Mollie F

Saying Goodbye
I am writing this as I sit at the airport. I am in the “in-between, " transitioning from one way of life to another. Transitions can be hard, but God promises to meet us in them. 

The Bible tells us there is a time for everything: For everything, there is a season (Ecclesiastes 3:1). Nothing happens by accident, and everything is ordained. Like the changing leaves of autumn, I am now ending one season and entering another. For the first time, I am allowing myself to take in all the changing colors. I am allowing the tides to change because I know the one in control never changes. He is always there and is always consistent. His promise is unmovable.

I may not see the path completely, but I am being made complete by the one who sees my path. Maybe it’s not about the path. Maybe, it’s getting to know the one who makes it. As I flew back, I saw the stars outside the plane window. I think of how God promised Abraham and he completed it. He will keep his promises.

I enter this next season in a spirit of waiting and trusting and willingness.
 

Ministry
In the past few weeks, we were wrapping up our ministry. We had our final conference which consisted of childcare and teaching. We had three children who spoke mainly Dutch. The girls and I would use Google Translate to say funny sentences to each other. They tried to get me to speak Dutch and giggle when I misspoke. I would laugh too. It was a sweet time of fun with these girls.

For Thanksgiving, we visited and ate with some of the families we were serving. We had a turkey bowling contest in which I came in third. It was fun to just play with the children and laugh with the parents we were serving. Unfortunately, I came down with the flu on Thanksgiving and was in bed for three days. I made a full recovery in a short amount of time. 

My team and I helped a local home-school co-op put on a Christmas party. We helped make ornaments for students to paint and decorate. We had a lot of fun hosting.

I went with a family to an outreach to a Thai village. It was so fun to see a small group of believers put on an outreach for their village. We played with one of the small girls there despite not speaking the same language. 

In my last weeks, I connected with several of the missionary families to say goodbye. I helped with homeschooling and even attended a birthday party. There are many families I am carrying in my heart with me moving forward. 

Prayer
-          Praise God for an opportunity to return next year
-          Pray for financial needs to be met
-          To find a job that meets my new values and provides
-          Pray for a missionary family to find care and support for their child
-          Pray that the Shan (shawn) people will come to know the Lord
-          Pray for the Karen (kah-RIN) people to become a sending group.
-          Pray for me as I re-enter my passport culture and encounter reverse culture shock
-          Pray that I integrate what I learn in my next steps