It happened so very fast. Melissa got a call from her mom that her cousin Karen was in the hospital in serious condition. There were complications, and that night family was told if they wanted to see her, they needed to go right away. The next morning, she was gone. The funeral was held last Monday.
This is how our new year started. As we moved into a new "home" for the next many months, we have experienced a great number of praises, but also a great number of challenges. The little pieces of life that seemed like they should just fall into place have yet to do so. Don't get me wrong - we are still on the path that God has called us to. But we are continually realizing the effects and realities that come with making a decision to move into missions. And we are choosing to see the challenges now as preparation for challenges in the future.
Karen's passing has forced us to face a very real reality - that major events will likely occur in our families here while we are overseas in the future. So many other missionaries have faced this, so it is not a reality unique to us. But when it hits YOU, it seems so much more real. Melissa's extended family is close - there are often 40-70 people at family events! For years at a time in the future, we will not be at these events. As I think about the Ens family as well, and realize that they are scattered across the globe, the likelihood of family gatherings with all present becomes even more of a challenge.
I guess it comes with counting the cost of a decision. It is easy to say, "we are becoming missionaries!". It is an evolving reality, though, as pieces of this decision become clarified, the activities of life are strained, and stability of the future becomes oh so much more dependent on God moving.
Once again, this seemed like a rambling post. Melissa and I just booked flights to Peru for the end of January, and that is exciting! We have had a great number of friends and family invest in our ministry in the last weeks, and that has been very encouraging. Our church, The Grove, has been very supportive in our move back to Fresno, and we are enjoying the first days of our new internship there. The kids are back in their own school, and adjusting to life in Spanish. Timothy is being a trouper getting shuttled around from place to place for babysitting.
It is good to know we have a team of people praying for us out there. God moves as people pray. And we are continually experiencing our need to be dependent on Him, changing as a family.
Take care, and may the details of your lives fall into place this week! And also, celebrate with those family members - life is precious.
Lowell
