Post by Laurentius on May 26, 2005 1:42:59 GMT -5
While for Christians December is the month to remember that our King was born in Bethlehem, to several others it is the month of idleness. The Lord blessed me with a second visit to my remote home back on Dec 03¡¦. But once I returned to Columbia, SC, I realized that not even the passing of February was able to keep my coworkers and me out of near-idleness. It seemed like a silent rumor was imparting the air a strange flavor: but the source of that sort of idleness strived to remain undecipherable while going in crescendo. Then, suddenly, an e-mail arrived to our inboxes. Meet me at the conference room. The simplicity of the message and the absence of the accustomed agenda made us wonder more. Finally, the suspense was over ¡Vthe notebooks we brought didn¡¦t help much with: there was no need to take any notes. But, the news pierced my heart as a thunder. However, my coworker jumped joyously besides me when we were heading back to the cubicles: we are getting to a better place! But I, even though exteriorizing agreement and sympathy for his happy mood wasn¡¦t feeling any better so couldn¡¦t help him too much with the idea. I needed to give this a second thought but it was a futile idea as I realized I was in a sort of a trap. Staying in town was neither a viable nor even a wise alternative. Therefore, I began to question myself on why in the world the plan had to change: better salary in the horizon once accepted for candidacy, the blessing my family church meant to me, a nice city to go trip around and a great circle of friends. At this point, Gerry and Jan had already moved out to Biloxi, MS, so picturing me giving up the status quo ¡Vwhich I thought was part of the plan already unveiled to me- brought a bittersweet feeling in the depths of my heart. While my coworker rushed to dial the phone and tell his people about it, I headed back home to privately narrate the issue to my family. They were as shocked as I was. Rationalizing is what some souls try to soothe the winds of despair and so did we. Then, the next friend of mine who got the breaking news was Jeff. He dropped his jaw ¡Vwell, this is just a figure of speech, eh!- when I had already digested the idea in a week or so: ¡§I am moving out to Texas next May¡¨.
What amazes me is that what I couldn¡¦t understand one year ago, I started to grasp more clearly within months and now I so thankful for the experience because moving out to Texas meant that I was able to stay with Gerry & Jan and see them again down the road. Jenny, my sister, came to help me packing & encouraging me ¡Vwith greater meals than the ones I used to cook! ƒº. I donated some stuff to an international student ministry (HIS) ¡Vwhere I used to participate generously every Wednesday & Thursday lunch - and to some friends. No one paid a penny on some couches I had to put the last minute on sale so I had no choice but to throw them away. Several friends organized farewell parties, invited us to picnic, to their homes, took us out to dinner, offered us a place to stay if ever visiting them again, promised to stay in touch, gave us a card, gifts, an encouraging and edifying book or just came up to say a kind word of encouragement. This line goes for you dear Sandhills & HIS saints: I will keep you forever in my heart!
Coming to Texas was an adventure I treasure in my heart. The green chariot made it in 18 hrs ¡Vstop included in Biloxi, MS- all the way down here just to realize ¡Vin a sense- that we gained an hour. The apartment though smaller looked similar to the one back in SC. Except for a few scars and bruises, the few things I brought with me came in good shape: beds & dinning table. Searching a sound bible-believing church was a task that needed prayer ¡Vso thanks those who pray for it- and wisdom from above. And God answered and I thankful for this new family church He has given me.
All of you who ever moved out know how costly a moving may turn out to be. But God provided for that time of need too. I missed some things I liked in SC ¡VI wasn¡¦t a fan of sweet tea but you can include that too- but I¡¦ve seen here several more others that compensate or slightly overweigh it. For instead, I¡¦d never heard of a place where you can eat big burritos ¡Vdespite their threat of reducing your vehicle to foil if they found you illegally parked- neither that I were to find a friend who gracefully gives away a free one once in a while to this writer! I had no words to thank each one of you for all what you¡¦d shown me during this time I got to know you: we¡¦d lifted our voices to our Father in prayer, we¡¦d sang with joy side to side, we¡¦d cook meals together, we¡¦d taken flat tires ¡Vand the car itself - back to the shop, we¡¦d spent hours crying out for revival, we¡¦d told each other our stories, we¡¦d edified and encouraged one another! Special words go for those who allowed me to share ¡Vand shared with me too- one, a few or lot of things the Lord had been doing in each one of our lives: either weekly, monthly or even once in a while: It¡¦s a privilege serving a Holy God!
