HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!
(Picture: Our family before Christmas in the cold of Spain)
What’s it like when you come home from vacation? Post-vacation blues? A looming sense of all the things to catch up on? A longing or dread of getting back into the swing of things? A house that needs cleaning and dusting?
We had a truly wonderful vacation visiting with family and getting a glimpse into our sister’s life in Spain. Grace did very well considering all the travel she had to do and took to her grandparents, aunts and uncle better than we had hoped. Thank you for those of you who were praying for us. Spain was rainy but very enjoyable. We slept late and ate late, as is the Spanish style. We saw many churches, museums, and palaces and walked through several beautiful parks. Best of all we spent lots of time together as a family.
It was a long series of plane rides back extending over two days to get back to the island. By the time we arrived home we were tired and dirty and ready to make a simple meal, unpack and go to bed. But we had only set down our bags when there was a knock at the door. A friend was coming by to visit. Moments later another knock brought another friend. We love our friends and we are glad that we have made so many here on the island, but why were they hanging around our house when we so obviously just arrived? Why were they staying for dinner? Our American MO is to give people a day or two to settle in, get over jet lag, clean up, unpack, etc. when they get back from vacation you. But what is the island MO? You’ve been away. You haven’t seen people for weeks. You wish people would come to visit and share a meal with you? How strange that these acts of kindness should feel unkind to us.
In retrospect, with a good nights sleep, bags unpacked and a clean house, we can look back on our homecoming and see that these were acts of kindness and appreciate them. It makes us wonder, what sort of “acts of kindness” do we inflict on our neighbors. May patience and grace fall on our neighbors and us in abundance.
PRAYERS ANSWERED
We had safe travels to and from Europe and a great time with family. Megan was able to get H1N1 vaccine in Spain. The rainy season has begun, making the weather on the island cooler and much more bearable. The rain let up for our drive back from the airport.
PRAYERS REQUESTED
Please pray for our adjustment back to life on the island, that language would come back quickly and that reconnecting with our friends and neighbors would be meaningful. For continued health for Megan and the baby as they begin the third trimester. For Grace as her molars come in and she adjusts back to the island eating and sleeping schedule. For this New Year, that God would be blessing the islands and draw people to Himself. For this month’s leadership seminar that those attending would get more a sense of God’s heart
