Leaving Zimbabwe

"Seems that I'll never get through 'preparing' for the mission field. But I've been comforted this week thinking of our Lord's thirty silent years of readying Himself at home with His family and bending over a carpenter's bench. Were those days any less of a fragrance to God that His later work before the eyes of the people? I think not. A well-made piece of furniture and a healed blind man represent the same thing to the Father-a job well done; mission accomplished. So with us here. Nothing great, but what is that to Him with whom there is no great or small?" -Jim Elliot

I read this passage only this morning; it seemed so fitting as today is our last day in Zimbabwe. Looking back, it is incredible to see the work God has done, both in us personally and in the community here. Some things great, some seemingly insignificant, yet all belong to God and it is He who will see the work through. What an honor to be His vessels and witnesses here for this short season.

This week has passed in a flurry of goodbyes, packing, and preparations. The time has been exciting, crazy, and bittersweet as we say farewell to all of our new brothers and sisters here. I think one of the pinnacles of our experience was last Saturday when we held baptisms for all those who had committed their lives to Christ. We drove four car loads of our friends out to a river area, where we took turns baptizing and praying over them. It was an incredibly sweet experience for me, being my first time to baptize anyone and seeing the work of God in these people's lives.

Thank you all for your prayers and support these past months, you have played a tremendous role in our work here. God has been incredibly faithful and I know much is due to you. Please continue to pray for us as we prepare for the long drive back; three days through Botswana and South Africa. Also for our last weeks in CPx before returning home, that God will give us peace and clear direction as we look toward the future. He has given us many dreams and visions which I am excited to share with you in the next couple weeks! Our God is faithful.