At the end I want to thank you my family church -altogether obedient children of God by the power of the Holy Spirit- that ¡§our fellowship truly is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ¡¨. May this little annual recount of His faithfulness toward me ignite in you a desire to keep trusting Jesus and Him alone! ƒº. He has humbled me by shaping His plan for me into something surprisingly and pretty different. I do not know yet how the story goes on but ¡§forgetting truly what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal: to the supreme call of God in Christ Jesus¡¨ (Phil. 3:13b-14, RV60). And we all had been supremely called to win the prize: living forever with Jesus in Heaven! Alleluia!
In Christ Jesus forever,
Francisco
What amazes me is that what I couldn¡¦t understand one year ago, I started to grasp more clearly within months and now I so thankful for the experience because moving out to Texas meant that I was able to stay with Gerry & Jan and see them again down the road. Jenny, my sister, came to help me packing & encouraging me ¡Vwith greater meals than the ones I used to cook! ƒº. I donated some stuff to an international student ministry (HIS) ¡Vwhere I used to participate generously every Wednesday & Thursday lunch - and to some friends. No one paid a penny on some couches I had to put the last minute on sale so I had no choice but to throw them away. Several friends organized farewell parties, invited us to picnic, to their homes, took us out to dinner, offered us a place to stay if ever visiting them again, promised to stay in touch, gave us a card, gifts, an encouraging and edifying book or just came up to say a kind word of encouragement. This line goes for you dear Sandhills & HIS saints: I will keep you forever in my heart!
Coming to Texas was an adventure I treasure in my heart. The green chariot made it in 18 hrs ¡Vstop included in Biloxi, MS- all the way down here just to realize ¡Vin a sense- that we gained an hour. The apartment though smaller looked similar to the one back in SC. Except for a few scars and bruises, the few things I brought with me came in good shape: beds & dinning table. Searching a sound bible-believing church was a task that needed prayer ¡Vso thanks those who pray for it- and wisdom from above. And God answered and I thankful for this new family church He has given me.
All of you who ever moved out know how costly a moving may turn out to be. But God provided for that time of need too. I missed some things I liked in SC ¡VI wasn¡¦t a fan of sweet tea but you can include that too- but I¡¦ve seen here several more others that compensate or slightly overweigh it. For instead, I¡¦d never heard of a place where you can eat big burritos ¡Vdespite their threat of reducing your vehicle to foil if they found you illegally parked- neither that I were to find a friend who gracefully gives away a free one once in a while to this writer! I had no words to thank each one of you for all what you¡¦d shown me during this time I got to know you: we¡¦d lifted our voices to our Father in prayer, we¡¦d sang with joy side to side, we¡¦d cook meals together, we¡¦d taken flat tires ¡Vand the car itself - back to the shop, we¡¦d spent hours crying out for revival, we¡¦d told each other our stories, we¡¦d edified and encouraged one another! Special words go for those who allowed me to share ¡Vand shared with me too- one, a few or lot of things the Lord had been doing in each one of our lives: either weekly, monthly or even once in a while: It¡¦s a privilege serving a Holy God!
At the end I want to thank you my family church -altogether obedient children of God by the power of the Holy Spirit- that ¡§our fellowship truly is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ¡¨. May this little annual recount of His faithfulness toward me ignite in you a desire to keep trusting Jesus and Him alone! ƒº. He has humbled me by shaping His plan for me into something surprisingly and pretty different. I do not know yet how the story goes on but ¡§forgetting truly what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal: to the supreme call of God in Christ Jesus¡¨ (Phil. 3:13b-14, RV60). And we all had been supremely called to win the prize: living forever with Jesus in Heaven! Alleluia!
In Christ Jesus forever,
Francisco