The mountains are calling and I must go

Have you ever had a sense of home? The overwhelming peace of knowing this is a safe and loving place. A place where you truly belong not because of what you do or what you look like but because you are loved for you no matter what.

I must admit I have only ever had that feeling in one place. Olkoroi, Kenya. My true home. The place my soul longs for almost daily.

That is until last Friday. As I stepped off the plane at BWI I felt it again. A sense of coming home, a familiar place. Driving away from the airport in the car of my dear host family, holding the sweetest puppy I couldn't help but smile. The familiar jokes, the laughter shared, the stories told was just what my heart needed.

Over and over this weekend, I was overwhelmed with love and greetings that started with, "welcome home."

One of the most encouraging things was a conversation I had with Ben Cachiaras the senior minister at Mountain Christian Church. All he simply said was, "We will always claim you here at Mountain. You are one of ours." Little did he know but that one sentence was the most encouraging, life providing sentence I have heard in years. It brought a profound sense of being part of an amazing family of believers who are praying for me and sending me out to do the work that God has called me to.

The weekend continued to provide that sense of family and home as throughout all the weekend services 15 of the Mountain grown missionaries were brought in front of our family and so many people came up and laid hands on us. Voices lifting prayers on our behalf left me in tears time and time again. The amount of love I felt through each service was tangible. As if I could reach out and touch it. What an amazing feeling.

This past weekend also provided an incredible opportunity to catch up with dear friends. There is just something about that spark of friendship being rekindled that leaves a lasting impression on my heart. I was encouraged my meals shared, lingering hugs and lasting memories.

My host family again brought me into the fold and loved me fiercely. Waking up each day knowing I just had to walk downstairs to be greeting with an amazing amount of love and a small amount of sarcasm filled my heart to overflowing. One of my favorite routines we had when I lived there was tea every night. Three cups would be set out on the counter, tea bag chosen and hot water poured. The three cups were brought into the living room, the TV turned on, and knitting projects were chosen. We would sit and spend most nights in each others company. To be able to do that again was indescribable. It was home.

To say that I was blessed this weekend would be an understatement. I stepped back on the plane to Missouri and found my was to my seat, I shed a few tears knowing I was leaving this home for the foreseeable future. How hard it was to lead but I left with such a renewed sense of being sent out by an amazing family made up of so many amazing people.

I am now more than ever ready to follow God's call to Thailand knowing that so many warriors stand with me ready to fight with me in prayer and love.

The Sunrise

The hint of sunlight toys with the vast expanse of the darkest night.

He slowly begins to expand the length of the earth. The night shudders.

The strong rays of light reach their long spindly fingers over the edge of the world, trying to touch the retreating night.

The night groans and hides in fear as the sun peeks his head for a look at what mystery the night holds.

As the sun stands tall and the night retreats into its dark cave, the sun begins to search for the night. Higher and higher he searches but night itself cannot be found. It remains in remnants of darkest shadows.