"TRUST clings to the belief that whatever happens in our lives is
designed to teach us holiness"--Ragamuffin Gospel p. 117
Perhaps we have left our lives un-updated long enough. We are finally home, in Chipata. A friend of ours was traveling back to Chipata from
I can say in all honesty that the last month continues to be the most difficult experience of our entire lives. There is so much to think about and yet it is difficult to think clearly about anything. Attainment of information continues to be a challenge, and the exact way to handle the legal process is yet to be decided. At this time we are waiting to see if the insurance company can manage things. However, if there is no movement by the end of this week, we plan to engage a lawyer to pursue Kyle's case.
As our story comes out, this situation is not an uncommon occurrence. It would seem that everyone has a similar story if they drive here long enough. We have been told many times that it is a miracle we also were not harmed. In the week following our accident, a convoy of government officials was traveling in the same area as our accident and ran into a cyclist. In their case, the vehicle rolled and only one of the three passengers survived; the cyclist also died. Although this does not change what we have experienced, we can see a hand of providence and are thankful that for some reason our lives were preserved.
Together Kyle and I are working to heal following this tragedy. We can feel that we are changed by the experience, but like standing in a fog, we are yet to understand this change fully. We spend time reading and in prayer before God asking for peace. It is a temptation to give up and come home. I fight this feeling often, knowing in my heart it is not time yet, and our work here is not finished but barely begun. At the same time, we are changed, and thus we feel as though we are starting over in understanding our place and purpose within the community where we live and the kind of ministry God is giving us. This is a constant struggle for us as we learn and listen to the Lord. We have also come to accept these hard words of Job when his wife challenged him to turn from God…his response is strong and clear, "You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?" (Job 2:10). As Brennan Manning writes in the Ragamuffin Gospel, we want to trust that everything that happens is designed to teach us holiness. Although we will be the first to say, this path is not easily chosen. But we believe in and serve a God who placed the stars in the sky, put the earth into orbit, and did not withhold His only Son so that He could restore relationship with us. It is His great love and mercy that draws us near during this difficult and confusing time. We know that HE who called us is FAITHFUL and unchanging.
In the meantime, Kyle has resumed working and meetings within town. There have been some staff changes at the Christian school, including the firing of an accountant and the resignation of the administrator. With great care, we have attempted to follow-up on this matter and understand the nature of the changes. Kyle has also been assisting the Senior Teacher to complete the financial reports during the interim of finding a new administrator. Both Kyle and I spent a significant amount of time training and developing the people holding these two positions over the last 10 months; these developments have been a bit disappointing for us. However, this is the way things happen sometimes and we pray that the school uses this opportunity to restructure and identify strong candidates for these positions.
We have officially transitioned out of our CBI-Chipata partnership. After months of effort and discussion, a mutual decision was agreed upon by the board, Partners Worldwide, and the North American Affiliate.
At the same time we are working together with the local agriculture project, Farmer 2 Farmer, as they pursue opportunities for connecting rural farmers into agribusiness opportunities. We have been able to start making a few contacts and engage in discussions of various opportunities.
With all these changes, Kyle and I are working now to strategically plan the best direction to take the Partners Worldwide work in
We continue to see the network of love and support God has given us, both on the
From home, the kind words, unexpected generosity, and constant prayers have not gone unheard or unrecognized. We are truly humbled by the ways God has shown Himself faithful through all of YOU. We cannot say Thank You emphatically enough to express our sincere gratitude.
It is truly a time of transition with our lives and work. As partnerships change and even phase out, and we continue to wade through the legal process related to the accident, your prayers are important as we strive to follow God's leading.
No comments:
Post a Comment