Friends are Friends Forever

This morning as I sit here alone gathering my thoughts for the day and enjoying time with my Father an old song comes to mind in my head and my heart. Though its a few years old and actually was the song at a few graduations of previous years, it leaped out at me this morning as I sat here and brought a bundle of tears to my eyes as I listened to youtube as Michael W.Smith sang. Below are the words which I feel say tons about us as brothers and sisters of Him who treasures each one of us as his own. I am sure all who read this can meander along and find the music to attach to this but perhaps you, as I, will relish the words as they are below on this Thursday morning.

Packing up the dreams God planted
In the fertile soil of you
Can't believe the hopes he's granted
Means a chapter in your life is through
But we'll keep you close as always
It won't even seem you've gone
'Cause our hearts in big and small ways
Will keep the love that keeps us strong

CHORUS:
And friends are friends forever
If the Lord's the Lord of them
And a friend will not say "Never"
'Cause the welcome will not end
Though it's hard to let you go
In the Father's hands we know
That a lifetime's not too long
To live as friends

With the faith and love God's given
Springing from the hope we know
We will pray the joy you'll live in
Is the strength that now you show
But we'll keep you close as always
It won't even seem you've gone
'Cause our hearts in big and small ways
Will keep the love that keeps us strong. 

CHORUS:
And friends are friends forever
If the Lord's the Lord of them
And a friend will not say "Never"
'Cause the welcome will not end
Though it's hard to let you go
In the Father's hands we know
That a lifetime's not too long
To live as friends

Heading Out !

All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go,

I'm standin' here outside the door

I hate to wake you up to say goodbye

But the dawn is soon to break, it's early morn.

The car will soon here

but I hope he doesn't blow his horn

Already I'm so lonesome I could cry

Yah, yah, yah, I have now dated myself haven't I? Can you hear Peter, Paul, and Mary singing in your brain just a moment ago? Well, the words are a bit different from what they sang way back when but I can imagine that many a soul over the years since the song was released have hummed a few bars or words or so of that tune if they were embarking on a long trip, a new adventure, or an excursion. What do I call this probably would fit better in the 'adventure' category considering factors attached to us, be them our ages, our health, our destination being a third world country, be it another language than our own, being out of the familiar and normal. What will our bed feel like when we find that apartment? How will we assimilate into the culture long term, long after the honeymoon period has ended and the reality of it all sets in as we scoop ourselves up off the ground and dig in.

While I cannot claim on my own that the time is right I do know that the time is near. God has determined that for us. We are in the first days of 2012 and the final days of our being in our own home for an extended period of time. The stress of the holiday season that started with Thanksgiving and had continued into 2012 for everyone around us is winding down. The stress of packing and all that involves closing up a home came along for the ride for us this time is also coming to a close. Yes, we have done this before, but it's different this time. Ask me why and I can tell you its because I know more and think more of what I know. It may not be the correct answers that I come up with, but they are the best I have to juggle and grab on to right now. Let's move onward shall we ~

We all live in this stressful pressure-filled world that bombards us with gusts of wind and punches from the sideline as we go from day to day don't we? When we went to Indonesia I was very naive about what I was getting into half way around the world. Gratefully we had mentors who shepherded us as we prepared at this end and arrived at that end. We will always be thankful for their wise counsel and encouragement as we gathered in and learned a whole new lifestyle.

This time the path to this point has not been as uncomplicated. Coupled with the fact that we are in the initial throngs of major sweeping changes in the missions arena everywhere included the fact that we not only have had to find our own prayer and financial partners but we also have had to embrace individuals who did not know about the new agenda and/or are apathetic towards missions in general. One fortunate part that God paved for us though is that while we had not been through the preparations of something such as this before we are not so naive this time about the physical preparation. Yet while we have had little guidance or mentoring these past months we understood that the total conclusion to missions is building relationships with our coworkers, friends, and new partners. I would like to say here that we have come along this path with gusts of wind and positive feelings, but at times this path has been disappointing and discouraging and truly lurking with pitfalls and embankments that were hard to swallow. But God remained faithful as ever.

