Updates from the Kongs – Jun to Aug ’19

“Why O God is this happening to us?”

This is the question that I (Phoebe) ask myself one week into the new school semester as I was working on an overdue assignment. With the new school term came new demands for readings and writing assignments. I was unable to complete my interterm assignment on time as I spent my school break traveling to and fro the hospital for my father, and stressing over my father-in-law’s deteriorating health condition.

However, amidst the anxieties, weariness and grief, we were assured of God’s presence with us. He kept us in the palm of His hands and showed us that He is indeed good and gracious. God’s timing was also perfect as He protected our one week of preplanned break in Perth where we could physically and spiritually recharge ourselves before we received news of Jon’s father’s cancer relapse. We spent a weekend in a beautiful and tranquil Benedictine monastic town, New Norcia (photo above), in silent retreat and regular prayers with Benedictine monks (5 times a day!), and the rest of the trip just enjoying the small quiet city, nature and each other’s company.

We are thankful in this season as we prepare for long-term missions, we are around to support our families through times of crises. May God continue to use us to minister to our loved ones, especially our ageing parents. It will be difficult to leave them but we pray for God to order our steps and direct us in His time to serve Him in the mission field.

Photo on left: The reception of guests from the Rule of St. Benedict seen at New Norcia – a reminder to us as we receive guests into our home.
Photo on right: We spotted 6 rainbows on our 2-hour drive from New Norcia to Fremantle! God is so good to give us such beautiful sights 🙂