Back in the saddle

Just returned from a solo trip to Oregon to visit one of my friends who also happens to be a missionary in the same place we work. Same island....different people group/language. We've known each other for quite some time, and have had our share of "crazy missionary life" which includes more than just funny cultural blunders. Unfortunately she recently lost her dad to cancer and barely made it back to Oregon in time to say goodbye. I'm not one to single out singles, but I have an immense amount of respect for those who choose to sacrifice more than just the comforts of home to bring the gospel to the far reaches of the earth. Being a single missionary is something I don't understand fully and just don't think I could do. It requires dedication, humility, tenacity, and strength. So she's a rockstar. 

I'm glad I could provide a little bit of distraction for her so we went on a couple adventures that she planned for us. Oregon was breathtaking and I was trying to figure out how to convince my whole family to move there when my friend told me that the Oregon coast is due for a really big earthquake soon. I think I'll stick to the midwest and east coast for now.

So now I'm back...my kids attacked me with hugs when I finally walked through the door after two flights and a long drive back from the airport. My husband did an amazing job of keeping them fed and sane while I was gone so I call that a win.

Now that I've returned, my two year old decided that going potty on the toilet was overrated and that the rug was the preferred spot for doing business. 

I also apparently brought home the cold weather. We woke up to significant frost on the ground the other morning, which always causes significant inner turmoil in me. Can I survive another winter?

Recently, however we've received some news regarding our visa that is potentially hopeful. While I cannot go into details, we would appreciate prayer for some permissions that need to given so that we can begin our visa application. All I can do right now is rest. Rest in His goodness. Rest in what I know to be true. It's definitely easier said than done. 

While we wait, we have to plan as if we're going to be here a while longer. If we don't, then we are living in limbo which is a terrible place to be. So we shop for Halloween costumes, sign up for bible study and volunteering at church, we decide when we're traveling to VA, start hunting for winter clothes, make progress on our house reno. There's lots of stuff to DO. And I'm thankful for that. If I sit too long with my thoughts, I find myself dreaming of being back home in the village. I was telling a friend yesterday that I'm so thankful that God continues to give us a passion for our ministry despite the setbacks. America has not sucked me in to it's comforts so much that I don't want to return. My desire to return, in fact, is quite strong. 

Recently we finished a study in the book of Jude. Though this book mainly addresses the nature and dangers of false teachers, I was also struck with how Jude encouraged the believers to be on guard and alert. How easy it is to get caught up in lies and deception! This world is full of sorrow, sickness and worldly passions and without the reminders and encouragement we find in God's word, it is so easy to fall into habits and patterns that are not glorifying to Him. May we always remember that the Lord is unchanging. He doesn't get swept away by the tide. He is steady and reliable. It's hard to stay faithful to Him sometimes....to choose "what is true" over "what I feel". His Word reminds us that He understands temptations and trials because He lived it! So I can trust Him with small things like my feelings and I can trust Him with big things like our future. And I'm looking forward to witnessing what He's gonna do.