Annual Missionary Retreat...
I’m not going to sugar coat it: cross-cultural living is HARD. It’s also hugely rewarding and we know we are right where God wants us to be. Yet that doesn't make it easy.
For us, there are two areas of life where it’s especially difficult: home and church. While we live in a comfortable home, our home is rarely a place where we can truly rest or retreat. There is always someone else there or outside or knocking on our door. Church in another language is also difficult and tough for the kids. We just really miss the ease of worshipping in our heart language and our kids really miss the joy of Sunday School in the US.
We are so thankful that our community of missionaries plans an annual retreat. Our whole family looks forward to going somewhere where we can truly retreat and rest, enjoy each other’s company and the company of our friends, and worship and be taught from scripture in our heart language.
This year we were blessed to have one of the pastors from our church in FL, Russell Howard, as the speaker for the adults. He taught out of Colossians. His teaching spurred many healthy conversations among our group and really challenged us in our walk with the Lord.
For something like the 30th year in a row, a group called “Barb and Friends” that has a puppet ministry in the US, came and did VBS for our kids. We are so thankful for them. Before the retreat started, Braden kept asking “When does school start?!” and he wasn't referring to 1st grade! He couldn't wait for VBS. At the end, the whole group of kids had put together a choreographed presentation.
Rob had to head to Port au Prince to pick up our speaker. Since he wouldn't be around much of the next day to do that, we went to the resort a day early and enjoyed some relaxing family time together.
The Missionary Retreat comes each year, just when we need it!
~Becky
For us, there are two areas of life where it’s especially difficult: home and church. While we live in a comfortable home, our home is rarely a place where we can truly rest or retreat. There is always someone else there or outside or knocking on our door. Church in another language is also difficult and tough for the kids. We just really miss the ease of worshipping in our heart language and our kids really miss the joy of Sunday School in the US.
We are so thankful that our community of missionaries plans an annual retreat. Our whole family looks forward to going somewhere where we can truly retreat and rest, enjoy each other’s company and the company of our friends, and worship and be taught from scripture in our heart language.
This year we were blessed to have one of the pastors from our church in FL, Russell Howard, as the speaker for the adults. He taught out of Colossians. His teaching spurred many healthy conversations among our group and really challenged us in our walk with the Lord.
For something like the 30th year in a row, a group called “Barb and Friends” that has a puppet ministry in the US, came and did VBS for our kids. We are so thankful for them. Before the retreat started, Braden kept asking “When does school start?!” and he wasn't referring to 1st grade! He couldn't wait for VBS. At the end, the whole group of kids had put together a choreographed presentation.
Rob had to head to Port au Prince to pick up our speaker. Since he wouldn't be around much of the next day to do that, we went to the resort a day early and enjoyed some relaxing family time together.
The Missionary Retreat comes each year, just when we need it!
~Becky
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