Chris and Lynne Strange Your missionary connection in the Philippines 
We had the great privilege of attending the graduation exercises of Central Baptist Theological Seminary the last week we were in America. Brent walked the stage earning his master’s degree!
We were already on the field in the Philippines when he graduated from college, so this was a thrilling event for us! Also a great surprise. Our God is never surprised and that is a wonderful comfort for us as we go about planning strategically for us to be in America during home assignment. It’s our desire to try and participate in some of the very important family events if we can know them in advance. That seems totally easy when it’s a graduation, right? Not for the Strange Family! 
There is usually a story attached to our family’s events, and this one is no different. Doubly yoked with working full time and attending classes full time on his shoulders, Brent studied, provided for his family and grew in the Lord. Brent and Tonia committed to graduate debt free and experienced God’s faithfulness repeatedly helping them honor that commitment. Of course, Brent’s part in that looked like starting the day at 3AM to attend to his job and studying at breaks and late into the evening for his classes. With such a schedule, the effort to complete his degree and hang that diploma on the wall was carried by the whole family. Tonia kept the family going on the home front during all those hours Brent worked and studied.
Mid-stream the steady advancement was interrupted. They suffered a very serious automobile accident requiring two surgeries for Tonia and one for Brent. Jaiden had only bruises from her seat belt but their injuries dominated each of their lives for months. Only six months later our family endured the incredible loss of their baby daughter that Tonia was carrying weeks before she was due. The next year, we rejoiced and welcomed Naomi into our family, which proves even huge blessings can wreck havoc on a well planned schedule! Brent steadfastly continued in his studies accumulating an abundance of hours beyond his degree’s requirement. Because of this, one week into our home assignment we were pleasantly surprised to get the totally unplanned call saying, “Hey, it looks like I can graduate this May!” And we are so thankful we were there to see it!
Way to endure, son! We are very proud.
