Happy 4th Anniversary to us...

Happy 4th Anniversary to us!   This is an expanded version of the Facebook post.

It was April 29th, 2008 that we placed our feet on Nica soil committed to go wherever and do whatever the Lord would have for us.  We imagined giving our obedient "yes-es" would be so much easier than it sometimes has been.  We romanticized about the "sacrifices" we would be making.  We had no idea what those "sacrifices" would cost us until it came payment time.  We are not foolish enough to think there won't be more.  We were infants on the mission field where maturing is a necessity or returning home is compulsory.  

Four years ago, we were so idealistic...today we are much more realistic. But ironically, the vision remains the same. Share the gospel with those who have not heard it, explain it to those who do not understand it and then live it out before those who have not seen it.  Having the vision was simple...working toward its realization has been a little more difficult.  

Opposition has come in forms and from those whom we would never have imagined.  The language of those who profess to follow Christ should speak the language of prayers and encouragement...sometimes, though, we have heard white-washed whispers and words of discouragement, condemnation, accusation or empty promises...and what may have been even worse...not heard words at all.  Those were some tough days...days of feeling forgotten or days filled with doubts.  Thankfully, there have not been many of them.  God has been so very faithful to never have allowed us to sink too deeply in the life-sucking mire of self-pity!  He has blessed each of us with a spouse who doesn't tolerate that well in the other one!  Jim is much gentler with his admonition than I am...I'm still trying to figure out how to make "Snap out of it!" sound spiritual!  :)

We have learned much about the value of making and maintaining healthy relationships...with others, with each other and with the Lord.  Living without hiding behind all the distractions that the Land of Plenty offers can be quite disconcerting before it becomes liberating.  Our DNA of instant gratification and USA expectations runs deep and it has been at times, a stretch of either our adaptability or clarification genes to make the proper distinction between cultural differences, personal preferences and Kingdom expectations.   

We have maneuvered the landmine of car repairs and less-than-legit mechanics (still not out of that loaded field!).  We have learned some of the finer intricacies of shopping at the local markets.  We have welcomed friends and family with tears of joy and saw them off again with even more hot tears than I would care to admit.  We have opened our home to near-strangers and experienced both great guests and not-so-great guests.  We have had our eyes painfully pried opened to and our hearts sadly pricked by the hurtful behaviors of others who also call themselves missionaries.  We have had to seek the forgiveness of God and the forgiveness of others for our own offenses.  We have blundered culturally both here and there and sometimes, we wonder where home really is.  And then we're reminded, we are aliens and strangers and this is not our home...regardless of where a GPS might locate us.       

The Lord has both challenged and blessed us greatly the past 4 years. He has granted us countless acts of mercy and has been patient and forgiving untold number of times. His Hand of protection has shielded us in situations that we can recount and in times, I'm sure, of which we never knew.  He has led, He has prodded, He has encouraged and He has chastised.  He has comforted, He has provided and He has taken away.  But He has never left us in any of it.  

We have experienced very great highs and very low lows.  We have seen the most beautiful displays of God's creation and the ugliest and most depraved sign of man's nature.  We have gasped in awe at His handiwork and in horror at the manifestations of man's sinful rebellion.  We have been privy to have witnessed and to have experienced great moments of joy and profound moments of pain.  I could never have imagined what an adventure this journey would be nor would I have changed one single thing, although there have been times of heartache and discouragement. 

The Lord has grown my faith exponentially and He continues to take my breath away every time He takes my hand and guides me into areas I fear to tread!  Whether that is in a dangerous barrio after dark (with a window that won't roll up!) or sharing with the drug dealers about Jesus or praying with a family whose daughter is moments from death or counseling a young woman who is beaten daily by her husband or trying to console the family who frequents the local witch and medium after the death of their beloved grandmother.  None of those were places I would have chosen to go...but they were all places the Lord led me.    

I feel incredibly blessed today and am so excited to see what He has for us around the corner on this rough and bumpy road.  We sense that road is going to lead to a relocation for us and that He has something new for us in this next year.  As much as I want to stay "put" and settled, I don't see that happening.  But we'll see.  He has been good to keep us unsettled enough that we have to depend on Him so I would imagine "if it ain't broke, don't fix it."  That's Ozarkian for "Lynne...learn to travel light!"  I am just so incredibly thankful that Jim is the one who is traveling that road with me and that our Constant Companion is the Lord.  I love you, Lord...I want to love you even more and I am looking forward to the rest of our journey!