02.13.07

Taking Care of Each Other

Posted in church, home service, travel at 12:01 pm

Going into our first home assignment, I have to admit that I was nervous. There are lots of people to see and churches to report to. Having never done any of that, it was all a bit nebulous and unknown to me. It seemed odd to me that churches would want to cancel their normal services to hear me speak. I really am about the most normal person.

But my opinion changed slightly on Sunday when I spoke to Iron Gates Christian Church in Joplin, Missouri. I was the youth minister of this church for 6 years before moving to Italy. Now they support our work in Ancona. It’s a small church, but the welcome that we received far outweighed their numbers. There was a large basket of medicines and other things that we can’t get in Italy right by the front door. There were lots of hugs and handshakes. One dear couple handed me a check for $1,000 before I had even said hello to them. Another woman was so excited to share a tithe of her recent bonus check. After church, they threw a wonderful potluck dinner. They also had bought birthday presents for the kids for the birthdays that they had missed while we were in Ancona.

They just took care of us. They loved on us, and thanked us for working so far from home. They told us (some in words, others by listening so intently) that they were behind us.

I still get a little uncomfortable by all the attention. But it’s nice to know that the people that love and know you the best are behind you and want to take care of you.

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