Farewell Friends

We have been blessed during the last eight months to spend time with the Cepeda Family. Ned knew Vince and Audrey from his days of working at the Iglesia Bautista Betania in Reading, PA before moving to Ecuador in 2001. Vince and Audrey served there as youth workers for a few years in the 1990s; subsequently they came to Guam for pastoral work. Vince and our pastor Tony Pérez studied together at Calvary Baptist Seminary in Lansdale, PA. Now Vince and Audrey and their children Benjamin, Joseph, David and Leah have headed off to Alaska where Vince is the National Guard chaplain at Fort Greely. We will miss them, but we thank God for the time He has given us together, and we know we will meet again on either side of heaven.
Benjamin, a gifted pianist (Ned had the privilege of seeing him and Joseph play in their school's piano recital), also shows his artistic talents on the Magna Doodle while David admires his work.
In this picture Audrey keeps an eye on Amelia and Leah. Joel told us he was sad that his friend Leah had to leave Guam. As parents that gave us a good-sized lump in our throats, but we think it is important for our children to learn these lessons in life early. Perhaps Joel and Amelia will grow up to deal with change in their lives better than their parents.
Before leaving, the Cepedas donated a bed, a sofa, a washer and a drier to PIBC. Thanks so much for your generosity. Our maintenance director was hopping on one foot, from excitement, of course!
Adiós, amigos. Hasta luego.

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