I've been promising this thing for about a month. At first, I just didn't know how I was going to do it. Obviously, I can't really talk about the country; giving geographical details defeats the purpose of having a security policy, but not giving geographical details makes it difficult for me to tell a story. I can't explain the context, so the story makes little sense.
I decided to just do a picture post. But which pictures? I have about 800 from which to choose, and even if I could limit it, I have the problem of context again.
Then I thought about just not doing a post about South Asia at all. It eliminates the security problem entirely, and I can stop agonizing about how to do it. But that's not fair to you, because it really was a good trip, and I did see some incredible things.
Finally, as I was talking to my dear friend Beka, and we were discussing our respective failures to update our blogs, I was forced to acknowledge that my reticence was explained by a root problem.
I haven't come home, yet.
Physically, I've been home since the fifteenth of April. But mentally, emotionally, maybe even spiritually, I'm still standing on top of the guest house, looking out over the capital.
On every trip I take, I ask God to teach me something, to reveal Himself in a new way. Sometimes, I'm given a verse or a subject to study even before I leave. Often, there is a single moment of clarity, such as when I was in Sierra Leone back in 2008. God is always present wherever I am, but there is always one of those "Ah-ha!" moments when I suddenly realize my purpose for being on the trip.
I don't know what that is for South Asia.
It's painful to admit that. I have prayed about it, but I don't know what else to do except wait. And I hate waiting. I suppose that's my lesson this time around.
So, just the facts this time around. I went to South Asia with my boss so we could see the ministries there and gather stories to share throughout OMS. We saw a girls' school, micro-loan recipients, evangelism teams, churches, a baptism and discipleship training. We interviewed dozens of people, we took hundreds of pictures, and we did it all in about four days. Here's just a taste of what we saw.
I would appreciate your continued prayers for me. The past couple of months have been rough, and it's often been a matter of taking things one day (sometimes hour) at a time.
I would encourage you to head on over to Beka's blog. She writes good stuff.
And if she hasn't updated it, please point that out to her.
;D
