Going Away...

Leaving friends and family is a hard thing. Leaving friends and family and a church you really love is even harder.

Even when you're as excited about where you're going (and what you'll be doing) as we are!

After a few weeks of "last things"...classes to attend, finals to mark, work projects to finish, churches to speak at, bags to pack, and loved ones to say goodbye to...we've accumulated our fair share of (really thoughtful!) going-away cards, notes, and mementos.

With that being said...we'd like to share one of our very favorites from among those cards with you.

It's from a dear friend at OKC First Church of the Nazarene, one we didn't know well before moving back to the States in August, and one we'll miss very much while we're away. And it's certainly among the most inspiring, most encouraging things we've read while we've been on this missionary journey.

"Aaron and Brittany:
It has been a crazy blessing to grow in friendship with you two over the last several months. I love your passion, boldness, and fierceness with which you do love. I know there's apprehension and sadness in your good-bye, but rest because you know God's hand is in it all.

"The joy in your return and all the work and love that is to be done here with us will be all the more sweeter after this good-bye. So go, and be all there, and enjoy all the shenanigans God has waiting for you.

"This will continue to be my prayer/blessing for you, so claim it, live it, whatever. :)

"May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you
wherever he may send you;
May he guide you through the wilderness,
protect you through the storm;
May he bring you home rejoicing of the wonders he has shown you;
May he bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors."

So as we look back with fondness and ahead with anticipation...
this is our prayer, too. :)

Amen!