Peace Out

Hindsight is one of the greatest gifts for recognizing God's faithfulness in your life. As I sit in my office overlooking the BG playground on this sunny May afternoon in Lesotho I can't help but be amazed at how intricately involved God has been in every step of bringing me to this place. He gave me to parents who know the importance of following Christ and were intentional about raising me up in the faith and encouraging me to be involved in the church. He brought us to a church where I would befriend other young people who would later share their positive experiences at a place called Calvin College and encourage me to visit. At Calvin God led me to an exploratory ministry internship that brought me to a church in Redlands, California. There, He brought Beautiful Gate to my attention. From there He led others to get me in contact with Christina Terpstra, BG's North American Ambassador, and at the end of our short meeting I was committing to spending a year in Lesotho. During my time at Beautiful Gate during that first year God provided the opportunity to take the reins of the North American Ambassador role from Terp. And here I am.

I'm reflecting on each of these chapters of my life now because this week a new one will begin to unfold. Last Wednesday I said goodbye to Terp as she finished out her time here on the ground in Lesotho as Beautiful Gate's North American Ambassador. She and I will still travel together and advocate for BG later this year, but until July I am flying solo for the first time in the team leading aspect of this job. God has made it so clear that this is the role He wants me in. Every chapter of my life has led to this one. Because of that I have full confidence that He will equip and prepare me to do this job with excellence and for His glory. But I also have confidence because He spent the last 5 months preparing me via an incredible teacher/trainer/mentor/predecessor/friend/etc.

Terp, this post goes out to you. It's my opportunity to thank you and recognize you in front of all those who are loving and supporting me in this role. It's my way of shining a light on the incredible impact you've had on Beautiful Gate's legacy and on the lives of each and every child we've had in our care while you were here. I know you don't want this kind of recognition, and I don't say it to boost your pride or to convince others you're a superhero. I say it because in and of yourself you didn't do anything. I say it because you allowed God to use you, to work in and through you, for His glory. I say it because your presence reflected Jesus to every child, staff member, and volunteer at Beautiful Gate. I say it not to make your name great, but to make God's name great! Your journey with BG is a testament to all of us of what God can accomplish if we are humbled before Him, willing and ready to follow wherever He leads. Thank you for setting such a wonderful example for me as I move into this position. Thank you for your leadership, training, and all you did to prepare me to do this job. Thank you for your friendship and the constant love, support, and encouragement that comes with knowing you. Thank you.

Terp, your fingerprint will forever be on Beautiful Gate. The joy and laughter your brought will never be forgotten. I'm so grateful to God for providing you to help make me ready to fill in your shoes, to grab the baton, and to continue growing the ministry and community God used you to start building.

Molimo a o hlohonolofatse, makhotsioaka!

                                            

Reality to the Fullest

Yesterday our campus chaplain expressed a truth that we were all feeling, but unable to put into words. He said, "Today we experience the reality of this place [Beautiful Gate] in its fullness."

Last week I was on a holiday with a few other missionary families. It was a wonderful time to just get away for a while, relax, unwind, and be re-energized before my last teams of 2016 come in June. About halfway through the week, though, I received a message that was both unexpected and undesired.

"A child died this morning."

I didn't know what to think. I didn't know how to feel. I was seven hours away from Beautiful Gate, so I felt so removed from the situation. It was the first death of a child I had experienced since coming to BG at the end of 2014. As a BG community we hadn't had a child pass away since 2013. Obviously we all know that death is a reality wherever you are. And I knew it was always a possibility at BG considering part of the campus tour I've given countless times includes a stop at our memorial wall to commemorate and honor the 41 children that have passed away in our care. It was still  a shock, though, and, honestly, is something many of us are still processing through.

Yesterday we buried our beautiful child's body. As I woke up in the morning I again didn't know what to feel or expect. The child was just a baby. She wasn't with us very long at all. I hadn't had the opportunity to spend time with her or get to know her. When the time came a group of us walked to the road that leads to the cemetery. There we waited for the funeral services to bring the body. As the truck turned the corner the housemothers and other staff immediately began to sing. It was a balm for my struggling heart and soul. It wasn't a soft, quiet mournful singing. They sang traditional Sesotho hymns and they sang them loud. It was a combination of one of the most beautiful and saddest things I've ever heard. As we reached the grave that our maintenance men had spend the morning digging we all gathered around and a few men retrieved the casket from the back of the truck. That was when the first big lump formed in my throat and a bit of reality set in. I have never seen a casket that small. It was almost alarming how small it was. Once the singing ended the speeches began. Our campus nurse, housemothers, local community members, the district chief, and our chaplain all spoke words of truth and encouragement. The service was peppered with more singing and plenty of tears. After the speeches the casket was lowered into the grave. The women all received flowers that they placed in the grave as they took a moment to walk past and say goodbye. Then the men helped to fill the grave with the fresh earth. And then it was over. It was a beautiful service.

As I sat contemplating and praying through the events of the morning the Lord encouraged me with an image. We often talk about God as the author of our lives. He's the greatest storyteller there will ever be. As I imagined God writing the stories of our lives, I couldn't help but think that our lives on this earth are only the prologue of a much greater story. The life we know this side of heaven is only the pre-story. It's the set up for what's to come. We say so many times, especially at times like this, that death isn't the end. It's only the beginning in many ways. As I reflected further on the funeral we did that morning I realized that death was merely the turning of a page in our precious child's story. She no longer experiences the difficulties, pain, or suffering that comes in the prologue. She's now experiencing the fullness of Christ's love in the fuller, truer, perfect narrative He has for her. Hallelujah!

And despite the pain, the grief, and mourning we experience here in the wake of our baby's passing, God remains faithful. And He proved it in the most beautiful way yesterday. The very day we experienced the worst part of Beautiful Gate, God blessed us with the ability to witness the best part as well. Hardly an hour after the funeral finished an adoptive family arrived to meet their new daughter for the first time and take her to be a part of their forever family. It was a gentle reminder that He is in control. He knows what we need even before we do. And He is a good, good Father who loves His children with an unconditional, unwavering, unending love. Praise be to Him who who provides for those we commit into the arms of loving parents as well as those we commit into His own loving arms.