by Jessica Helm
With heads bowed and eyes closed, we gathered in the cozy kitchen of Fran and Howard Joslin’s home. I offered my sincere prayer for their safe travels and for the hearts of everyone attending the marriage conference. Afterward, we loaded their bags into the van, exchanged warm goodbyes, and sent them off with a wave. As the 2025 Tanzania team departed Winterset that morning, I couldn’t help but wonder how their journey would unfold. Would they encounter any travel delays or cancellations? After all, just the day before, their connecting flight had been grounded. All I could do was pray they would arrive at their destination on time!
As the hours ticked by, my anticipation grew. Had they made it to their first stop? Were they stuck in airport limbo? Finally, on Saturday afternoon, our first text from the ABH Tanzania trip arrived. They had landed safely! I let out a sigh of relief that could have filled ten balloons.
Over the next two weeks, my inbox became a treasure trove of pictures and videos. I felt like I was right there in Tanzania, even though I was thousands of miles away. After months of planning and organizing, I finally witnessed the fruits of our labor. Each day brought short updates filled with stories of open hearts and challenging conversations. My husband and our three children gathered around to pray for the various requests that rolled in daily. Reports of God at work flooded in, filling me with joy and an unquenchable curiosity for every detail of their adventure.
Time flew by, and before I knew it, I received one last text from Fran regarding their travel plans. The return flight had been canceled, and there were no other flights available. She and Howard would land in Chicago with no way to get home. My heart leaped into action faster than a cat on a hot tin roof. A few quick phone calls later, I informed Fran that I would be there to pick them up.
Their flight finally touched down, and after what felt like an eternity navigating customs, the moment arrived. Howard and Fran had made it! We loaded up their bags, and Howard offered to take the wheel. I gladly relinquished the driver’s seat. Let’s be honest, Chicago driving is not exactly my strong suit.
Our five-and-a-half-hour journey became a delightful array of travel tales, dreams, and aspirations. Howard and Fran enlightened me with stories of their adventures, but the highlight was the transformations that took place in the couples attending the marriage conference. One couple arrived in separate vehicles, each with their own baggage—both literal and metaphorical. By Thursday, however, the Lord had done the work, softening hearts and paving the way for repentance and restoration in their marriage.
Howard chimed in, emphasizing how the simplest teachings can have the most profound impact. Clearly God is at work in ABH, and this trip served as a powerful reminder that His will is indeed unfolding before us. Who knew a short drive to Chicago could feel like a trip around the world?
