Welcome to UBFriends and do contribute your voice whenever you can….both good and bad.

I must say, it was this post that really compelled me to finally join. I am really moved by your love relationship with your wife. I would like to share with you, that by God’s amazing grace, He gave me the best wife for me, I could ever ask for. I would love to share with you the card she sent to me on Father’s Day, but it was meant for me. But what I would like to do is share the letter my oldest son wrote to me for Father’s Day. (he’s a boy-I don’t think he’ll mind if I share it… :-D )

Happy Father’s Day!

Dear Dad,

Thank you for always being there for us through all my life. I’m so grateful to be able to call you dad. I’m truly happy and blessed to have lived in your household for the last 19 years. Through all my mistakes throughout middle, high school and college, thank you for loving me and forgiving me and showing me the love of God. I have so many things to be thankful for, but I want to thank you especially for always being there and supporting me. Actually, last night Andrew, Mark (*my twin sons) and I were talking about how thankful that we grew up as a Lopez in this household. We’re so happy to have grown up as we did in the best imaginable environment. 2 Parents who are madly in love 4 brothers, loving grandparents/great grandparents, great church and friends, no real financial troubles, a very laid back city and ultimately in a household filled with God’s love in excess. I never have to fear anything, because I have a father who God loves and takes care of. For all this thank you. I don’t think I could have imagined a better storybook life with the greatest dad any son can have. I’m proud to call you father.

Thank you for everything,

Peter

I have to say Ben, when I received this letter from my son, my heart burst in joy and happiness. I’m obviously boasting, but I really am happy with my family. God has blessed me beyond belief. And I certainly didn’t do anything to deserve it. I really thank God!!!

Ben, you asked “Do share your pearls of wisdom from your own marriage.”

My pearls of wisdom about marriage? Well I could share how to sacrifice your marriage for the sake of world campus mission. I could share how to pretend you are married so that you don’t tempt the little ones of Jesus. I could share how to live for 19 years as single people. I could share how to be mission-centered at the expense of your family so that you are not family-centered.

According to my wife, an American shepherd from Toledo UBF (BN) may have married before us. He married a missionary in Korea. He left UBF some years ago. I am facebook friends with his wife, and correspond now and then.

Also, a UBF shepherd from Koln UBF (AVK) in Germany may have also married before we did, and who also married a Korean missionary.

Since UBF seems to like distinctions, my wife and I are thus the first one pure indigenous (non-missionary) couple who are still a married couple in UBF. Sorry for my complex complicated confounding conundrum creating explanation of your simple inquiry! If I have to blame someone for this, I’ll blame the several decades of discipleship training I received in UBF :-)

If the last one, what a sad testimony!