Thank You

So I've been struggling lately with the big picture of why I'm here. It's hard to put in a year and a half and realize that the work has only just begun. The word pioneer sounds so fun and exciting and adventurous, but really it's a hard lonely job. It means little fruit, hard work, hurt, pain, and often doubting if your pebble that you move even makes a difference. In the midst of this confusion, and despair God's been speaking little bits of truth to me.

Today I started looking through a photo album of people who came here nearly 20 years ago. It's always fun to see the faces of those you know now w/brown hair instead of gray, without wrinkles, and full hair lines instead of receding ones. It's also neat to see people that talk about being here for years and coming when their kids were young; seeing the stories that you've heard about captured forever by the lens.

What struck me even more this time is all the names and faces I don't know. So many people who came before me who are gone now. They may have stayed a few months, years, or decades; but I have no idea what their names or faces are. Yet they were here. The fact that they are in this photo album shows that they left a mark.

They are gone now, but not forgotten.

Oh, I may not know their name or their story; but I know the shoes that they wore. I've tried them on for a bit and they hurt! But I've also gotten to feel some of their joy too.

Looking at these photos and seeing weddings, baptisms, and births; I can see the life they lived; but even more so, I can see today the legacy they left. There is a small but thriving community here today because of the work they did to pioneer this movement.

I don't know if any of them are aware of the difference they made here. If they are still following the narrow path, or if they're even alive. If they were around, I'd love to call and encourage them that they made a difference. Their work was not in vain. The seeds they planted I get to see harvested.

Or maybe they don't need to get a phone call from me. Perhaps just the viewing of their photos and the encouragement it brings me to continue on in the work, is enough for them. Maybe in their moments of discouragement they hoped that someday the seeds they sowed would grow. Not just seeds for new believers, but seeds of tears and toil to bring hope and encouragement to others.

So to the ones who've gone before, I say thank you.