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| Flowers from Grandma in my new room. |
Wednesday night marked the "first big move" in preparation for STINT in Moscow, Russia... moving back to where I grew up to raise support full-time this summer. Even though the quick trip from Boise to Portland is rather insignificant in comparison to the looming USA to Russia transition coming in just two short months, change is still change. And change is hard, even when it's good. That's the thing about hard stuff - every situation is multifaceted, and even in the midst of feeling the pain, you can acknowledge the goodness and faithfulness of God.
I invited friends to a Popsicle Party at the park last weekend for a final "goodbye." It was great to laugh and talk with such incredible friends before I left. What a beautiful reminder of God's faithfulness; I remember praying for friends when I first got to Boise! He provided above and beyond what I even dreamed of.
Leaving Boise was a very sad day. I said goodbye to the family I was a nanny for throughout all four years I spent in Boise. It's okay, I've been away for less than 48 hours and already talked to the kids on the phone and sent many imessages-including pictures and videos-back and forth. (Thankful for technology!) I think we'll be just fine. :)
On the brief flight from Boise to Portland I had a horrible stomachache that was not cured by my Moxie Java airport dinner of deli sandwich and smoothie OR by my usual in-flight drink order of ginger ale. This didn't help to improve my mood. Also - in the packing and moving frenzy, somehow I left out only shoulder duffel bags in Boise for the final trip to Portland. All of my normal rolling suitcases were already here in Oregon. I had a backpack, a shoulder laptop bag, a small duffel bag, and a large duffel bag, which got me a few funny looks and laughs at the airport as I waddled, short of breath to go find my Dad outside the baggage claim at the Portland airport.
Yesterday I focused on spending time with my grandparents and getting settled into my new room -- creating my own space. Today I started what I hope to be my new routine - quiet time & coffee, bike ride, phone calls & appointments for raising support. Then when mom gets home from work we're going to have a movie night and make popcorn. I'm looking forward to the kite festival at the beach next week and many nights making dinner for my grandparents. I really am thankful for this sweet time with my family before I leave.
When I walk through those moments of sadness and grief,
do I use them as an opportunity to press into God?
In spending time with God the past two days I've been reminded that my life goal is not comfort, affluence, prosperity, or to reach the top of some proverbial ladder of success. I live for eternity and I never want to find myself lost in the current of today's popular culture. I want to constantly keep my focus heavenward and be ready to go where God says to go, speak what He says to speak, love who He says to love, and do what he calls me to do. I want to live in a ready position to obey, not a settled position of stagnant complacency. It's about priority. Comfort is nice, but not necessary, in the way that our North American culture defines it.
"I do not have to know why everything happens since I know God is good,
He loves me, and life on Earth is not the whole story." - Rick Warren
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| http://blog.joshstannard.co.uk/ |
To be "sent" doesn't always mean packing up and moving to a different country.
We're called to make disciples as we go about our daily lives, in whatever context God has placed us.
Are we living as "sent" ones into the mission field of our workplaces? Families? Neighbors? Classrooms? Even church communities?
It is too easy to be "settled" into what is comfortable or normal, but I pray that time never comes. I pray that I will always live in such a way that faith is required because I am following so closely to Jesus and so far away from selfish desires.
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As you can see, two days into the first big transition, and I'm full of emotions, questions, hope, and definitely learning many lessons. I tried to keep is reasonably short (a definite fault of mine!), but informative. This is where I'm at and this is how you can pray! I am so, so, so very thankful for this team of partners that God has provided - and continues to do so. I'm encouraged by your support and kind words! Thank you, thank you!
Please feel free to contact me by email or phone any time. I'd love to hear from you!
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kailene.power@cru.org
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