Yesterday marked exactly one month since we arrived in Asia Pacific. In that time, our vision has expanded significantly.
During the first few days, we could only grasp information about three feet in front of us. We noticed things like shiny tile floors, dirty gutters, and flags decorating every street (we arrived around Independence Day). When we were inside a store, all we recognized was the store itself.
Moving on to week two, we began to recognize a few street corners. Sounds and smells became more familiar, and we didn’t necessarily have to crash on the bed for an hour after every overwhelming trip to the shopping district.
In week three, we felt comfortable enough to “get lost” in the city a few times (there’s nothing like it for figuring out where you are in the world!). Now, after four weeks, we’ve graduated to knowing about half the route to the downtown district. After that first half, it’s still a little murky.
Our western eyes and minds still need plenty of adjustment as we learn to live and flourish in this new culture. Our ears need to attune to all the phonemes and inflections of a new language. Our tastebuds need to adapt to new flavors. Our driving reflexes need to switch from the right side to the left side of the road. Our bodies need to accept the climate change, for better or worse. But the one thing that doesn’t change is our hearts’ need to depend on Jesus Christ, the Rock of Salvation, an ever-present help in time of need. Our realization of that need is greater now than ever before, but the true need hasn’t changed at all.
Pray for us, as we pray for you, that our eyes will be lifted from the three…or thirty…or even three hundred feet in front of our toes (both literally and figuratively) to the greater perspective that allows us to meet each day with overflowing love, joy, and eternal hope.
Although it’s not quite proper to include a P.S. on a blog post, we should add that our unit figuring needs to change, as well. That previous comment should read something like “one meter…ten meters…or even one hundred meters in front of our toes.” Thank goodness for smartphones and unit conversion apps!
Mom says
Praying for you all. Thanks for a peek into your new lives.