I’ve (jokingly) decided to vacate our current apartment because I can no longer sit still and relax in it. Yes, we are in the process of moving again – an exciting process, but packing is a little scary. We are ecstatic about beginning life and ministry in Brooklyn, NY. Yet it means another move – another resettling period – another round of goodbyes.
Our family has lived in Lawrenceville, GA (this time around) for close to 2 ½ years. It’s hard to believe that is possible.
This move back to Lawrenceville began as a visit to see how David’s mom was doing when she was ill. We’ve communicated often about the tragedy of losing her as well as David’s father.
Yet our time here has become much more than a visit to extended family. God has shown us much mercy here and His Church has given us great love. We have been well-cared for here, by so many of you – our dear family and friends. You have grieved with us, you have loaned us household goods, you’ve taken care of Jonah, a few of you gave us jobs. You have welcomed Hannah, you’ve celebrated with us, you have given us gifts, you are using or storing our excess belongings, you have prayed for us, many of you are supporting us, and you’ve given us a place to worship and serve the LORD. We are profoundly grateful. Thank you.
The irony of it all is that I’ve so often looked at this time in our lives as extremely hard. And I don’t want to downplay the difficulties of our experience. Yet, in the midst of that hardship, perhaps because of it, we have received grace, peace, and joy which I have found truly surprising.
Many of you want to know what our daily life will look like in Brooklyn, and I can’t wait to find out. Certain things there will be harder – like laundry, for example. But other things might be easier – we’ll be walking a lot, so we won’t have to set aside time to exercise.
We’re excited because, though our lives will look quite different in NY, we feel that we are responding to God’s call on our lives to mission. Brooklyn is full of all kinds of people that God made in His image. Please pray that we would know and love them well. Jesus has saved us and brought us into His Kingdom service. May our lives and your lives speak the gospel to the people among us and in the places He has given us in which to live.
