June 2013: Goodbye to Kabwe
How does one
say goodbye? Goodbyes are big part of mission life. Many come and many go and
then one day it is also time for you to go. We have had to learn that if you
are sad at goodbyes it is a good thing because it proves that you have loved. Zambia
has been a great time for us all. We have met and worked with some great people
these past five years.
But
now the house is full of boxes and piles to sort; rooms to paint and pets to
give away; a car to sell and a house to rent out. By the time you get this update
we pray that this is all in place.
Transition:
How do you prepare yourself to enter into a
different phase, a different culture, a different worldview and a different
people; from driving on a different side of the road, from single lane roads to
six lane roads; from being a novelty and a hope for many to being just one in
the crowd. Ready to go, yet not ready to leave.
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| Ethiopia |
This is not
at all a goodbye to Africa, albeit a temporary “see you later”, as we now take
time for a type of sabbatical. My times among the Masai, in the swamps, in the
bush with some great men and women of God who still cook over an open fire with
smoke in their face, kids with no shoes and snotty noses. Working in Ethiopia,
Congo, Kenya and Tanzania have all been incredible times seeing people hungry
for God, for many all they have is faith to live on for they have nothing else.
There is so much that we can learn from them.
Goodbye
and Hello:
Goodbye to the sweet smell of the African
rain, as well as the dusty roads and potholes.Goodbye to Africa’s open plains and the challenges
that Africa brings. Goodbye to the late afternoon sun that gives its beautiful deep red
tint on all it touches.
But with every goodbye there is a new
hello. New people, new places, new challenges and new adventures. We have been
working and ministering to the people of Africa for many years and now we come
to work and minister to the people of a different land, to be a blessing where
we are and to those whom we are with.
And this, perhaps, is what we look forward to the most.
The
way forward:
We
arrive in Seattle on the 3rd July and off to the fireworks of
Independence Day. The schedule is busy as we will be visiting family and
friends until mid-August; then off to Florida where we will be working with
YWAM Tampa for about six months. The girls are registered in the local ACE
school and of course there are a lot of mixed emotions wrapped up their hearts.
There is the look of excitement and worry all in the same smile. It is easy to
think that they are Americans, but what are they? American dad, Danish mom,
both raised in Africa, they have lived in Africa 90% of their lives; there will
be a lot going through their minds. Excited about new gadgets and “stuff” in
America, but will miss the simplicity of life here.
Thank you all for continuing to stand
with us in so many different ways. Please keep us in your prayers during these
next few months of great transition. And don’t hesitate to drop us a note and
let us know how we can be praying for you.
Love and blessings,
From Lyle and Jette, Rachel, Acacia, Mikaela
and Naomi
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