Life in Transition

"Mommy, look! The sun came up! I get in car, put on movie, and go see more friends today?"

"Not today, sweet girl. You get to go back to school today and visit your friends who are moving to Kenya, Germany, Turkey, Ethiopia, and Thailand. Don't those friends sound like more fun than watching a movie in the car all day?"

"oh,Yeah! Let's go...."

Even Lucy can tell our life has been one big transition lately. After staying in one location for 5 days, she naturally knows it's time to hit the road and start traveling again. Such is the paradox life of a sojourner. It's stretching us, it's growing us, it's emptying us, it's digging deep within us, it's exhausting us, it's encouraging us, it's separating us, and it's drawing us close. We've said goodbyes, we've said hellos, we've sat with old friends and caught up on life, we've sat with new friends and not had to say anything at all...they just understood.We've eaten meals on the road all by ourselves, and we've eaten meals in a big room with 40 other people. We've sat with people whom we just met and shaped our mouths into contorted positions and made awkward phonetic sounds, then we laughed, talked and related in a common language. It's been one long month, and yet it seems like we just left home.

The dichotomy of the missionary life is beginning to shape us and change us. 

A part of me resists letting go of the old life, knowing it will never be the same again. 

And the other part of me embraces it whole-heartedly, knowing that ...the important things will never, ever change.

 Derek & Lucy exploring the desert trails of Borrego

 witnessing unadulterated worship of the most High God




 

 view from the back window while driving thru Utah

Lucy & Joanna, one of her adopted                                          Pit Stop in Utah
big sisters

our second family, the Jackson's

Rick & Marie, influential pillars in our past and future

 

 My first attempt at cutting Lucy's hair (flop...)                                         

getting ice cream with new friends at MTI

sunrise from the window of the Super 8 Motel in Green River

scenes from our hike to get ice cream yesterday

saying goodbye to another irreplaceable family, the Mellor's

So, that's where we are right now. 

Immense Beauty. Immense Heartache.
Holding on to the Stones of Remembrance and looking steadfast into the unknown.

 






This is Life. 

[in transition]