Hearts of Wisdom

 Hearts of Wisdom

Recently some missionary friends of ours finally made it to their mission field.  All the deputation, packing, moving and goodbyes behind them.  And just when they thought they could breath a sigh of relief, reality set in!  A new home, a new culture, new food, a new job, a new church and church family and the list just goes on and on. Can you relate?  

My husband and I was driving one day when he told me they had gotten settled in.  He had talked with the husband by phone and tried to encourage him from being overwhelmed by all the changes. I thought back to when our family first arrived on the field.  The memory brings back the feelings of being sad from missing our former home and loved ones, overwhelmed by so much to do and so many new things to learn, scared that I will never learn it all and that I am never going to be able to fit in with the people I come to serve.  And on top of it all, we had moved from Tennessee to the desert.  Things bite and kill you in the desert. LOL I was constantly looking out for rattlesnakes, scorpions, millipedes, killer bees, tarantulas and the list continues!    While we have only been here less than two years, that distance in time brought comfort to my soul when thinking about those early days.  They say ignorance is bliss, but I was not in bliss when we first started our ministry. The people we serve can be quiet and somewhat unapproachable.  I come from the South, where everyone is loud, and you say “hello” with a hug.  To hug or not to hug was a huge frustration in my mind. 

It’s funny how even though we consciously didn’t say “this is what we are going to do to get past this newness”, there were steps that we did take unconsciously that helped us through that awkward time. 

  

“teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. Psalm 90:12

Psalm 90:12 is a verse that fits that time exactly.  Relying on the Lord to guidance for our steps to take and not take.  But for those of you in those first days of ministry here are a few things that looking back helped us.

·         Family Devotions:  Family devotions gave us time as a family to hear from the Lord and hear what He wants to say to us.  Family devotions can be a wonderful time for family members to share how they are doing personally.  Are they scared?  Are they homesick?   It’s just a wonderful time for to get it all out and love on each other.

·         Personal Time in the Word:  It is so easy those early days to get so busy that personal Bible Time can get put aside.  But now is the time you will need His Word more than ever. 

·         The Sound of Music:  Our family keeps Christ honoring music playing in our home and vehicles constantly.  It can be an encouragement, stress reliever and comforting to the soul. There are so many times that a song reminds me of God's love for me.

·     Family Prayer:  At the end of every day our family prays together.  We pray for ourselves, our ministry, and others standing in need.  It ends our day on a note to satan that we are a united team for Christ.  No easier time for satan to attack than in those early days.  Don’t let him win!

·         Trust God:  There are going to be times of trial.  A time to grow your faith.  While it may not be fun, years later you will be able to reap the benefits of God proving His faithfulness to you during this time

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During that drive with my husband, I told him that I am so glad to have the distance of time that we have.  We have learned so much in such a short amount of time.  Our faith while it can always grow has been grown so much. I feel our hearts are so much wiser. And oh by the way, the hug or not hug dilemma?  Well, it turned out to be TO HUG!