From our apartment in Switzerland, there are many great paths to take a walk or run. We can go east to traverse vineyards and have an open view of Lake Neuchâtel, head west through a forest to a river gorge with its sculpted rock and crystal clear water, or descend to the (free!) public beach along the lake. It doesn’t seem like there is a bad choice. So too with the paths God has given us. We have many options, we don’t have to feel stuck on any one road, and He will meet us on all of them. The advantages of being a missionary include the adventure of travel, providing opportunities for our children to see the world differently and knowing we are fulfilling what God has called us to. A big disadvantage is being so far away from our friends and family, but I am trying to see this as part of the path God has us on.
This reality was made very clear to us over the past 2 months and April 1st was not a joke. That morning, my mom, Lorna (Vandenberg) Squyer, was supposed to be boarding a plane to visit us in Switzerland. She called from the airport to say some piece of documentation was missing and she was not allowed to board the plane. While this was very disappointing, it was clearly the providence of God, as mom then told us about a large mass growing in her abdomen. Initially, she had postponed surgery in order to visit us. After her trip to Switzerland was cancelled, she underwent surgery and what we had assumed to be cancer was removed almost entirely. Initially diagnosed as metastatic breast cancer, it was later determined to be ovarian cancer. Knowing that mom was alone in a hospital in Panama while I was in Switzerland was terrible. I ended up going to Panama and convinced mom to temporarily relocate to my sister's home in Idaho. I spent 6 weeks with mom between Panama and Idaho where she started chemotherapy, but David and the kids were still in Switzerland. Again, I felt torn between two places. I am now back in Switzerland, and we have plans to see mom again before we head to Africa, but this feeling of being stretched between multiple places and people has been the biggest challenge so far in our missionary career. I am so thankful for all of your prayers, support and encouragement. I am also very thankful for David (nominated for the dad of the year award) and his willingness to take on any challenge. I am thankful for the time with my mom and sister, and pray we have much more.
While I was gone, David and the kids visited a 1,000 yr old castle, went to the zoo in Zurich, went rock climbing and enjoyed many hikes. While they were happy to have me back, it sounds like they were able to survive. The other missionaries learning French here and folks from the local church helped watch the kids while David went for a run or grocery shopping, they brought meals over and were a helpful distraction. God has certainly provided a community for us here that we will be sad to leave, but grateful to consider part of our lives. One of the most beautiful things these last few months have taught us is the depth of love and unity brothers and sisters in Christ can have for one another. We have received much prayer, support and encouragement from our church family here in Switzerland and in the United States. It reinforces what Paul concludes in Ephesians 3:15-16:
Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.
We have certainly felt "built up in love" and we pray it is a powerful witness to Christ in our community.
We have 8 weeks of language school left (yikes!- so much to learn) and lots of site-seeing we’d still like to do. David has discovered that the Tour de France will be as close as a 2 hour drive from us, so he’s plotting to get to see part of it in person. We have both been able to get Covid vaccines and travel restrictions are finally lifting. Restaurants in Switzerland only just opened June 15th, after over a year of being closed.
We will also be happy to head back to Maine and do a Midwest tour to visit as many people as possible before we head to Gabon in the fall.
Thank you so much for your financial support and prayers. We appreciate all of you!
We pray you all are doing well and staying healthy,
With love,
Josie (& David) Skavdahl
