Reflections of a life 8,000 Miles Away

[Picture taken by Emilee Phil]

It is hard to believe that we have been “home” for about two months now!  On a daily basis, we have experienced numerous cultural transitions, surreal moments and comparisons of “life in Africa vs. life in the states”. While we miss our friends and ministry in Malawi, we have been so blessed by our friends and family here in the States who have made our transition infinitely easier.   

While it has been hard to live in transition, God in his infinite wisdom knew that we needed some down time for restoration and rejuvenation for our family before jumping into a new ministry and life here in the States.  We are now at a point where we are wrapping up our final weeks of support and connection with ABC.  It is hard to describe in words our “Malawi experience” and the two year journey we have traveled as a family and as individuals. However, we know that we have been absolutely changed by the relationships of those we have had the privilege to know and serve.   

Since being home, I (Sarah) have struggled with the “effectiveness” of what I accomplished while working at ABC.  In my two years there at the college I put together operational systems with rules, procedures, information systems, manuals etc. for the library, president’s office, and the graduate registrar’s office. There is little doubt in my mind that the procedures that I created will probably not be sustainable in the long run. In my own humanness, the work and energy that I put in feels like it was indeed “wasted” efforts. However, my mother- in -law recently reminded me that nothing we do for God is “wasted”.  She sent me a beautiful note reminding me of the story of the boy who gave his 5 loaves and 2 fishes to Jesus, who then in turn used it to feed 5,000+ people.  In her note, she wrote: “Jesus took what he had and used it. You likewise gave your all using God’s gifts to you- leave the results to Him.  The tangible things you left behind are important and will be used.  More important are the lives you have touched- the students you fed in your home, the missionaries you interacted with- your quiet and generous support has a way of grabbing people’s hearts- God has used these gifts in ways you will never know in this lifetime”. 

While I continue to process the experiences and the relationships of my life in Africa, I am so thankful for my mother-in-law’s wisdom. God doesn’t waste anything and He has created us for a purpose.  In the words of Katie Davis, a young woman living in Uganda (author of the book “Kisses from Katie”): “Because the God who created us loves us. Because He created each one of us for a purpose and He wants us to fulfill that purpose. Because the God who knows every hair on my head desires to lift me out of this dust and into his Glory. And he is.”  

As we sign off, we cannot thank you enough for partnering with us during these past two years.  Your prayer and financial support, encouraging packages, emails and letters made all the difference to us as we served on the mission field.  We are so thankful to you because it was THROUGH you that God allowed us to minister to the students at ABC, the orphans at Hope Crisis Nursery, the people in the local villages, the prisoners at Maula Prison, and the countless other people we met over the past two years.  Thank you for loving strangers (and us) through the many ways you showed your support.  It has been an incredible privilege and honor to serve and love so many with you.