It has already been over three weeks since we have returned from a five week trip to the States. That time renewed us in many ways. Being with family and friends was refreshing. We were able to see our beautiful niece, Cadence, for the first time and her funny, smart older brother Preston. We also had the joy of being in the States while my sister gave birth to Gabriel, a healthy, calm cute baby. These times of being present with our families and having good conversations over coffee and other good drinks with friends are memories that will keep with us for a long time. We enjoyed every moment with each of you that we were able to see and spend time with. Just being able to see your faces make us so grateful. And just the small gifts and joys of sleeping in under warm covers while snow and ice form in the beauty of another Indiana winter and waking up to the smell of breakfast cooking remind us of the goodness of returning home, and just the goodness of Life itself.
Now we are back in Galati where we got quickly back into the rhythm of daily life here. We didn't realize how much we missed people here, especially the children. It was good to be received with hugs and kisses on the cheeks. Our first weeks back were spent preparing to welcome our 3rd Servant Team: Annie, Mary Margaret, Caitlin, Laura, Jordan & Angelique. They have been here for several days and we have enjoyed them so much already. We look forward to their time with us for four months. We have gotten through most of their orientation and have been talking about poverty issues and causes, the poor in Scripture, assumptions and approaches to the poor, and the philosophy of ministry of Word Made Flesh. Next week they start language lessons and we will begin to read and discuss the books In the Name of Jesus by Henri Nouwen and Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger by Ron Sider. We look forward to these good discussions.
But coming back has been bittersweet in that we have been able to see and spend time with our good friends Joel and Monica and their boys Simeon and Abram. We have enjoyed each moment with them though we are deeply sad in that they will be moving back to the States within several weeks. We have been and will continue to grieve the loss of their presence here. But we are thankful for these last few weeks with them and for where God is leading them.
As most of you know Robin is pregnant again! We were blessed to find this news out right before coming back to the States in December. We have already heard the heart beat a couple of times which might be the most beautiful sound on earth, the sound of hope and life. Everything looks good thus far as Robin has just entered her second trimester. We are planning to be in the states this summer for delivery.
With the hearing of our baby's heartbeat and dreaming again of being parents, I feel in many ways we have entered into a time of deep joy and great anxiety. Many of you who are parents know this feeling of happiness and worrying. So lately, our prayers have been prayers of Peace. I am not talking about the peace that reminds us of tranquility and calmness. I am speaking of a peace that pulls us deeper and deeper into Life itself, a peace that makes us stop, look around and just sit in gratitude. A peace that even when we see suffering or hear of deep sadness, we can grieve the loss, we can become angry, we can question, but the peace is still there reminding us that Goodness is all around and that Jesus is with us.
While being back in the States I was reminded of the Babylonian distractions that pull us away from walking in this peace. I saw and experienced the hurriedness, the busyness, the materialism, the pressures to be here and there, the pressures to shorten conversations or to be distracted by money worries, insurance worries, recession worries, job worries, relationship worries, Life worries (baby worries). These distractions are everywhere as they are here in Romania but because we still call Indiana our home, we were able to see the distractions more clearly in our own culture.
But I see hope. I see the Grace that is calling us to a deeper, fuller life of Peace with Christ. And by being with so many of you, I was challenged to enter this full life by your honesty, by your prayers, by your questions, and just simply by watching many of you.
Yet like what I said, my prayers have become one of peace, not just in our lives, but prayers for all of you as well, and for the children, and for the staff. The prayers have been like this, "Father, may your kingdom come, your kingdom that you promised, that pervades our lives so much that we cannot help but to Love, the Kingdom of Peace where you say your yoke is easy and your burden is Light."
"Father, give us all, and especially the children, our daily bread, but Father give us the bread that lasts, bread that makes us stop complaining and worrying but makes us joyfully grateful, that makes us see how you are drawing us to Yourself in every day. And continue to help us to share this bread with others."
"Father, keep us from the evil one that distracts us with stuff, with things, with money, with worries, with fears through the media, through cultural expectations and pressures, through political problems, through financial problems. Keep us from that which hurries us and distracts us from entering into the deepness of Life with you."
"And Father, forgive us our sins, our worry and greed, for being so fearful of what might happen, for not trusting in you to provide, for not loving well, for not giving up our time for those who are lonely and suffering, for not dealing with our pasts that still haunt us, for not walking in Grace which makes us stop and be thankful."
"Father, help us to know you are with us in gentleness and power for You are the King over the poor and rich, over the powerless and powerful, over the broken and those who do not yet know they are broken, unto the ages of ages. Amen."
with love, peace and gratitude,
josh and robin