The final leg: part 4

Here we are, finding our way through the mucky road after last night's rain (no time to upload pics). We are travelling a road that most people only travel by foot. We are watching men throw rocks off of trucks into the muck making it possible for vehicles to pass.

Yesterday, we travelled 7 hours on new and old pavement. Pavement with drop offs, dips and turns. Pavement with dangerous embankments through mountain passes. Pavement touched by many more feet and hooves than rubber tires. Pavement that has been prayed over and sung over. Favorite spots to picnic in and stretch our legs. Baboon places and waterfall places. Places were we have been sick and places where we have cried.

But all of this. The pain of saying goodbye, the days and hours of packing and travelling. It is worth it. It was worth it when our children sat around the supper table and asked, “Are we going to come back to Ethiopia after these two years? We really miss our friends and family but we like being missionaries.” And they all decided. All 5 of them. This is what we should do. We should be missionaries.

Really? For our children to not only accept our life of ministry but embrace it. That is a gift.

We are returning to a people that we love because God first loved us. We are returning to a place we call home. Through my children, I can see that the journey past and the journey present has prepared us to give our hearts again.

May we be generous and wise. May we be ready at all times to share the reason for the hope that we have. May we seek to love the Lord with all our heart, soul and mind and love our neighbour as we love ourselves.