Beside Quiet Waters

“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul.” Psalm 23 1-3

Whirlwind . . .

A busy weekend included a grand, colorful, and jubilant graduation ceremony with several thousand people celebrating together and parties afterwards. It also included the last stages of packing and parting with stuff as we prepared to leave the place that had been our home for the academic year. And much of our busy weekend was spent saying good-bye to people who had become special to us over the course of the year. Two days of travelling for the last time over bumpy roads reminded us that Cameroon was going to keep on being Cameroon right through to the end of our stay. Our bags and shoes were doused with muddy water coming through the rusted floor of our taxi as we drove over mud holes in the road and the toilet in our guest house on the way out was not working. Stepping onto the Swiss plane in Douala, Cameroon was like stepping into another world. One day and two continents later, we greeted grandparents and relatives, ate Dairy Queen and Taco Bell, admired the well manicured lawns of suburbia, purchased a car, a couch and a computer, and went to an amusement park.

We face a multitude of choice wherever we go. Shopping for simple items and ordering at a fast food restaurant make for stressful moments as we relearn how to live in the United States. After ten months with nowhere to go and having to create our own excitement, we have a myriad of activities to choose from, from jumping on the trampoline at Grandma’s to the go-kart to fishing to shopping to …to…to……. Of course, some things take no thought at all. Hug that special person again? You bet – I have to make up for all the hugs I missed these last four years. Haircut and highlights? Absolutely, no matter the cost! Pedicure to remove the red dirt? Gotta schedule that!

Beside quiet waters . . .

In the midst of all the changes and choices, I could easily be overwhelmed. But I am reminded that He is leading me. As we walk through the doors He has opened for us, like moving back to Wisconsin, we realize that He is leading us to just the right spot for our family at this time. As we drove the six hours northwest from Chicago, we left suburbia behind and found ourselves in the north woods. The terrain and trees are familiar and pleasant, not much different from the northern country of Estonia – plenty of birch and pine. The stress of a year left me with each turn of the tires. The lakes, the sky, the trees refresh my soul. But even more refreshing is the assurance that God is leading the way. His rod nudges me to the right place for my soul. And he provides more than a place to be restored, he provides the people who welcome us with food and help unload our truck, people who set-up and clean as we settle in. He sends old friends and a few new ones to make sure more than our stuff is unpacked, but help us unpack our hearts as well with a few well-worded questions and a listening ear. He provides a home just three doors down from the church where we can use wifi and just across the street from the elementary school where our kids can play. He notices my fifteen year old by giving her a cousin who just decided to buy her a hair straightener and curling iron to replace the 220 V versions she had to leave behind. He cares for my twelve year old by giving her a bagful of clothes, just perfect for her, some with the tags still on – an expensive hoodie that suits her beautifully that I never could afford to give her. He pays attention to my ten year old when a family with several boys stops by to welcome us on our first day in Ogema and they end up staying and playing for several hours. He remembers our four year old by making sure someone donated her favorite kind of cereal for our food shower – it was waiting in our cupboard just for her. Amazing. Where God leads He always provides.

He restores my soul . . .

My soul needs restoration, to be put back into condition. A car might be restored so it can be driven and enjoyed again. A house or piece of furniture can be made “like new” to be lived in or used again. And in order to be most useful to God, my soul needs restoration from time to time. Coming back from this term of service we may be a bit “used up” in ways. Our souls have received a few nicks and bruises, a few scratches and scrapes. God has been molding and shaping us, giving us a unique set of experiences and character qualities. God knows and is making us ready for his next assignment for us. As we take our month of vacation, we’re not doing much, not travelling far, not going to too many places. As yet with no firm job offers, we could be anxious and worried, but it seems that God would have us relax and rest and allow our souls to be refreshed. And so we take each day for what it is – a chance to be renewed and ready to be used again. Where that might be, we are not yet sure. What he may have us do, he has not yet indicated. But we want to be in condition, to have spiritual vigor and health, that we may be ready for service when he shows us the next step forward.