Transitions

 

“Mama,” Judah said thoughtfully as we drive down the bumpy dirt road.

“I miss Oma and Opa when we’re in Spokane. And in Germany, I missed Bubby. And what’s our other house called?” 

“Missouri”

“Oh yeah, Missouri. I miss all my friends. Ich bin ein bisschen traurig,” he concludes: I’m a little sad.

This summer has given us and our boys a glimpse of what life as a multi-cultural missionary family looks and feels like. For one, it has been a joy to engage in so many relationships with people from around the world. It’s a joy to see the boys embrace and attach to loved ones they only see once a year. But the other side of it is the one that, as Judah put it, makes us “a little sad.” Moving, traveling, jet-lagging, packing, unpacking, adjusting… transitions are taxing. Transitions are sad.

It is easy for me, as a mother who wants the best for her children, to feel sorry for them or question the path John and I have chosen for our family. But the Lord is gracious to remind us of the things that are joyful. True. Positive. Hopeful. This time, the reminder came through a friend we were eating dinner with. We talked to him about our plans for the future, and instead of questioning why we would ever take our children to a place like Africa, he simply exclaimed,

“What a RICH experience for your boys.”

Yes, what a rich experience.

This summer has been a time for enjoying, relaxing, being spoiled, building relationships, and going through difficult transitions. We spent a month in Germany with my family (check out my Facebook page for lots of pictures) and are now in Spokane, WA, for another month before heading back to Missouri. Where we will pack up and move to Oklahoma for 7 weeks. Before moving back to Missouri for another 2 months. And then it’ll be time to load our van and move to Spokane for a while as we prepare for Africa. Lots of transitions. Sad? Yes. Rich? Absolutely.