Over the course of the last 5 months, Tricia and I have been through a variety of emotions. We have been slowly letting go of many different things and have been feeling quite alone at times...not because there is no one around, there are plenty of wonderful and loving people around us. The problem is that there are few people around who understand what we are feeling, who have felt these things and know what it is to go through leaving the country, family and friends and the whole range of missionary emotions.Well, this week has already been a gift of grace! We are spending the week in the presence of other missions families from around the world. They know what we are feeling. They can put our feelings into words. They see it. They get it. They even know what may be down the road still and are helping prepare us. This is so life-giving to be here. One day in and I am already enriched beyond what I expected. And Davis is even getting to hang out all week with TCK's (third culture kids). So cool!
We are running with our new tribe for the first time and it feels good.
(This week is Eastern Mennonite Missions Oasis week. By the way, we have been THOROUGHLY impressed with EMM as an organization thus far.)
Watch the Lion the Witch and Wardrobe animated version if you can find it. Lot of Christian values in that story. One of them is traveling to a far off land to share the good news. However, when they return they are told that they can never share this experience with anyone unless they run into someone with similar experiences. They asked how would they know and the man said they would know. But they too felt alone before and after their travel because no one would understand.
ReplyDeletePASTOR NOAH-I always thought you grew up elsewhere not in America.You have a diverse church from different countries and you fit in very well.Having grown in a third world country I always feel at home in your church and always feel like am in my home church back home.You are so down to earth.You are an answered prayer to people in south africa.You will experience love,suffering,faith in ways beyond words.God Bless you.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your encouraging words.
ReplyDelete