One of the hardest seasons of being in the field is Lunar New Year… and my birthday.
When the two collide, the days feel a little heavier.
These recurrent dreams of feeling left out, bullied or othered… give me a glimpse of what my soul is longing for— a sense of belonging.
Do you long for that too?
Two days ago, one of the families closest to us here ended their stint in Tanzania.
As we bade tearful goodbyes to the family who had hosted us for 4 months when we had no home, who had loved on us when we struggled, who had exemplified trust in God through their own trials… .
I lay awake for hours in the middle of the night — grieving.
It’s strange how departure makes the quiet louder.
And yet, I give thanks to God that we came full circle… as they’d believed with us for a “perfect house” from God to us here for the past 8 months, as they journeyed with us through ups and downs, we got to invite them into our new home and take this picture in our garden just two days before they left.
But Cliff gently reminded me —
God, in His kindness, gave me a timely gift.
A new Tanzanian friend, who couldn’t have come at the perfect timing.
A kindred spirit.
Someone who has made my days here lighter, more delightful…
and the weekend leading up to my birthday that much easier.
Sometimes loss and provision sit side by side.
One hand grieving what was.
One hand receiving what is.
And I’m learning — both are sacred.
💛
