Behind the Times

If you know me, it will come as absolutely no surprise to you that I am behind the times. Living overseas for nine years has not made me the most up-to-date of people. (Generally, I’d say my ignorance is related to technology, style, and the newest Target items, but apparently it also refers to stay-at-home orders.)

I am in the US now, and I was only in the third week of staying-at-home when the orders were lifted in my state. I had spent the first two weeks in quarantine and then had one week with trips to two grocery stores. It didn’t seem so bad, but of course, I am behind the times and hadn’t been doing that for six-plus weeks like many in the nation. I did have to get over jet-lag though, and that seemed to take forever compared to previous experiences.

I still haven’t established a routine as I unexpectedly work from my sister’s home in the US. I haven’t figured how to know what day of the week it is. And I might not have to if I stay enough behind-the-times for the end of school to catch up.

Leadership, including myself, is not rushing to make a decision about the start of school for the 2020-2021 school year. Because of our size and unique situation, we can wait for expert advice and national directives. We have a plan, but we don’t have to make a declaration soon. We’re behind the times.

I am not behind the times in the uncertainty that this situation presents or in the waiting that is necessary. I didn’t know at the beginning of March that I would be in the States for a time this year. And I don’t know when I will get to return to the field. I continue to serve from here as I can, and I look forward to providing more direct support to tribal church planters as soon as I can. These are the times I find myself in.