I have to be honest, when Mark said, "We have to set a date to visit our friends this summer." I was not excited at the thought. I could think of many excuses to not jump at this. But, as God has done so many times with me, through Mark's nudging that he felt we were supposed to do this I hesitantly said ok. However, when the "purchase" button was hit to finalize our flights "ok" was not the first feeling to flood this mamma's heart. It was a begrudging submission to say the least.
Turn the pages of the calendar a few times and the time was getting close. The enemy was a work stirring up doubt about the purpose of this undertaking. Why not visit them in the States next year when they come to visit? Wouldn't that make much more sense? Aren't we just interrupting their lives, schedule, and family to be there for a week? These and so many other question stirred. Then an email came that said, "[our youngest] just said he is so excited for you all to come. We can't explain it but the anticipation of your visit is already blessing us."
I think that was a turning point in my anticipation. A realization that this was a trip God wanted us to take for some reason. What that reason was I wasn't at all sure, but I knew we were supposed to go.
We packed up all the fun things that they had ordered and asked us to bring over... homeschool books, backpacking gear, a few items of clothing and a couple special treats as well.
We bid farewell to our gals at the park half way between our house and the adventures waiting to be had at Grandma and Poppy's house. As they drove off with Mom and Dad there was a lump in my throat for sure.
Friday evening we were off. The flights were long, very long. But once we arrived at our destination, proceeded through customs and gathered our luggage we peered through the glass doors of the exit and saw two smiling faces waving over the crowd. Though I didn't snap a picture right then, mentally that is the picture seared in my mind.
They welcomed us into their home as we had a snack and chatted into the wee hours. After a good nights sleep we began being.
Began being?
What?! Yes we just began being friends, being in conversation, being a part of their world that is across the ocean and oh so different from ours, being in awe of the journey they have taken...
This week they "took vacation" to just be with us. To take a break from their usual routine and responsibilities. They shared their new culture with us...
I was shocked at the elaborate beauty of this mosque as
I took it in from the area set aside for women
wrapped in the covering we put on as we entered.
The markets amazed me. How different from home!
So much more communication was needed to function here. I loved to just stand there and listen as my friend rolled this new language off her tongue as she greeted faces that have become a part of this marketing experience. To see how relationships have been built through the simple task of buying your food.
We visited the museum and learned of where this culture has come from and where they are striving to go.
This is a yurt that their people customarily lived in.
Not only did they invite us to explore their culture but to be part of their family, to meet their friends and have fellowship. Each time we met a new friend they would tell us how much it meant that we would visit. How the encouragement would not just touch our friends but overflow to their friends. In the beginning of the week I didn't understand this but by the end of the week, seeing how they live so much in community it began to make sense.
A fun day at the river was sweet.
Chatting as we kayaked down the river, indulging on food grilled there by the river, just being in the sun watching the kiddo play and laugh.
It wasn't just the extra fun we did throughout the week, it was doing the everyday together. We shopped at the bazar, we cooked side by side, we made jelly.
The guys helped move a friend, took an adventurous bike ride and laughed a lot.
They created a new game that mimics our "punch bug" game that calls out the notaries. (It doesn't sound funny I know, but in the moment it was too funny and has continued since we left ;)
We lingered at the table long, just being friends, being a safe place to not search for the new language's word they might need, being real about this journey, being encouraged by their bold, brave choices of obedience.
So what was the purpose of all this? To be their friends, to laugh, to love on, to encourage! On this side of the trip I feel it was the most purposeful trip we have ever taken. An new insight to see how we can continue to be friends and support them well from this side of the ocean. All in all we were humbled to watch God work and allow us to be part of loving this precious family who has been obedient to love well in the uncomfortable and unknown.
We are home now, but part of our hearts stayed with them!!
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