This time while it may seem that we should be seasoned travelers and adaptable individuals to new things, arriving in a country where I do not speak the language always generates a high level of stress for me as I must negotiate and set up a new home, furnish it and start anew with foods and situations that are not common here. Since we arrived home in January of last year I made a resolution that I would not shop at a big grocery chain store but would remain faithful to the challenge to shop locally and use only fresh in season items. You see, countries in Asia don't have Betty Crocker or Uncle Ben on their shelves nor pot pies in their freezers (as an example) or if they are occasionally available its at a steep price. Having had to deal with a change in cooking mindset four years ago I didn't want to wrestle with that again. That has proven to be very good in the bigger picture with the numbers on our lab work. Anyway ~

So this morning as we scurried around to get a mailbox and keys, pick up traveling money, get orthopedic releases and see our tax lady, I am beginning to think of those last things to put into our bags that we will carry on the plane with us ~ a water container (no drinking fountains), toilet paper (it's bring your own time again), hand sanitizer, a face mask (for riding in an open cart amongst the traffic exhaust), eye mask (to sleep) a neck pillow, our meds, a change of clothes, charging the electronics, ironing the money (G's assigned tasks to charge electronics and iron money) and to move those bikes upstairs for the duration of our absence onto our patio). Oh yes, let's not forget our tickets, passports, FFM cards, vaccination sheets, and marriage license copy. (no, a wedding band doesn't work, officials want to see the 'real' thing).

Yes arriving in a country where I do not speak the language always generates a high level of stress for me. I somewhat at times dread having to face crowded customs halls and aggressive dishonest immigration officials after having traveled for long hours over several time zones. Porters will argue to take bags and we will most likely have to shove our way through the crowd of vendors to the official stamping area. Sometimes the porters take off with your bags in a marathon run and we are expected to keep up with them. Gray hair doesn't work here nor that we look older. We have the pale skin of dollars that lures the situation as it is.

According to some scale set up by someone that I read about a while back that to estimate the degree of stress brought about by various life experiences, this and similar episodes placing people involved in international missions at high risk for stress. By rights, according to this survey, we should all be emotional basket cases due to the constant changes in our financial status, occupation, geographic location, recreational outlets (what's that), church routine, social activities, and eating and sleeping patterns, just to name a few. But the amazing reality is that missionaries experience an incredible degree of stability. It doesn't come naturally though. We have to work at it. It's like a job to us for a while till we get into a routine of sorts.

So often I wonder if we think only of our health in purely physical terms and too often we give little thought to the emotional and spiritual well-being. Yet it would seem that our emotional equilibrium will determine how well we will adjust in any given set of circumstances. I have seen people who were often ignorant of the culture they will be traveling but also of the adjustments that they will be required to make. They expect overseas conditions to be just like home and do little to prepare themselves for the physical, emotional, and spiritual changes that lie ahead.

I have come to realize over time and experiences that God is not impressed with my medical qualifications, my knowledge, nor my adventurous spirit. He is much more interested in developing my spiritual life and drawing me into a closer deeper relationship with himself. The ultimate thing here is that a larger purpose is my willingness to obey no matter what I am asked to do.

To view our impending experiences with this kind of open and yielded attitude is paramount . We are not called first to do a job but to follow Christ. We are not called because of our skills but because of our obedience.

Finally, one thing I have learned in the bigger picture is that one of the greatest benefits of the Christian community we enjoy while being involved in missions (anywhere, here or there) is the provision of an environment in which God can lovingly reveal our inner pains and broken areas and gently lead us toward wholeness. While that sounds like a huge sentence and I must admit that I had to think about how to write that a few times here I feel its so true as we are only humans filled with such handicaps. Oftentimes in such a situation, our desire to reach out with the love and compassion of Christ makes us long for the healing we ourselves need in order to be equipped to minister more effectively. It's like walking in someone else's shoes to figure things out so to speak. So ~

We all need to remember that we do not carry God in our suitcases with us. He is already present in the cultures we visit and or live, and if we allow ourselves to remain attuned and receptive we'll soon realize that we have far more to learn than we have to teach. Our first responsibility must always be to recognize where God is already at work and to learn to affirm both His presence and His activity in that culture.

Enough said for now. Have a blessed week wherever He takes you.