Back in Boston

We just returned from our trip to Boston. Our amazing friends, Melissa and Stacey, gave us a car and shared their home with us to make it happen. I tried to soak up every moment of our friends, the city, Oasis church, Jack and Cavin playing and meeting Noah and good food. We had seafood at the Barking Crab, chocolate from Burdick's, cappuccino from Vittoria, Italian subs from Victor's, and chicken parm. from Helen's, Sharla's butterscotch pie, Josh had the Burren with TJ Odom & B.Jones and Sound Bites with Jed, a wonderful dinner prepared by the Hubb family and last but not least Danish Pastry House in all its glory. But best of all is our friends. Hanging out at the Joneses all day, tea with the girls, hearing about Shannon and Jed's newly married life, Heather's real job, catching up on Stacey's shows (we know all about the Smallville, Grey's Anatomy and Prison Break) and her life- the many capacities in which she is serving, Melissa's excitement for all the new things ahead, a quick but great visit with KC and Clint- they are hilarious to watch. Listening to the many Brentisms ("chillin' like a villain") and that great laugh he has. Seeing my neighbor- Lenore- and enjoying some good coffee and hearing about all the things they are considering after Boston. Lenore lives in the same complex we lived in so it was cool and weird to be in our old apartment complex and even park in the parking garage. I cried many times over little things like this- like driving through Harvard Square. There is just no place like Harvard Square- I love it all.

I had some great time with everyone. Sharla and I had some good heart to heart conversations that were much needed for me. It's just the greatest comfort to be around someone who knows you and loves you- taking the good with the bad. I cried watching Jack and Cavin play together because I can't help but think how great it would be to live life together and for them to grow up together. However, I prayed hard God would help me to see him in every step of our life right now- even our move to Louisville and of course He did because He is amazing and BIG. So, I left Boston renewed for our life in Louisville and confirmed that God is preparing us for something. I was reminded of all the wonderful and hard things about life and community in Boston. Nothing is easy and nothing is free. I say this because I need to remember that in Louisville- it doesn't just happen these amazing relationships we now have. God did it once we were open and teachable- all of us vulnerable. We come back renewed because once again (as before when we lived there) we have experienced the body of Christ- loving and serving. We all worked hard to establish these unbelievable, God-given relationships with our dear friends and even then it was and is God who brings us together. So I come back to Louisville ready to plow ahead for moving overseas if God wills, for serving in our community group, for loving our neighbors, for opening our home, for serving my family (Josh and the kids) and whatever else may come. Our family in Boston takes us just as we are- sick, fussy, tired, and chaotic at times. Josh got a stomach bug before we left and Melissa, Stacey and Clint got it. Somehow they still love us. Stacey even drove us to Providence despite her illness. You just couldn't ask for anything more! We love you Melissa, Stacey, Clint, KC, Heather, Sharla, Brent, Cavin, Noah, Shannon, Jed, T.J. and Dena, and Lenore and Miro. We miss you so come see us soon! We missed you Hunts and Latimers in Boston. Love you all and I am praying for God to do amazing things in Oasis and all the CCPC churches and in the Hubbs and with Miro and Lenore.

Passion 07

The past month and a half has been quite a celebration with Josh's parents coming to visit, Christmas, and then our trip to Passion in Atlanta. I had great expectations for Passion (as it was my first conference) and God far exceeded that. Seeing our Oasis family was even sweeter than I imagined it to be. I cried pretty intensely when I saw Shelley for the first time. I know- no surprise really. So Sharla get ready because there will be some big tears when I see you in 2 weeks. Shelley and I could've talked all day and I still didn't feel caught up. Then to see Doug, room with Stacey, go to sessions with Melissa, get to know T.J. and Dena, and then a little talk time with Heather was the biggest of blessings. This is all in addition to the conference and having some time with Josh away from our kids. I was simply overwhelmed by the comfort of seeing our church family. It really was like coming home even though we were in Atlanta.

Here are some highlights from the conference: Beth Moore spoke on humility, Francis Chan on lukewarm Christianity, John Piper on recovering from sexual failure (and other sins) based on Micah 7:8, and then Louie spoke on saying "Yes, Lord" to go wherever, whenever, and however. There were some huge moments for us like God confirming our desire to go overseas somehow, somewhere, and sometime. Also, I heard something so basic yet so good for me in this moment of my life. Francis Chan was sharing that God doesn't duplicate, he creates whether it be in worship, daily living, future plans- anything. I really needed to hear this because God did something awesome in our lives in Boston but we no longer live in Boston so I need to continue to put my trust in God doing something great here and something new (not duplicating friends or ministry). He is doing something new in calling us abroad, new in our studies, new in our relationships, new in our 2 children, new in our hearts- it is all new! As much as I think I want it to be the same as it was in Boston with our Sunday morning time and church and friendships and the city- I must trust that God has something new that is His will- better than anything I could try to make happen. Also God grew my heart for the nations, people groups. I needed to be reminded of the needs all over the world- for instance the people groups who don't have the Bible in their language. Heather Mercer, who was imprisoned in Afghanistan, told us that she had been sharing the same story for a while about her imprisonment and she realized God had another story for her to share. She now lives in Northern Iraq and has been a part of building a student union in the middle of a campus so that Christians can come and serve and students can come and learn English. That it would be a place for relationships to be built. So that is her new story that God is doing in her life. I just felt so overwhelmingly excited to trust in whatever new story God has for us. For now we are in Louisville in seminary but our first practical step is to start the application process with the IMB (International Missions) and just see what God does. Something new!

Meg