Thursday we met with the pastor of our new church. It was an encouraging and challenging meeting. Dan, our field leader, accompanied us and laid out for the pastor what he would like our host family and the church to accomplish during our time with them. In summary he told the pastor that he wants the church and our host family to help mold us into a family who will be effective ministers to the people of Africa. He wants us to become people that the church would be proud to send out and represent them to the villages around. It was clear that the pastor was excited but also aware of the seriousness of the task. As I was listening to this meeting, I was again reminded of the mountain ahead of us and the dramatic change that this move is going to make on our life. Driving home Dan told us that he did what he could to communicate the task ahead, but now it was up to us to convince the church that we really are willing to change and learn. I am holding on to the truth that in our weaknesses He is strong, because that is the only way that we will be able to gracefully handle the changes we are about to experience.
Our life is going to drastically change, but we still don’t know when this change will take place. We are waiting for the call that they have a host family for us and that we can come start looking for a place to move. Any day this month we could and should be moving. As the days have gone by I have started getting worried about everything coming together. So many things still have to fall into place and yet no one here thinks it is crazy for things to come together so quickly. I have come to the realization that we just need to be ready. We need to be ready to move any day with little or no notice. I am learning what it means to be in a state of readiness. We are taking steps forward and preparing to move even though at this point we have no where to move to. We are spending our time finishing projects, stocking up on the supplies that can only be found here in the capital, cleaning our place, organizing and packing. We are trying to get everything ready so that when the time comes we are ready to just move. God is teaching me that perhaps this is more often how I should be living my life.
Sounds so challenging! Praying for you guys and that God will be preparing the way before you just like he promised:
16 I will lead the blind by ways they have not known,
along unfamiliar paths I will guide them;
I will turn the darkness into light before them
and make the rough places smooth.
These are the things I will do;
I will not forsake them. (Is.42)
Also, I remember when that buzz light year shirt was so long on Ethan….my they are both growing so much! And, you go Tyler, knew you were a genius!! =)
What a unique opportunity, Andi, to learn in a deeper way what it means to live in readiness for our Savior’s return. In a way, I envy you that. How easy it is for us to fall into complacency, and you haven’t had time to be complacent. I pray that you can continue to find his grace sufficient as you live in your weakness and experience his strength. I love you all, and I’m praying for you all. Thanks for the pictures. They are always so fun!
I can only imagine what you are facing. Praying for God’s grace and wisdom to provide you with the place you need.
“Labour to impress thyself with a deep sense of the value of the place to which thou art going. ” Charles Spurgeon