Thursday, June 2, 2011

Letting go

I got a new phone the other day because my other one was dying, and it took a certain amount of effort to transfer the contacts between the two. But I actually received an unexpected blessing going through those contacts, in the form of memories.

My tendency to accumulate things extends even as far as my address book, and I looked at the list and decided it was time to prune...why was THAT person still in there? Surely I could do a little pruning in this area of life, at least.

But it wasn't so easy. My first year here was FULL of encounters with various interesting people. I was very prayerful about how I spent my time, and about each relationship. Perhaps it happens for many missionaries or any Christian servants, that they expect miracles at first and look at each day with such hope and anticipation...

No, I know it was hard. I didn't know Russian as well then, and everything was new and strange. But I sought the Lord, and He was with me.

And I look at the names of people whom I don't see much anymore, and I think...when did I stop praying for that person? Or seeking the counsel of that other one? The dear interpreters from camp; the former English students; an orphan or two who put me on their cell phones just for fun. What if I wanted to suddenly renew those relationships, and couldn't call because I erased their numbers? What if they wanted to call me, and I wasn't prepared to talk to them, not recognizing the number?

Maybe it's just another time now and there are different individuals I'm meant to serve, with a different focus. But I felt God's voice whispering to me not to give up. So I erased hardly anyone at all, and decided to leave the doors open to possibility.

3 comments:

  1. Hi Elizabeth, I stumbled across your blog quite a while back and followed it for some time, finding your musings about life in another country as a Christian missionary interesting.

    Well at some point I stopped, and just found the link the other day again - how lovely to see that God has led you into engagement! I was engaged this year and the wedding is coming up in July, so I know what a joyful and exciting time this is for you. :)

    So I just wanted to say congratulations and God's blessings on your upcoming marriage!

    A sister in Christ.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks, Stephanie! It has been quite a journey and God has always been with me even when I didn't know how everything was going to work out...even now.

    Congratulations to you as well!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I know one thing - it you'd erased anyone, that would soon be the ONE PERSON you'd REALLY need to contact! Somehow it always works that way for me.

    ReplyDelete

Just added word verification to reduce spam. Nothing personal!

You’re welcome to leave a link to your own blog here if it's relevant to this blog.

Please make sure that your comments are 1) relevant and 2) respectful (i.e. no cuss words, attacks on individuals).

Voices

 In the past month, it has been interesting to read the published thoughts of Russian friends as they've gotten their voice back upon es...