I have a very dear couple in my church and they have been friends of mine, and I am the adoptive grandmother to their children. They were missionaries in India from 1999-2001 they have been back in the US since that time. That have felt GOD calling them back for sometime and now things have fallen into place very quickly and all of their paperwork etc has been processed for them to proceed to go back to another country. (They have already received their confirmation of their country where they will be serving). The problem is her mother. She has not told her mother that they wille be leaving as early as June 2008. They are to put their house up for sale in January etc. She has been praying about how to tell her. Today is Desiree's 31 b-day and she is meeting her mom for lunch. Her mom lives 2 hours away so this has not been difficult to keep from her. The big issue is there are two grandchildren a 4 yr old son and a 19 month old granddaughter. she is close to the children as she meets them for little two hour outings and buys them things which are appreciative by the family of course but she does not spend the night or spend days on end with them like another grandmother type person does. She is not the warm cuddly loving memaw. Desiree and I have prayed on the best way to handle this. God has not provided any answer and we have been praying since the first call happened 6/07. She didn't want to tell her with the children there if her Mom became was angry as she didn't like it when they went the first time even though she loves her daughter and knew that her daughter was doing God's will. They were gone two year when she went over once and she was very loud and spoke her mind to her son in law in public which is not allowed in the part of the country where they were. Her husband was blasted by the people he was trying to reach because his mother in law was out of control and spoke so rude and ... well you get the point. His wife is ready to go back and understands her place when they are out in public. Thhey have everything ready to go and set for the children. support teams in place etc. when they go this time they didn't have last time. I pray that God will show Desiree and I the wisdom on how this should be handled so that she can be told soon. If not Desiree's plans are not to tell her until after Christmas when she starts working with the children on the new language they must learn. I am the grandma type friend that I have the kids three days a week. while they prepare and study, pray. The three of us pray together 4-5 times a week as well and the kids and I do and outr church does but there is only a small group in on this part of her mom not knowing that has me down and out. I am asking the group. Put this on your prayer list. If you have words of wisdom. please share it with me and I will forward it on to her and maybe god will be using one of you to give her the needed word she needs to tell her Mom of the planned trip to go back to India. this time they will be gone for three years. I am scheduled to leave 10/01/07 for three weeks to help. By then they should be somewhat settled and hopefully God has a plan that we all will be in on.