Divine Voyagers

Tom:

Like almost every year so far, a lot has happened this year. We started it off somewhere in the night sky above Europe, about to land for our first survey trip. Since then, it’s been a whirlwind of places, people, and events.

Patty likes to do this thing when asking about my day where she asks for a highlight, a lowlight, and a God-light. Given the enormity that our year has been, I think it only appropriate to use this model.

Highlights:

The first thing that comes to mind is our homegroup. This year, Patty and I led a Bible study group together for the first time. Not just a one-off group, but a consistent week-to-week group. On Wednesday nights, we have gathered in our house, eaten an eclectic mix of snacks, tried a new tea each week, and opened the Bible together. As our members can attest to, Luna has greeted them with great enthusiasm even though she knows exactly who they are. This group has been an absolute joy and pleasure to lead.

Lowlight:

One of biggest by far was returning from our first survey mission without a team that was for us. This caused a lot of questions to be asked about the whole process, a lot of self-reflection, and a lot of doubt. We went into the trip hoping that one of those places was where God was leading us to. Turns out, that wasn’t the case. And while we did learn a lot about the kind of ministry and mission team we wanted to join, it didn’t come without heartache. I still regularly pray for each of those teams and the work they are doing. It did however lead to us meeting the Basque team and going to see them.

God-light:

Which brings me to my God-light of the year.
Side note: The first time I ever heard Patty use this expression was just after we had first started dating. She defined it as, “a moment during your day where you saw God at work. It doesn’t have to be something big. But try to reflect on what He has done.”

In all the places that we got to visit this year, it was very clear that God was at work. In some, He was doing big things but in others, it was just small and quiet. He was just gently working His way into people’s hearts. I think it is always easier to see this reflecting back rather than in the moment. One of the lectuers at my bible college told us at a conference, “There is always need. God is always working.” For us to be able to catch even a small glimpse of that has been really special. To see God, by the love of Jesus, transform lives has been the best part of my year.

Patty:

At the beginning of the year, I wrote in my diary that this would be a year of making plans. We had booked our trip to Eastern Europe, I had decided that it was a good time to quit my job and my fertility specialist had given me a clean bill of health. I felt like God was clarifying and would continue to clarify in the year ahead. 

But then, we went to Albania, Bulgaria and Kosovo and came home without a team. We had spent all our savings on the trip, trusting it was for a reason. Although we learned a lot and met some lovely people, I couldn’t help feeling like it was a waste – those loaves and fish were all we had for lunch, Lord. What did you do with them? So the time passed, no pregnancy, no mission plans, no progress – a helpless limbo.

A few months after we had returned, after debriefing with a few people and getting some support from Pioneers, I prayed “God, what do you want us to do?” and we opened up every mission team on the Pioneers database, starting to close them one by one. At the top of one page, in bright, blue, bold capital letters, it said “WE NEED AN ENGLISH TEACHER!” That’s how we met Roger and Nancy.
I prayed again, “we might know where we’re going, but we have no money. If you want us to go, you’re gonna have to provide the money.” A week later, Tom’s dad told us that his grandfather had left him an inheritance. We booked tickets. 

It was also around this time that I was waking up each morning and dreading going to work. I was exhausted, and although it would be wiser to wait until we left to go overseas, I couldn’t see how I would make it. So once more I took a leap into the dark and prayed that God would have the grace to catch me. I quit, not knowing where I would go next. Although I have the security of casual teaching, it was strange telling people I had nothing lined up. Farewells were had, I packed up my desk and, no word of a lie, on the afternoon of my last day I got offered a contract for next year, at an all girls’ school closer to home. 

None of this is to say that God gives us everything we want, like a gumball machine you put 20c in. Not getting pregnant after being told there is nothing physically wrong has been a consistent source of grief this year, and it was the main reason I decided to quit my stressful job. But it makes me feel as though the Lord is guiding us like water, putting an obstacle here and there so that we go the right way. Again and again he is Jehovah Jireh, the LORD who provides. That’s what I have to remember as we step into another year of unknowns, with the One who knows everything and has it under control.