Impressions

It's hard to believe that June and July have come and gone so quickly. In only 18 days, our time here will be over and we'll return to life in the States. That life, however, will not be what it once was. So much has happened here, and we've experienced so much as a family, that we will never be the same. At least, I hope not. Hopefully, we have grown as a family because of our time here at My Father's House.
I know this time will leave a lasting impression on the lives of our children. They will never forget spending the summer in a beautiful land, surrounded by the Caribbean Sea. They have learned about new cultures, new foods, new animals, new ways of doing things, new people, new challenges, new answers. Hopefully, we have taught them to trust God in the middle of new surroundings and circumstances. They've had their up times, getting along with new friends, doing exciting things. But they've also had their down times, feeling different from everyone else, fighting with new friends and having to learn how to make things right again.
For us (mom and dad), we've learned a lot too. We've learned that full time missions is much harder than we ever imagined.(We never thought it would be easy.) We've learned to give a little more of ourselves, to figure out what to deal with and what to let go (sometimes!). That there is more to life than our little world in Ohio. We've had to trust God a lot more than ever before. To believe that He knows what He's doing, even when we don't think He does, or that He is listening when it feels like our prayers are hitting the ceiling. We've learned that we have to keep doing what He's asked of us even when we're tired and don't want to. We've also learned that He blesses abundantly when we do His will, and that He rewards us for our faithfulness to Him; that there are wonderful blessings that come when we pick up our cross and deny ourselves (even in the pain of doing so). We've bonded together as a family, and appreciate each other more than before. We've served as a family...ministered as a family...worshipped God as a family. We've even fought as a family and reconciled as a family should.
Hopefully, we've left an impression on the 25 children in this home, too. Oh, I'm sure they'll remember some of the harder times, but our prayer is that they'll remember the love we've shown them. The times they were hurt, and we comforted them and fixed the injury. The times we sat and played cards when they were bored (even when we were really tired of playing cards!) The times we tried to teach them to talk or act in a way that would make Jesus proud. The times we reached out to them when they were upset by someone (maybe one of us) or something. I hope they'll remember the tickling sessions, the fun in the pool, the walks around the neighborhood and the days at the beach. Mostly, I hope they remember Jesus in us.
All in all, we are grateful for the time we've spent here, and we look forward to the next few weeks. A team from our church arrives on August 4th, so seeing some familiar faces will be great! I know that will be an awesome time. We don't know what the future holds for us or what God will have us do, but we do know He's brought us here this summer for a reason. I just pray we've accomplished that goal.