We just got back from a three day trip to the third islan
d. We were tourists, sort of. We did some tourist things-- like drive around the island and walk around the capital, but we also asked lots of non-tourist questions. “What is the water and electricity like? What different school options do you have? Can we see the shops with imported food goods? How reliable are the taxis for getting around? How many English teaching programs are there on the island?”As we took in all the different sights, sounds and experiences, our heads were filled with thoughts of the future. “Which would be the best area for us to live?” “This town might be good for someone with agriculture experience.” “I wouldn’t want to make the walk from this part of town everyday.” “I wonder where we would go to get away?” “Oh good, they sell ketchup!”
It is both strange and exciting to visit a new and exotic place knowing that one day it will be home. The island is beautiful. Your eyes are filled with all the green of the cascading hills and mountains packed full of vegetation. As you drive around the island, you twine up the mountains on endless switchbacks and pass countless rivers.
For a tourist these are the wonders of a day, but for us there is a lasting excitement-- this beautiful place will be our home. Even the more mundane facts-- that there is good water and electricity and that most of the produce is cheaper is both exciting and encouraging to us. Every piece of information helps us to paint a picture, the background for our future life and ministry.
But that is all it is--background. Our real lives will be played out with people-- the islanders we will meet and live with, the teammates we will guide and spur on, the people whose lives God will change. It was nice to see the backdrop this week, now we can get excited about the scenes that will play out there.
PRAYERS ANSWERED
We had a good trip to the third island-- the kids did great considering all the walking and driving we did and there was several times we felt like God was leading us to places to give us insight for the future. It is a week of celebrations-- Canada (home of our short-termers), the US and the islands all have their independence days this week!
PRAYER REQUESTED
The trip was good, but tired us out. Pray that we could get some good rest the next couple of days. We’re in the final stretch before going on home assignment to the States, pray that we would be organized and do all the things God would have us do before we leave. Pray for our preparations for living on the third island-- including editing our vision paper and thinking about the focus of that future team. Pray that more islanders would seek the truth.
