Community

“Ok, just type ‘alive.’ Nothing else. Just let me know you’re breathing!”

Community. It’s a beautiful and complicated thing. It’s wonderful to have people who care, people who check in (and won’t give up until they’re sure you are alive!), ones you can count on if you’re in a trial, or if you need a cup of sugar. We have learned a lot about community these past 7 years of being part of the “going” of missions. First is that it is constantly changing, as far as the physically present community that surrounds us. The hellos can be awkward and hard, and the goodbyes infinitely harder. Maybe that’s a good thing. These people who come and go are part of God’s good plan for our lives. We usually don’t step out of a community the same people that we were when we first entered into it.

This past summer we experienced an exodus of the community as we’d known it here at Tenwek. Many we will see again, some we might not, but all have left an imprint on us. As the kids and I traveled back to North Carolina, we also experienced the blessing of being reminded of the wonderful community of family and friends we still have there. It is amazing how God orchestrated each of us to feel his presence through community in the short time we were back. Whether it was through people helping us, or just making the time to be with us, it was really a gift. 

God created us for community. Real live people doing real life together. Being mostly an introvert, I would say I mostly recharge by spending time alone. So, at times, I have to force myself to reach out and spend time with others. The thing is that I always think back on a gathering with a full and happy heart. Hearing encouragement, laughing together, eating and praying, sharing burdens together—it’s a necessity of life. Maybe it’s even a way God works out the gospel in our lives. Interactions with other humans are not always easy. They are often messy as we all have our own assumptions and notions to deal with. But working through differences teaches us more about God’s infinite mercy and patience with us! 

As I reflect back on us being back in Kenya another year, being sent by and then serving alongside some very special people on both sides of the ocean, I realize God’s hand of provision of community has been one of our greatest gifts. We are not alone. We have Him. We have each other. And that is so good.