Monday, May 26, 2014

two suitcases and a carry-on

   Look around the house. If you were asked to whittle it all down to just two suitcases and a carry-on, what few things would make the cut?  Grandma’s cookie lifter.  All the handmade cards from our children.  The clothing that’s not yet threadbare.  A dog-eared book or two.  The computer, of course.  Snacks for the journey, and a pile of good-bye notes from friends.  Toothbrush.  A stuffed animal from childhood, and a Filipino sarong.

And so it is that when a man walks along a road, 
the lighter he travels, the happier he is;

-Tertullian

  That’s where we are now, all packed, ready to leave Davao tomorrow on an early morning flight.  Home and belongings have been distilled into a few suitcases.  They’re heavy enough, though we’ve left behind so many possessions that composed our home.  Our hearts are heavy too as we leave our place of service, our community of the family of God – loved ones we may never see again this side of Heaven. We will board the plane sad but grateful, smiling because it happened.

a few of our farewells

   As we disembark Tuesday evening, after over 30 hours of travel, we’ll be entering another world – yes, our own home culture, but somehow so foreign after daily life in S.E. Asia.  We may look just the same on the outside – Michael a little taller, Amy and Elise more sweet, Mark a little more handsome.  But inwardly we’ve been changed, impacted in inexplicable ways by these people and this place.  


So we zip up our suitcases, memories packed in tight, giving all thanks to God for His gift of these five years.

Go in peace! 
I will not say: do not weep
for not all tears are an evil.
J.R.R. Tolkien
 

We’ll see our American family and friends soon! 

How we’re looking forward to seeing your dear faces again!

4 comments:

thechurchcook said...

Well, c'mon! US is ready for you!

Judy said...

"And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake, will receive a hundred times more and will be given eternal life." Matt.19:29

Janelle said...

I'm so glad that you had fun with friends before you left:)
I CANT WAIT TO SEE YOU GUYS!!!!!
how is it like to be back in the US

LOVE YOU GUYS !!!!
P.S please write back
thank you

us5 said...

Hey Janelle! We'll see you SOON! America is crazy...so quiet, so cold, so many choices. The manager in Subway asked us today if we were visiting the area? I guess it was pretty obvious that we were in culture shock... :)

love you back, sweet Janelle!