Accompaniment

One year ago we received an invitation to join a virtual discipleship training group. At that time we were living in Asia. Matt and I prayed about this opportunity and agreed to accept. Thus began a weekly zoom meeting with missionaries scattered across the globe. We relished these sacred appointments for deeper connection, intercessory prayer and incremental growth toward Our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Little did I know then, God was planting seeds of lasting friendship, revealing the power of accompaniment and building trust. Day after day, missionaries are devoted to pouring themselves out in service to others. Now, as Matt and I join member care staff, our role is to listen well, encourage and ask Jesus to pour His Life-giving Spirit into the missionary. 

This week I sat down at my desk in the FMC office and called a missionary wife and mom, the very same person who had invited Matt and I to join the virtual discipleship group last summer. 

Her family of five was preparing to start a new mission post in the Caribbean.  Before their anticipated departure in early August, they planned a month-long road trip around the Midwest to visit family and friends.
A couple weeks into their trip, her husband fell and broke his hip. Not until we were talking did this woman realize how traumatic the injury was, as she suddenly became the sole caregiver for her husband, who is immobilized, and their 3 children.
We prayed together and soon the Holy Spirit began to shine a light on the places of God's providence and care for her family in the midst of this trial. She shared how when the doctor reviewed the x-ray, he said the bone broke in only one place and estimated a 3 month recovery (other hip fractures could require up to a full year to heal). She shared how welcome they are to extend their stay with dear friends who had children the same age as their own.

She was able to see the graces and lean into God's providence for peace. Yes, they had to surrender their original plans, and yet, they were learning to trust God even more during this unexpected delay. She shared a gentle nudge the Holy Spirit gave her to return to one of her preferred ways to cultivate peace & wholeness: a Catholic counselor reported how God designed our bodies to heal ourselves and that a simple 45 minute walk can reset our bodies and minds when we are feeling stressed and off balance.

By the end of our conversation, both us felt renewed and uplifted. God had knit together our hearts as sisters in Christ, able to intercede for one another and glorify God for his faithfulness despite many challenges and uncertainties ahead. Thank God, His mercy is infinite and His Love never fails. 

"Have you come to the end of yourself,
Do you thirst for a drink from the well,
Jesus is calling.
O come to the altar
The Father's arms are open wide
Forgiveness was bought with the precious blood of Jesus Christ
Leave behind your regrets and mistakes,
Come today, there's no reason to wait,
Jesus is calling.
Bring your sorrows and trade them for joy
From the ashes new life is born,
Jesus is calling
Bear your cross as you wait for the crown
Tell the world of the treasure you've found."

- O Come to the Altar by Wade Joye, Christopher Brown, Mack Brock, Steven Furtick