Skip to main content

Another “last”- the tension of leaving something that is going so well!


"He said He loves my joy.” Smiling she shared what she felt God was saying to her. My heart rejoiced. It’s such a privilege to have some of the women we otherwise meet in windows, come and encounter the voice of God in my home. This week’s Bible study was good. One of the women came with so many questions. She’d been watching movies about stories from the Bible and wanted to understand. We took it from the beginning, reading how Adam and Eve’s choice to disobey God’s instruction led them to separate themselves from God. “So Jesus was kind of a second Adam?” she exclaimed when we shared about Jesus taking our place. Such deep understanding of what He did. And joy in understanding not just a religious concept, but a Truth that brings freedom- for all.

We shared, explained, talked, laughed, listened, and prayed. It was truly one of the “lasts” that made me wish it wasn’t the last. Technically it isn’t totally the last; I hope to see them when I come back from Brazil for a bit. But it is kind of a last, and it feels like a last.

I will miss it.

I will miss getting to know the hearts of these women and sharing in their stories.
I will miss their uniqueness and seeing them discover their value.
I will miss their diligence in reading the Bible and hunger to learn.
I will miss their appreciation of my strong coffee.
I will miss their hugs and laughs.
I will miss their patience with my Spanish which is improving, but which usually causes us to use googletranslate at least once to make sure we understand each other.

And I will miss praying with them; inviting God to touch their lives and show them His great love.

Missing means it meant something, and that is what I hold on to. Trusting that Jesus will continue to shepherd their hearts and show them the Father’s love.

Popular posts from this blog

Getting to know the local culture.

Life is a strange thing. Last week went…not much happened, and then it was over. The weekend was quite calm without too many wild and exciting things happening. Except, of course, a wee outing to watch the National Championship for Veteran Ploughing. Now, like me, you might be sadly lacking an understanding of what this actually means. So I am delighted to be able to enlighten you in this respect. It’s basically (for the “farm-language-illiterate” like myself) a competition where you use old (hence the name “veteran”) tractors and ploughs, and plough up a stretch of field which is then evaluated and the one scoring the highest sum (accuracy, depth, how well the soil is turned is all given points) wins. I must admit that this information I got by eavesdropping on a conversation next to me where a man was explaining to some of my friends how it all works. So that was a fun adventure….although we only stayed for a bit. What is sort of occupying my mind at present is my upcoming travel abr...
Read more

Taking in the familiar and a heart connected.

Amsterdam. It still has that muggy feeling in Summer, and a constant flow of people which if you stop to think about it, it's quite amazing that there would even be space to accommodate them all. But then I guess they are not all staying. Just passing through on their way to or from somewhere. It's always good for the heart to visit somewhere that was once home. The familiarity of streets and customs makes it easier to embrace what might be new as well as the joy of being reacquainted with old friends. Friends. So many of them to be found in this city, ready with hugs and good words that are uttered when seeing someone who was away again. Friendship. A treasure that cannot be bought. Cobblestones trodden by many, including myself. Sitting on a bench. Praying. Remembering the first time I stumbled upon this area lined with windows with red lights and curtains. An area which has come to represent no longer windows, but people to me. Some still behind a window. Others who have ...
Read more

Small moments that mean a lot

Walking home on the crunchy snow that lights up a December evening,  I felt so thankful. The revelation that fellowship and being together is the best gift you can give someone, and realising that although it might seem small, it can turn into something big when a person feels seen and valued.  Yesterday I helped out with a crafts workshop for a group of lovely women volunteering for Crux where I worked before (well, in all honesty: they were making angels while I ate Christmas cookies, Quality Street chocolate, and chatted). I love walking alongside people in conversation, and realise sharing life for 2 hours can last so much longer in value and experience.  This evening we had our Christmas dinner for volunteers and people who are part of my current job. It was a delightful evening with many nations gathered around the same table…. eating the same food… and for a few hours creating a small fellowship moment that will become a good memory for the future. Often in my job ...
Read more