There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens…
This verse (Ecclesiastes 3:1) is a word from God that I consistently return to when I am troubled or confused by His timing. Right now, I am often confused about his timing in providing financially for my work, but he is still blessing me immensely as I participate in training classes.
Currently I am at training in North Carolina preparing to head overseas in the following months. It is here that we are discovering and re-shaping our views on culture and how to preach the gospel in cross-cultural contexts. We are studying topics such as cross-cultural communication, ethnocentrism, and the best topic of all- “What is Truth?” Although there are a lot of positive things I am learning about, a lot of the memories are being made in our free time.
Some of my favorite moments so far have been simply sharing life with the other “singles”, or unmarried young(er) adults. We have gone on a hike, helped a local church on their work day, and watched movies together. One of my favorite parts, though, is our dinners. Multiple nights a week one or two people will cook for the group of singles and we will all sit down at our large dining room table and break bread together. It is here that we pray together, laugh together, and share our fears of the future together.
When I think of family, this is what I see. Wherever I go, I always find a family to call home. Whether that be a group of friends in Pennsylvania, a family of an extended friend in Jordan, or a group of single people in NC all preparing to head out across the world.
So to all my friends and families near and far, thank you for your hospitality. I hope that I get to bless and be a blessing to all those in North Africa in the same way.