Packing Up Reflections

I am now sitting in my empty office, coming to the final packing up stages. Wow. Where did these last 6 months go?? I remember leaving Nigeria in June, not knowing when and if I would be coming back, and here are I am a week away from returning!
I have been reflecting on the many ways that I have been so blessed in these last 6 months. I was never hungry, never without a bed to sleep in.
I have experienced generosity, in big and small ways. A key to one house so I can come and go whenever I want. A $5 donation from an elementary student after church on Sunday. Churches offering support in prayer and finance. A gift of chocolate chips and bacon bits to take back to Nigeria with me. A commitment to giving $100 monthly from someone I met for the first time. My dear Nigerian friends supporting this ministry in prayers and finance. My parents who never complained once about having me in their house(and not doing my share of cooking and cleaning either). For a whole set of teacher resource books. For cards and letters, emails and internet chats. And I could go on and on. For those of you who know me well, you know there are tears welling up in my eyes as I write this now.

I do feel LOVED and SUPPORTED and ENCOURAGED. And I can’t thank each one of you enough. I thank God and am reminded of this passage,
“I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, because I hear about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints. I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ. You love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother(s and sisters), have refreshed the heart of the saints.” (Phil.1:4-7)
I wanted to share with you a story that was told at my church (Hope Fellowship CRC) a few years back by Rev.Quartel. (Thanks Evelyn, for reminding me).
There was this missionary family who had been sent out by their church onto the mission field. After many years and ended up having to come back very discouraged. They had not been fruitful, and they were tired, weary, and empty. They had not heard from their supporters back home either.
When they returned to their church, they discovered that the church had forgotten about them as well. And they realized that there was a direct connection. The church had sent them out with promises to support them, to “hold the rope” so to speak. It seemed as though the church had “let go”. And as a result – the work that God had called them to do was not able to be accomplished.
My prayer is that each of you will remember to HOLD THE ROPE. The ministry that is going on through me in West Africa is NOT all about me. It is something that we are all in together. I might be the one going, but you as supporters are holding the rope. I pray that you are holding on tight, and won’t let go.