Phil and Zana Dirksen are a wonderful couple from our church who spent many years in D.R. Congo working as medical missionaries. Phil is a surgeon here in Sacramento, and a member of our church’s Pastoral Leadership Team.He and Zana spend six-weeks every yearbackin D.R. Congo, taking with themlarge shipments of donated medical equipment and supplies for the medical clinic and nursing school they started there.
Monday night, Phil and Zana had us over for dinner to talk about the six-week mission trip they just returned from, and the eleven-month mission trip Katherine and I are about to begin. We had good food and great conversation, filled with practical wisdom and encouragement. Toward the end of the evening, they gave us a gift; little black calendars, with a hand-selected Scripture for each of us written in the front cover, and a reminder that Phil and Zana will be praying for us every Friday while we’re gone.
Phil picked Psalm 18:30 for me, which says:
“As for God, his way is perfect;
the word of the LORD is flawless.
He is a shield
for all who take refuge in him.”
Knowing that you have good people like the Dirksens standing with us, praying for us, and cheering us on makes it a little easier to face the challenges that lie ahead. I’m humbled by their love for us, and I hope we do them proud.
Only sixteen days until we leave for Matamoros!
