Homesick

For the most part, I'm able to keep the homesickness at bay when I think about home...but this hasn't been one of those times. I'm homesick to the point of tears.

Jim got an email from our missionary friends in Quito--the ones we stayed with 13 years ago when we went down to help expand the church building that was built when my dad was pastoring there. The email said they're looking for 8 couples from 8 different churches to go down and help with a couples' retreat for 50 Ecuadorian couples. Lynford, the missionary there, is looking to involve 8 different US churches with this project, which I think is a phenomenal idea and that it will have a great impact on those 8 sending churches. Lynford and Sharon have a bunch of photos of their ministry on their website!

Although I completely agree with Jim that it will have more impact on our church if another couple goes, my heart is crying because I want to go. I want to go home. I want to see and talk to the people who's lives were touched by my parent's ministry and life there...Latin American people have such a special place in my heart. So, I thought I'd share some pictures I found of the mountains I think of when I hear or read Psalm 121.

To see these pictures and so many more go here. On the left is Cotopaxi, a perfectly shaped volcano that I saw on an almost daily basis when I lived in Quito, where I went to school. On the left is Pichincha, the mountain that Quito is nestled against. I've been on this trail--funny the things you remember so long after the fact. Hang gliders launch themselves off Pichincha and glide over the city--it's breath-taking to watch!


To see more pictures of the people of Ecuador (where these pictures came from) go to Dan Heller's site. His shots are wonderful. The woman on the right, an indian woman, is using a pila to do her laundry. Pilas are very common and I've often used them myself, but thankfully we had a wringer washer. Ladies, be thankful for your beautiful automatic washers! LoL Here's a shot of Sharon's Vacation Bible School:

Not all of us can leave our home countries and go into missions, but all, ALL of us need to be praying for those that do go. What missionaries need most is prayer. Prayer for the ministry and the people they are reaching out to and working with, but also prayer for the missionaries themselves. Like us, they're subject to being run-down and overwhelmed spiritually, mentally, physically and emotionally. Pray specifically for them, not just a 'bless all the missionaries' prayer. If you don't know any missionaries and want to pray for some specifically email me! I know plenty that would love to have you praying for them! (peej4me at gmail dot com)

The midwife who attended four of my children's births has been in China working for a few years (she's in her 60s!) and it was a dream come true for her. She sent this to me on a bookmark:
I said,
“Jesus, I can't go to lands across the seas.”
He answered quickly,
“Yes you can—by traveling on your knees.”
He said,
“You pray, I'll meet the need.
You call, and I will hear.
It's up to you to be concerned for lost souls far and near.”
And so I did;
I knelt in prayer,
gave up some hours of ease,
and with the Savior by by side,
I traveled on my knees.

6 comments:

  1. Oh, sweetie. I can feel your passion and love for those people. Definitely praying, specifically, for missionaries.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oh, Peej, God knows your heart. If you can't go now, maybe it will happen later, or maybe one of your children will go. I hear your heart cry and understand.

    ReplyDelete
  3. You left me in tears!!!! Yesterday's sermon at church, and now this! Thank you for reminding me not only to pray, but to care.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Oh Pee, what a teary day it is. Thank you for sharing a bit of your past with us. Love the pictures. I hope you and Jim get to go there again sometime. Love you so much and I can't wait for Wednesday but so much to do before then! It will make the time go by really fast.

    Love you lots!

    ReplyDelete
  5. love the poem! I posted about this on my blog.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Awesome. I'm going to travel on my knees from now on.

    ReplyDelete

Thanks so much for stopping by! I love hearing from you.

Blog Widget by LinkWithin

  © Blogger template Simple n' Sweet by Ourblogtemplates.com 2009. Design expanded and personalized by PattyWysong.com 2011.

Back to TOP