Way back at the beginning of July, I went for a walk. My goal was just to keep myself awake on a Sunday (or was it Monday?) afternoon, but I ended up deciding to see how many beautiful things I could fit into my pockets. Without repeating at all, and no green leaves. This is what I came up with:
One year ago, today.
I got on a plane headed to London, and then another to Johannesburg, and then another to Lilongwe, Malawi. Tomorrow morning, I'll board a plane going to Munich and then Birmingham, and eventually end up home in Wales. It's strange how much a place can become home in the span of one year. But Wrexham now is home-friends, the community of churches, Just Across, the proliferation of discount stores downtown, Bellevue Park and Clwedog Trail, Erddig are all now a part of who I am. And hopefully it will become even more of a home in the next year.
When I left Port Orchard last year, I was really struggling with the concept of what it meant to be at home anywhere I went. But over and over again, I've sensed God saying to me that my home is where he is. And since God is everywhere, my home is the whole world. I may have mentioned it before, (and I apologize if I have and you remember it) but one of my favorite quotes relating to that is Mark 10:29-30 where Jesus says that anyone who goes away from friends and family for his sake and the gospel's sake will have the whole world for their father and mother and sister and brothers (along with their troubles as well). It makes me smile, every time.
Anyways, I wanted to highlight eight of my favorite posts from this past year...and after that, sleep!
27 July, 2011- Safari
23 September, 2011- Before Everyone Gets Here
9 December, 2011- December 2011 Playlist
2 January 2012- Goals for 2012
5 March 2012- INTP
1 May 2012- Hlas (The Voice)
4 May 2012- Sitting in the Park
19 June 2012- Just who do I think I am?
Satisfied. Blessed. Frustrated.
Yesterday, with two day to go before we leave the country, Anna, Kristin and I spent some time talking about our time here. I asked the question, "What three words would you use to describe how you feel about our time in Moldova?"
My answer was satisfied, because we did many of the things that we wanted to do, like working with local churches and ministries, and learning about the culture and the language. I'm also satisfied that we eventually found the balance between doing and being-with some weeks having too much to do and others having too little to do.
Blessed, as this is my second time to come to Moldova, and I feel so happy about that! I loved my time here in 2006, but I fell even more in love with the country and the people this time around. There are new friends that I hope to continue to know when I leave, and friends that I've gotten to know better this time around!
Frustrated. *sigh* There are times when I long for a more settled life just so I wouldn't have to say goodbye all the time. I wish that I had more time to invest in the people of Moldova and to understand the culture in a deeper way, and to actually have the time to learn the languages. But I don't have the time. I return to Wales in a day!
Speaking of which, see all you folks in Wales soon!
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