery Cindy’s mom will be in the same hospital having surgery. The way it worked out, surgery will be halfway through our time away. After significant discussion, we decided to proceed as planned and choose faith over fear.

Samson barters for a teapot.

Photograph by Dave Hayden

Near the beginning of the project planning our team wrote a mission statement that reads as follows:

“Our team seeks to encourage the pastor of the International Church, his family and his congregation during his short four-month sabbatical. We believe that, as temporary caretakers of this flock, we will be greatly blessed and encouraged by the people we meet and the faithful we encounter. Additionally, we pray for opportunity to share the love and eternal hope of Jesus with the people we’re blessed to interact with during our journey.”

Months later, Cindy and I had completed two of three flights en route to Arab Lands, including a brutal fourteen hour flight to Dubai. Shortly into leg three, my daily Bible verse came up on my Bible app. The verse reads as follows:

1 Peter 5:2 NLT
[2] Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly-not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God.

Cindy and I read the verse and were immediately reminded of our team’s mission statement.

It’s good to be in country!