I have come across some incredible Christians on this site over the years -- however two that I am thinking of now are no longer posting. But they were big inspirations to me and one would ocasionally e-mail me helping me to keep my focus in those early, turbulent years.
So the Lord has His people scattered everywhere. But that's what makes it so exciting --there is someone out there to encourage you when you most need it!
I really don't look at my situation as being very long and drawn out. In fact --to be honest --time has totally flown by. One of my dear friends in the Conway group had her husband return about two years ago. But altogether his entire time in MLC was close to ten years. He is still settling in in some ways --but in most aspects he is as fine if not better than ever before. She could not have held on that entire time in her own strength --she had to lean on the Lord or she could easily have given up. Now she is so very glad that she "kept the faith"!