Just so you all know....

As much as I love this place and the people and our lives here...

I still miss America.

I miss wooden houses that creak when you walk through them.
I miss trees being everywhere and flowers blooming.
I miss grass and front yards and lightning bugs.
I miss Walmart and all it's conveniences.
I miss cheaper store-brand diapers and wipes.
I miss pork sausage.
I miss Chick-Fil-A and Jim-N-Nicks.

I miss singing in the choir and beautiful harmonies.
I miss church activities.
I miss having "people...," you know, those friends who are always around who really get you and make you laugh and cry and are really more like family.

I miss not being with my family when they are going through medical stuff.
I miss not being with my family when they are making life-changing moves.
I miss my kids having cousins and aunts and uncles around.
I miss my sisters.
I miss having free babysitters!

And on days - weeks - like this, that's when I must lean on the Lord even harder. I've been reading through the OT for the past year. And if there's anything that stands out to me, it's the Lord's faithfulness throughout the generations. When we cry out to Jesus, He is right there with us. He's never promised me that I'd be comfortable or even happy. But He promises that if I am obedient, He will always guide my steps and He will never leave me, nor forsake me.

And I know that if I was in AL, I'd miss this place.

I'd miss my local friends here.
I'd miss the cross-cultural opportunities that are enriching my life and my kids' lives everyday.
I'd miss living next door to a salon where I can get henna anytime I want.
I'd miss the wadis and living by the beach.
I'd miss Lucy's school and the opportunity for her to learn Arabic.
I'd miss dressing up for loud, all-night Arab weddings.
I'd miss Brad being around as much as he is.
I'd miss the 360+ days a year of sunshiny weather.

I'd miss out on what God is doing here among these people.

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you;  I appointed you a prophet to the nations.” Jeremiah 1:4

 34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work. 35 Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest. 36 Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together.37 For here the saying holds true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’ 38 I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.” John 4:34-37

And when I find myself being consumed with thoughts of what I'm "missing," I must remind myself to set my mind on the things of God....

23 But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.” 24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." Matthew 16:23-25

I'd rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.

Love ya'll. Pray for me this week, please.