Only 3 short weeks left and then we move

Today we had a visitor from Mongolia.  He shared with us many things which we can expect when we get there.  I must admit my heart sank a little as he talked of the many difficulties and things which we might face while looking at the pictures of the starkness and bleakness of winter.  Leaving behind good friends and family, sunny beautiful California and moving to such a cold bleak place with its many problems felt very overwhelming.  The thoughts, "why are we doing this?" came creeping up in to my heart.  He said some things which made me shudder.  He told us about the spiritual darkness, the hardness of the life which takes its tole on the people, and the reality of couples divorcing - these are Christian couples!  The work is hard, the stress is great, and there is need for much prayer for victory and success in God's work there in Mongolia.

Suddenly I felt 3 feet tall and very unprepared for what we will face.  I can truly relate to the children of Israel when they said, "there are giants in the land!"  That was one man's perspective.  The others said, "the land flows with milk and honey."  But Caleb said, "Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it."

I've been thinking alot about that word, "possession."  The Lord wanted the children of Israel to "possess" the land.  To own it.  To live on and in it.  In the spiritual sense He wants us to"possess" the kingdom of God within.  It is a good word to consider what Caleb said...."Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it."  With God we can do all things. 

This move is to me like what the children of Israel faced - a new land which has to be possessed.  However, the GREAT thing is that God goes with us and fights for us.  We are not alone - this is not a battle of flesh and blood but of His Great Spirit and life and it will mean an enlarging, a time of growth, a time to prove His faithfulness and power.  So we are cast on Him and rely on His steadfastness.

Your prayers are greatly appreciated!!!

Transition

Living in between can be challenging!  Not quite out and not quite in ... so we are in between!  We haven't left California yet but are moving steadily in that direction.  Boxes are being packed, our house is now rented but we are still here!  New leadership in the church yet still an active role in the church.  I am thankful that God does things slowly.  Can you imagine if we were to enter change immediately?  No time to adjust to the idea, nor time to prepare physically and spiritually but to just enter into change?  God leads us with grace.  He is not a task master but a loving God.  He knows our frame and does what is best for us.

We probably have 3-4 weeks left in California.  They will be busy weeks packing, cleaning, seeing friends, etc. I hope that they will not be too stressful because living in Mongolia will be stressful, I think!  At least at first.  But the good thing is that God enables.  If He gives us a task to do, He first enables us to do it.  "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." 

Someone in our church said recently, "God is-and all is well."  That's a good thought to dwell on.  The good thing about transition IS change.  We all need it.  Change brings newness, challenge, deeper dependence on God, growing in faith and proving His faithfulness.  The underlying peace of moving in His will is the anchor and bedrock of our stability in God when change is afoot. 

So, though we are in transition, we are at peace.  Though we are very busy, we are at rest.  We are at rest in Him.  I am glad that He is an anchor for our souls - not a run to Him and feel safe kind of thing, but a continual knowing that we are in His will and He is going before us.  "God is - and all is well."  Praise God!

Changes

Changes are the order of the day for the Porowski household.  We finally got our contracts for Mongolia and the letter of invitation has been sent to the Mongolian Embassy in LA.  They say we've got about 4 weeks to wait.  Then we buy our tickets, Richard gives his 2 weeks notice, and we are off!  It is exciting and scary all at the same time.  Yet, we both feel God is in this and so we move forward. 

We've rented our house out to a lovely couple from Alabama who will join the church and use the house as it has been used for the church and hospitality.  They've already moved here and are now part of the Porowski household.  Laura and Jonthan and little Caleb (1 year) arrived last Friday and Jonathan started his new job on Monday.  Its amazing how things have developed and we are so blessed to have such a lovely couple here.

Changes....a new country in which to live, a new language, new culture, a new job....how much more can one change?  This will be a challenge to the highest degree for us.  Even the weather is extreme!  We value all prayers!

A word which has blessed me incredibly which was spoken at our church recently is taken from Matt 22:  "Be of good cheer, It is I; be not afraid.  What a comfort and joy to hear such a word as this as we set forth on a year full of changes!

Home Sweet Home

I love being home and not working!  I absolutely love being home and not working!  It is such a relief after 3 1/2 years of dragging myself out of bed, going to a place and sorting out everybody else's mess and then coming home and haphazardly cleaning up my own!  I feel fresher, more alive, more restful and at ease and I enjoy life more.  No more do I feel chained to a clock and a schedule.  No more do I see the many things needed doing around home and think, "oh well, someday!"  Now I can tackle it with gusto!  It feels good.  I don't know for how long I will have this luxury but you can bet I am going to enjoy it to the max!

No Fanfare Just Good-Bye

Wednesday was my last day at work.  After 3 1/2 years at the same company I gave my notice and quietly slipped away into the sunset.  No fanfare - just goodbye!  It's amazing how you spend many hours in the workplace and have hardly touched lives!  It was just "work" after all.  I did by best, gave my all, with nothing much to show for it except an excellent reference and a hearty, "thanks for all your work," and "you've got a job anytime you want!"   What was the overall impression that I have made or left there?  That I was a good worker?  That I cared for the people?  Certainly that, but not much more.  They weren't interested in me as a person and they hardly asked any questions about my life or love for the Lord, though they certainly knew about that.  This bears reflection.  I think that in the end, its not about what a great job you do, but what kind of an impact have you made on others lives.  The statement, "you reap what you sow," comes to mind.  How much did I pray for my colleagues?  How much did I really bring them before the Throne?  What was my goal in working?  Was it just to make money?  Did I have an effect on the people around me.  Yes, I think I did have an effect, but not nearly enough and not for eternity.  That is sad and bears reflecting upon.

We must remember that as Christians we give account for our lives.  What will the Lord ask me about my 3 1/2 years at Barnhart, Inc?  Everything we do must be for the Kingdom of God, not our own little kingdom.  What is our purpose on this earth?  God help me and all of us to be consistent in serving Him throughout all of our days here.  In the end we will want to hear that good word from the Lord, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant."