So, the Larson's have been on my mind constantly. I would pay any dollar amount to have them close by...to be able to just pop over their house for dinner. After that trip it is hard to feel like they are not my family. Though it is a very special and personal email, I thought I would share my parting words with the Larsons. Saying goodbye in the airport was tearful. You truly feel like you are saying goodbye to family. Of course when I got to that moment I thought of all I wanted to tell them and how much I wanted to thank them but the tears simply restrained my mouth from speaking so from that moment on I silently drafted an email in my mind to say a simple "Thank You". Here is the email I sent the Larson's this morning with many tears in my eyes and many memories in my hear that are still looking for a mental box to call home.
Dear Larsons,
I truly can not express how amazingly grateful I am for the two of you, for your generosity...your hospitality...and for your amazing hearts that are so surrendered to the Lord.
You are truly a beautiful couple! His presence just showers over you and pours out onto those you choose to be around. I have been drafting this email probably since we boarded the plane leaving Mozambique..haha. There was so much I wanted to say as you both hugged us goodbye but the emotion was too great and I think I would have totally lost it. I stood there thinking, geez - why didn't I share my heart last night over dinner where I could have semi-composed myself.
I have not laughed that hard (as I did on this trip) or felt apart of a family besides my own in so very long. Thank you for embracing us and being such a support and encouragement! I am forever changed by your willingness to let us see your home and your new life in Mozambique. The simplicity of life in Africa is beautiful and I miss it already. Processing this trip for me comes in waves...I find myself in worship a lot where the Holy Spirit ministers to all the places that are still unprocessed in my heart from the trip. You feel so many emotions at once and in the moment all you want to do is love the little one in front of you so I found myself quickly searching for a mental box to place that emotion in until a later time. It is all so good.... I have cried a lot of tears and find myself asking some tough questions.
Marriage. We have just grown a ton in our marriage through this trip. There is such a commitment that we have to one another however the Lord is even growing that...
You know how we sometimes imagine how things will play out in our lives and I had a picture of how the Lord was going to use this trip to strengthen our marriage and then it didn't look anything like that. The Lord had an even better picture of how this trip was going to refine us individually and then as one flesh. I am so very thankful for a Godly man that I adore and will honor no matter where the Lord leads him and ultimately, us.
All in all, we still feel like we are juggling a few balls in the air - we know our desire is to hear His voice and to yield and obey completely. He has not spoken to us yet in specifics though we know He will. The blessing though is that when He speaks we have such unity that we know it will be a time of rejoicing :) To start...we are really looking for ways to be a blessing right here. We were just spending time with one of Corey's friends, Jeremiah and he was sharing with us that the most recent statistics show that 4 our of 10 children are going to bed hungry in CHESTER COUNTY!! It's things like this that stir us to just start in our backyard until God directs elsewhere.
One thing I LOVED about this experience is the lifestyle does not give you time to think of yourself. Its a life completely lived for others...
That is a tough lifestyle to live here in one of the richest countries where if there is not a problem we tend to create one...
I was humbled by the Lord's blessing on my life physically, emotionally, spiritually, etc...and I just wanted to give it all away to needy people who were also extremely joyful people :) In making these statements though, I am for sure on a journey of continuing this selfless lifestyle and I know the Lord will illuminate His creativity and I walk in this direction.
Will. He is such a great kid!! You guys are so blessed - The Lord haas such a special plan for his life and I will be praying that he says yes as the Lord meets him in his journeys of just growing up. I really enjoyed him!! I felt like we were brother and sister by the end of the week :)
Don. You are such an obedient child of the King. He is so very pleased with you and is able to trust you in ways He was not years ago...He sees your heart that is longing for His purpose and plan and you have been so faithful in being patient and in step with his timeline. I am SO excited about the starting of your company and just the blessing and testimony that will flow through it. Thank you for all of the amazing conversations and laughs :) At a later time we will have to discuss your pizza eating for breakfast..haha!
Terri. You are an AMAZING woman. You have such a quiet yet powerful strength that the Lord is using to empower and build up those around you. It is so obvious that you are a rock of truth, grace, protection, joy and compassion for those around you. They look to you and share such intimate details of their life because they trust your heart and the way it longs to honor the Lord always. I enjoyed our time together more than I can express. I think my favorite moments were in the kitchen just sharing life and laughing over silly things. Thank you for loving me even though you barley knew me. I know we will be friends for life and I blessed that I can pray so specifically for you because of the many places you showed me where you help on a daily basis.
Well, like I said - I wanted to share all of these words in the airport but the tears would have been never-ending.
I can not say thank you enough for embracing us, loving us and giving us a memory of a lifetime! We are forever blessed and forever grateful :)
We love you both so much!
love,
Charity
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