A Beautiful Symphony

As I reflect on the last three months, I compare the mission field to a beautiful symphony. God is the master Composer. Thankfully, our lives are not a bunch of random musical notes. But rather, they are an intricate mosaic of melodies, choruses and rests.

My schedule is made up of beautiful melodies.  The Lord has blessed me with new friends. I am enjoying getting to know them over coffee or a meal. The ladies with whom I meet are very gracious as I start to practice a little Albanian with them. Also, I have been volunteering as an English teacher two afternoons a week. It is both a privilege and a blessing to invest in children.

Today, as I was walking back to my apartment, a new student who I just met on Wednesday saw me and called out, “English teacher.” I turned around and we spoke for a few minutes. She asked if I will be at the school again. “Yes, I answered. Next Monday and Wednesday.” She smiled. This encouraged me greatly! It’s the little things! 

The Lord includes choruses in His mission field composition. We meet for evangelism three times a week. God is faithful every time to lead and guide us. The fields are white here in Shkodra. On Wednesday nights we enjoy a team meal, watch Sunday night’s church service from Baltimore. The chorus also includes a rich devotional from Pastor Hulett and prayer on Fridays. We repeat the chorus every week; this is vital for team life and the church plant. The tempo of the melody has increased! We have acquired a building and hope to start meeting for church services and Bible college next month! 

The Lord, the wonderful Composer of our lives, includes rests in His composition. The rests  are days when He calls me to stop. My beloved speaks and says to me, “Arise, my love, my fair one, And come away.” (Song of Solomon 2:10) Sometimes, in our flesh, we want to resist coming away. But God, the perfect Composer, the Lover of my soul, knows what I need. So, in humble surrender, I say, “Not my will, but Yours.”

 

Before moving to Albania, I often was “on the go.” I didn’t spend a lot of time at home. Now, I am enjoying more time alone with my Beloved. Song of Solomon 2:3, says “…In his shade I took great delight and sat down, And his fruit was sweet and delicious to my palate.”

If God is calling you to a time of rest, rejoice! Taste and see that the Lord is good!