In a year like this, change is
inevitable. Location changes monthly. Ministry changes daily. Our
plans, schedules, and itineraries sometimes change hourly. This is
something I have grown more and more accustomed to throughout the
past 8 months. Ironically, the only certainty is uncertainty. The
only guarantee is that there are no guarantees.
But being
used to change doesn’t always make it easy. Even when you are
“prepared” for anything, there are still surprises. And
sometimes they are big.
Last month, while in Zanzibar I
found out that my team would be changing. Actually, my team was
staying mostly the same, I was just leaving. I was told that
beginning this month I would be leaving my team and moving to Bill’s
team. I wouldn’t be finishing the year with my team – the girls
I have spent every day of the last seven months with – and would be
starting over with a new group.
At first I was just
surprised, but more than anything it has become bittersweet. I left six amazing people with whom it has been an amazing privilege
to experience this year, but I get to spend these last four months with
a very different, yet equally amazing group of five.
In so
many ways, the people you share life with are a lens through which
you live and see experiences. While I am still me, my environment is
changing – my lens is a different color. New things will be
highlighted, and others will fade. While that may take some getting
used to, it will allow me to see life afresh – and learn lessons I
never would have otherwise. I believe that I would be wasting a lot
of what this year has to offer if I didn’t embrace the various
changes I encounter, and soak up every lesson I can learn. So, that said, here’s a quick glimpse into the new team.
