Many Yet One; Grateful to be Home

16 Oct 09 Seoul, Korea

We arrived here at 7:30 am and are cooling our jets J until 3 pm, when we leave for a 10:50 min flight, arriving tomorrow morning at LAX at 9:50 am. Bethyl is tired, sick, longing to be home. I think we overstayed our endurance limits in Asia. But then again, how do you ever know your limits until and unless you exceed them?

17 Oct 09 Home

We arrived home after leaving our Awana condo 30 hours ago in Genting Highlands, Malaysia. Unpacking three suitcases, sorting the mail, loving up the dogs, welcoming and being welcomed by Engelin, our Indonesian “daughter,” picking a few weeds in the garden…. Felt like nesting again. Thank you, Lord, for safe travels and a home to which we can return.

Some summary impressions of the past 32 days:

1) The sweetness and graciousness of the nationals whom we met and ministered to during our stay. Some were quite poor but they gave to us generously of their time, attention, and warmth. They asked good questions. They were curious, unabashedly so. I loved the laughter in their voices and their eyes. They taught me another layer of worship in the face of persecution, living as they do in a bubbling pot of possible persecutions.

2) Ex-pat missionaries live hard lives. The logo of Interserve, “Servants for the Hard Places”, isn’t just kidding. My respect for these folks, and the burdens they carry, shot straight up. Normal family life has the cross-cultural complexities that are alternately exciting, distracting, exhausting, and fulfilling.

3) The word “under-resourced” took on texture, complexity, shape, color, smell, taste, and gut-check intensity. The word became flesh and I dwelt among it.

4) Gratitude, gratitude, gratitude that God allowed us to do this trip, see and take in these people and places, and have a team of supporters like you giving and praying as part of us. Our reach + your reach = one reach. We are many yet one in this project. Thank you.