Before I had even packed my bags I knew that I would miss my family more than anything this year. I had never been away from home for more than 2.5 months or so and didn’t really know what to expect. There was always the chance of internet for email or Skype, and as I’m finding out, internet is too readily accessible at times.
I shared my goals for this month in an earlier blog, but believe it or not – limited internet is tougher than not spending personal money or memorizing the book of Colossians. I just want to know what’s going on in people’s lives back home!
Ok, Mom, before you read this and think I’m really unhappy and homesick, let me explain. People kept saying all along that it’s important to be all here – to be all in with the ministry overseas. This is something that I wholeheartedly agree with. God has me here (in Africa at the moment) to serve him with my whole self. Still, there are things that happen that remind me of something or someone back home and I find myself reminiscing. At times I feel bad because I talk about my family and friends so much! I just love you guys!
So I began to wonder…Maybe I just have my mind somewhere else, maybe I’m cheating those I’m ministering to, maybe I need to cut off connection with home and be here now.
It’s not that I’m homesick and wishing to go home…I love it here and I’m learning so much… But my heart is full of love for my family and friends. How in the world do I balance these things? Love and concern for those in America vs. the kindness and compassion for the ones in Kenya?
Well, I can thank my good friend, Paul, for the insight he gave. In Colossians, Philippians, and any other Paul book you can think of, there is evidence of his love for the Church. It doesn’t matter whether he knows the believers in a particular town or city, he loves them and prays for them all.
Colossians 1:3 – “We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you.”
Colossians 1:9 – “Since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.”
Colossians 2:1 – “I want you to know how much I am struggling for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally.”
I discussed this with Taryn and Ben. I believe that it is possible to be fully here and fight for the Lord’s work in Kenya while I support those at home as well. I could not forget or choose to disregard relationships at home if I tried. Just because I left the continent does not mean that I left my relationships there. Because of the Body of Christ, those that I love back home are part of me and I carry them with me.
When Bishop Moses makes a funny joke and I think of my dad I am able to thank God for the wonderful father that I have. When Rosalyn cooks a fantastic meal where I can almost taste my mom’s cooking, I thank the Lord for who my mom is in my life. When I banter back and forth with Brandon and Ben I’m thankful for my brothers back home that are always there for me.
Paul helped me to see that it is possible to go hard for God while still thanking him for those that you love. I want to stay updated and involved because many people are praying for me and I’d like to pray for them as well. I know that several of my Small Group girls are going through the application process for college. One of them is ready to finish up her first semester. Surely the Lord is pleased that I remember them in prayer. He doesn’t scold me for taking my mind off of Africa to ask for peace and discernment for my girls. (Y’all actually travel with me…I have a picture in my journal!)
Likewise, I know that when I sit down with my best friends next June there will be a lot of catching up to do. Yes, I went to 11 countries in 11 months and so I have some crazy stories to tell…but so do they. I don’t want it to be assumed that because I went around the world that my story is any more thrilling or significant than those of the ones who are following Christ and striving to glorify him at home. I have dear friends who passionately love Christ by teaching children in the classroom each day. There are those who are working or continuing their studies at my university back home so that they can cover the campus of Gardner-Webb with the love of Jesus.
Loving God and giving glory to His name is a universal calling. By keeping up with those back home and thinking of them often I am able to pray for them as they continue to run their own race. Please know that I love you all: my family, my friends, my church family and many more. I think of you and laugh sometimes, wishing you were with me but rejoicing that you are where Christ has you in this season. In fact, I talk about you often, so much that my team probably knows you inside and out.
Thank you for being a part of my life.
Thank you for just being you.
Thank you for following Jesus Christ so that others may know Him too.
Haha, I’m not gonna’ lie…didn’t mean for that last bit to be a poem. For those of you that know my cheesy personality, go ahead and shake your head right now. You know you love me!
But seriously, I love you all and would be thrilled to hear from you. I am only checking my email once weekly but if you send me an update on how you’re doing you can be sure that I’ll read it and pray.
Until next time…
