|
Now, a week into itineration, we know that we are where we are
supposed to be for these five months. We have found the same renewing
fellowship with each of the congregations we have visited, and
we return home filled with the joy of our work and the unity we
have in Christ Jesus. Each congregation has been different, each
has its own personality. Each lives out its call to mission in
its own way. We celebrate the individual differences of each,
seeing also that we have so much in common. It has been very good
to hear about what these congregations are involved with in their
communities. I was able to visit a Christian after-school center
for teenagers in one community, as well as a center for mentally
handicapped children and adults. As we travel and share aspects
of our work, we will be listening and gleaning ideas to share
with the Russian partners when we return. We will also be carrying
back to Russia the warmth of Presbyterian fellowship. It is good
to be here.
We cannot say that there has not been culture shock. There has.
It's normal. We are living in Louisville, Kentucky, in the Furlough
Home on the campus of Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary.
It is not home, but it is a very pleasant environment, and we
like Louisville very much. It reminds me of where I grew up—the
Loop in University City, Missouri (a suburb of St. Louis). The
girls love their schools and they have already made close friends
with the other young people in our building. There are two 13-year-old
girls for our 13-year-old, Meg (one whose family serves in India
and one whose family serves in Cameroon), and there is a 9-year-old
girl for Emma. Al and I have not had time to get to know the parents
yet, but they seem very pleasant. It is a happy mix.
It is good to recall what a beautiful and diverse country we
have. We love the ever-changing landscape as we criss-cross the
country. In the five weeks that we have been back in the States,
we have already passed through twelve of our United States. I
left Pennsylvania last Thursday in a snowstorm. Yesterday, Meg
and Emma danced on the edge of the Gulf of Mexico. Fortunately,
we had dry clothes for them. Over the next five months, we will
be traveling from Florida to Idaho and from New York to Oklahoma.
We did get kind invitations to visit Arizona and California as
well, but we just couldn't find a way to fit them into the schedule.
We will miss being with those churches this time, but we will
hope to visit them the next time we return. We wish that it were
possible to visit everyone.
For now, let us wish you the warmth of fellowship, the peace
that comes only from our Lord, and His many blessings. May you
feel His presence in your lives.
With love in Christ,
Ellen & Al
The 2004 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p.
182
|
