Saturday Post -- 17/01/15

This time last week.

Writing from Santa Cruz, where we arrived yesterday in the late afternoon, luggage and sanity just about intact after 30 hours of travelling. Our plan is to be here for a couple more days. Bolivia’s biggest city offers most of the conveniences of a developed world context, while still being unmistakably oriental – i.e., typical of eastern Bolivia and its people. In other words, a few days here en route back to Trinidad tends to ease us back into things a little more gently.

Round about this time last week, we were putting the finishing touches to the sanctuary and coffee area of Strathaven Evangelical Church, where our farewell event was about to take begin. Having received responses to our invitation from far and wide, we had a feeling the numbers would be high, and any doubts regarding this were dispelled when our first visitor came in and took a seat; we had never even met her before!

In all, we reckon the best part of 150 friends came and went over the course of the afternoon, during which we twice gave a short presentation on our return (essentially a more compact version of last week’s blog post), and endeavoured to say cheerio to as many as we could – though this was some task! Indeed, as the afternoon progressed, we became increasingly aware of what a difficult position we’d left ourselves in. We’d long looked at the occasion pragmatically, considering it an efficient way to touch base with, and say goodbye to, as many as possible. But we were probably guilty of overlooking the emotional ramifications of this. With some friends, a quick two minutes simply did not feel like enough. Nonetheless, we can take comfort from the fact that such sadness simply reflected the many happy times we had been afforded with them over the course of the year. We have no cause for complaint.

And, above all, we draw great strength from last weekend’s very tangible reminders -- at Strathaven and at our re-commissioning service the following day at Shettleston -- of our great privilege, to have these people, and several times more around the world, lifting up our needs and our ministry to the Lord in prayer.

Mercifully, we were just about finished packing when
our luggage scales came to an untimely (if inevitable) end.

A good thing, too, because, if we’re honest, in those moments this week when we’ve been able to think about something other than whether the Nintendo (Craig) or favourite pair of jeans (Amanda) will make it into the case, we have felt a little vulnerable. Indeed, I’d go so far as to say that this has been harder than 2010, when the novelty factor kicked any niggling concerns into touch. A good friend of ours pointed out this week that we’re probably feeling a little like Moses by the burning bush – an astute analysis.

We think of how little support there will be for us on the field, relative to the past, and like Moses, we are nervous to go back. We think of the great needs that exist in the Foundation and the church; we then look at ourselves and, like Moses, we feel utterly inadequate to address them. But most of all, we know that God has not yet indicated another path for us, and so, like Moses, we simply must return, knowing that it is not about our faltering efforts, but the God who works through them and despite them.

Still, this is no easy lesson to take on board. On Wednesday evening before bedtime, as is our habit, we took these things to the Lord in prayer, and I’ll admit that I had to stifle the odd sob, as more than once I somehow managed to string together the following words: “Lord, I just do not get this.” No doubt, this is a test of faith, perhaps the most profound we have yet experienced. Yet, for reasons I can’t quite explain, there was an undeniable sweetness to those tears, which spoke at one and the same time of the great uncertainty we felt, and the great joy of doing what we know is the Lord’s will.

Prayer

• For safety for the last leg of our journey back to Trinidad, on Monday afternoon.
• For self-discipline over the next few weeks. It will be extremely tempting to dive right back into things, especially where we see need. Pray that we might resist this, and prayerfully work out what God wants from us, and where we might best use our gifts.
• For patience as we re-adapt to a developing world culture; a big adjustment after a year in the UK and Canada.
• For abundant reserves of faith!

Praise

• For a pretty much hitch-free journey so far. No overweight baggage, a good sleep over the Atlantic, and half price on excess baggage for the flight to Santa Cruz – just because the guy was in a good mood!
• For the many people (like you!) who take a prayerful interest in our ministry, as evidenced by last weekend’s event.
• For an encouraging, stimulating, challenging and (we hope!) maturity-enhancing home assignment year.