This past Sunday morning found me struggling to hold back tears during our praise and worship service as I was thinking fondly of our new Life family of churches and pastoral team and friends back in Accra, Ghana. My heart over the years in my life has become a magnet of sorts, keeping dear friends and kindred spirits close in thought and in prayer. Once that kind of close-knit connection has been made it remains permanent as I replay memories over and over in my mind so as not to forget. 
The first half of 2008 seemed to fly by as we were still living in Ghana. Our focus was on the completion of the 4000+ square foot multi-purpose church building and on the continuation of the pastoral training we were providing. In April/May we provided medical outreach with a U.S. team that came from our home church...over 4000 people were seen and a great impact was left in the community and also in the lives of the U.S. team members who came to bless Ghana and us. 
By May we finished the building and had a magnificent and colorful celebration service with our Senior pastors (also my parents) from our home church in Richmond, VA. What a sight to see! The church was full, about 500 people filed in and participated in the dancing and commemoration of our first New Life Global Outreach Church Building! Then, all too quickly we had to prepare to come back home to the U.S. Just like that...keep in mind we were there with our two teen girls and one of our dear friends and co-workers from our home church in Richmond VA. We had to pack it all up, our short life there of one year, our belongings, few as they were but nevertheless accumulate over time. What we could not send home in suitcases through the medical team and through other friends and family members that visited us in April and May, we just gave away or sold. What an operation! Our going away service in Ghana was full of so much emotion and tears, we felt so humbled and honored, it is a moment I will never forget. The day finally came that we had to leave our rental house and say goodbye to our dear housekeeping staff. As we made our way a few miles down the road with our belongings, packed in tight like the Beverly Hillbillies, I turned and looked at our now lonely rental house for what seemed like the last time. We were then welcomed by missionary friends who let us stay at their place overnight until it was time to leave for the airport and catch our flight back home. I remember straining to take in all the sights and sounds; the bumpy pot-hole ridden roads with clouds of orange dust rolling alongside the jeep. The mango sellers on the street corners with hundreds of people on foot going to and fro; noisy tro-tros with it's passengers and cargo packed tight like sardines. I did not want to forget what I was feeling at that very moment when we left. Of course we were coming back to visit at some point in the future, but it would be different.
The next morning, while still dark, our faithful driver, Isaac and another missionary friend, Larry, drove us to the airport and we quickly unloaded the vehicles, no time for long goodbyes, the police were nearby and on guard to ensure unloading would go by swiftly and smoothly. We found that we arrived a bit too early, but it all worked out, God had the right people in the right places for us and our bags were waved on through as we were "missionaries" going home. I even cringe at the use of that word "missionary" when I think of the many other veteran missionaries who have lived there for decades; their children born and raised there, those who've truly stuck it out and have faced many challenges. We... "missionaries" there for one year...could we have done more in that one year? did we make that one year count?
Yes we certainly had our tough times while there,and there are certainly other things I do not miss about living there but nevertheless it was part of our life. I miss the work, the ministry, the people we served alongside. The dear friends in Christ we made. By mid-June we were home, after a 6+ hour delay in Morocco and an overnight stay in New York, we were home...almost.
We hit the ground running as they say. Which seems to be our style; not by choice. We stayed in my parent's home for sometime until we could get back into our house which we leased for the year to tenants. The following week after arriving we hopped in the saddle and attended that week's church ministry staff meeting! It's been busy since then. Enrolling our daughters at their old school, attending orientations, unpacking boxes, and diving back in to our previous roles at the church. It almost seems surreal sometimes. There was the usual "How was Africa?" question presented by many to each of us at one time or another to which I would begin my eager reply only to realize that some just wanted a polite brief answer in a nutshell. After experiencing that a couple of times I finally came up with a simple response and would return the question with, "What do you want to know?".
Sometimes I walk around carrying all of these memories and emotions inside me and think do people realize what we experienced, what we went through...our adjustment coming back? The demands of working in the church again are great and the echoes of those demands remained in our ears throughout the year we were in Africa and continue now. It is a part of the life that anyone lives when working in ministry. Of course I am glad to be back. My heart will always long for the unusual. I pray that I don't fall into the pitfalls which can keep me from making my life count for the Kingdom of Heaven.
One thing I have learned is that anyone can easily get side-tracked from making their life count, from reaching out and making a difference in the life of others whether you are in your homeland or abroad. As tears were falling in my lap yesterday morning, during our church service, the Lord gave me a scripture that really spoke volumes to my heart and brought much comfort to me at that moment. My father was beginning his sermon from the book of Philippians. I came across Philippians 1:10-11 "And until that day, Jesus Christ will keep you busy doing good deeds that bring glory and praise to God." I know that no matter where I live my purpose is to worship the most high God, to serve Him by serving His people; making an impact in the Kingdom of Heaven with the talents and gifts He's given me. I encourage you to make your life count in 2009, keep busy doing good deeds that bring glory and praise to God! (To be continued...)
