Ariel and the four 'little' Blotes.....

We are one

Learning as one
we are a collection;
together, always.
Different Minds,
smiles and eyes.
We are separate,
yet the same.
We are one
We learn and
live together.
We are missionaries
We are carried 
in the right hand 
Of The Mighty One 
that we serve,
Together as One.


I wrote the above poem on Monday as we were told that we are now missionaries. We would spend our time together in what they call Community living. I assumed I was somewhat prepared for it. All it meant was sharing my room with a girl, eating meals together, and living under the same roof with others who wanted to learn like I do. Right?

Wrong.

 First, I am the only girl trainee. (To be clear I am NOT the only girl in house. There are three female staffers, and other women who are not staff that are often floating around.) What does it look like to live in community here? From what I have gleaned from different conversations, I think Community living can best be described as living as a 'family'. A family knows each other. They know who likes tomatoes and who dislikes country music. I know that Little G loves music, that it is an integral part of who she is. Unlike her friends, I- as her sister- know the music she has written, but would never share with anyone. I know this because I was there when the songs were composed. I was part of her life. The way she speaks and thinks are familiar to me. And it is this type of relationship that gives birth to or defines family. When people are around each other almost 24/7 for nine months, it is inevitable that we will be knitted together into a unit, a family.  One of the definitions of family from merriam-webster is, 'a group of people united by certain convictions or a common affiliation'. And that is exactly what we are. We are united by the common goal to learn more about God's kingdom and our place in it. We each bring something unique, and pivotal to this group, but we do not all know what this is. By the end of this time, I will know this group. I hope to know them well, each in a different way. They are made in the image of God and each of them is unique. And together we will work to know God more.

It is interesting to hear the way they speak, and learn how they reason. They each have something they are passionate about, though I have yet to see it deeply. I know it is there. My passions flood out, as they tend to do at times (anyone who has got me talking about missions knows this well). It is slowly coming together, this is a Family that God has created. It is no accident that I am sharing this experience with them. It makes me laugh. Just two years ago a situation like this would have me running for the hills. Now it is a sign of my growth that I am thoroughly enjoying myself. I am at ease with them in a way that I did not even dare hope for. Someone said to us that this is the honeymoon phase, where we want to like and be liked and we begin to discover things about each other. And perhaps that is part of it. But I think that God is at work here too. At every other point in my life when I have been in a similar situation (community living of any sort) I have remained closed and unable to give it my all. Going into this, I wanted to be unlike myself in the sense that I took chances. Still, I never expected to be at ease with them so quickly. However, from the beginning, God had his own ideas that were far from where I was. 'This is what you need' He said. 'I hand picked each of them, because together all of you will grow and grow.' I read Proverbs 27:17 today; "As iron sharpens Iron, so a friend sharpens a friend."   We will be friends and family for the rest of our lives, and it all begins here. With this training.

I don't know what will happen when we leave this place. I can't even imagine what the next months will bring. But for this girl, I know that I am in the right place. Even if it is hard, and I struggle to feel like I belong (culture shock will happen eventually) God had a plan from the beginning. I will trust in the One who Knows best.


The names of the trainees are:

• Drew
• David
• Brad
• Emmett

Things to remember

• David is pronounced Dah-veed
• Black cats are the same everywhere
• God is good, forever and always
• Gluten-free bread is better in Wales. It just is.

Here are a couple of pics from our climb the other day.