Where Partings are No More
There are so many joyful aspects of global missionary service. Admittedly too, there are a number of un-fun facets as well. Among those in the latter category is "partner development" (i.e., fund raising.) We are definitely in the thick of that necessity right now. Even so, money issues are a distant second to the number one grief: partings.
When preparing to come to Cameroon, I expected (with dread) saying goodbye to family and friends for a time. What I did not anticipate was the stream of goodbyes we would face while here! A seemingly never ending occurence in overseas missionary life is parting with those who have become dear friends, comrades united by a common Cause and urgent ministry and life together. There are so many reasons for the partings: temporary furloughs, permanent departures, returning to village work, reassignment, evacuation, medical problems, graduation, leaving Cameroonian friends too. Nothing is quite as difficult as the parting from family back home, but all these others--and the sheer magnitude of their number and frequency--is still overwhelming. Watching our kids also grapple with these partings adds an extra burden to our own struggles. We would be grateful for your prayers for our hearts and emotions amidst all this.
Thankfully, reunion with loved ones back home is a welcome salve for painful goodbyes, and we are joyfully anticipating this "heavenly" comfort (June 15!) Anticipation of this reunion has indeed struck me as a foreshadow of true heaven, eternal togetherness, forever with our Savior--along with every other dear one in Christ too. Below is how a spectacular old hymn describes it. I leave you with this as we leave Cameroon for a season:
Ten thousand times ten thousand in sparkling raiment bright,
The armies of the ransomed saints throng up the steeps of light;
’Tis finished, all is finished, their fight with death and sin;
Fling open wide the golden gates, and let the victors in.
What rush of alleluias fills all the earth and sky!
What ringing of a thousand harps bespeaks the triumph nigh!
O day, for which creation and all its tribes were made;
O joy, for all its former woes a thousandfold repaid!
O then what raptured greetings on Canaan’s happy shore;
What knitting severed friendships up, where partings are no more!
Then eyes with joy shall sparkle, that brimmed with tears of late;
Orphans no longer fatherless, nor widows desolate.
Bring near Thy great salvation, Thou Lamb for sinners slain;
Fill up the roll of Thine elect, then take Thy power, and reign;
Appear, Desire of nations, Thine exiles long for home;
Show in the heaven Thy promised sign; Thou Prince and Savior, come.
