Today was, to say the least, emotional.
I’m leaving a country and a people I’ve fallen in love with… and all that besides, I’m leaving a family- two families- that have become like literal brothers and sisters to me. I feel the Lord has knit our hearts in a profound way. A way words fail to express and can be only felt, not even fully understood.
The many prevailing prayers prayed during the afternoon hours, late at night, and early in the morning. The many hot meals shared around that big wooden kitchen table. Kids spilling juice and telling silly jokes. The many visits to the refugee camps, gatherings for Arabic services, and for simple conversations over tea and biscuits. The constant power outages. The necessary grocery runs. The living of life in such close proximity and growing in love for one another as Jesus walked with us day by day- bringing freedom to captives, generously dispersing beauty for ashes, and illuminating light for those that sit in darkness.
Today we gathered, as family, one final time. And together, we knelt before our Lord and King and poured out love upon His feet. Their prayers like fuel to my soul as they spoke over me, for me. They do not mince words. They believe. Their hearts beat so fervently in love for Jesus that it challenges and inspires my own. These precious saints, Olympians of the faith!
My dear brothers and sisters, I’m so grateful and honored to have shared the racetrack with you on this side of the world for a season. I’m wholeheartedly thankful that our great and gracious King gave us to one another. My family, I love you deeply.
I earnestly pray as you continue on this narrow road, you would, "...be built up, until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ." (Ephesians 4:12-13) In Jesus name. Amen.
I’m leaving a country and a people I’ve fallen in love with… and all that besides, I’m leaving a family- two families- that have become like literal brothers and sisters to me. I feel the Lord has knit our hearts in a profound way. A way words fail to express and can be only felt, not even fully understood.
The many prevailing prayers prayed during the afternoon hours, late at night, and early in the morning. The many hot meals shared around that big wooden kitchen table. Kids spilling juice and telling silly jokes. The many visits to the refugee camps, gatherings for Arabic services, and for simple conversations over tea and biscuits. The constant power outages. The necessary grocery runs. The living of life in such close proximity and growing in love for one another as Jesus walked with us day by day- bringing freedom to captives, generously dispersing beauty for ashes, and illuminating light for those that sit in darkness.
Today we gathered, as family, one final time. And together, we knelt before our Lord and King and poured out love upon His feet. Their prayers like fuel to my soul as they spoke over me, for me. They do not mince words. They believe. Their hearts beat so fervently in love for Jesus that it challenges and inspires my own. These precious saints, Olympians of the faith!
My dear brothers and sisters, I’m so grateful and honored to have shared the racetrack with you on this side of the world for a season. I’m wholeheartedly thankful that our great and gracious King gave us to one another. My family, I love you deeply.
I earnestly pray as you continue on this narrow road, you would, "...be built up, until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ." (Ephesians 4:12-13) In Jesus name. Amen.