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Merry
Christmas from Oklahoma!
It's
still a bit strange for me (Justin)
to start off a Christmas letter (or
any other letter for that matter) with
“from Oklahoma.” Never would the thought have crossed my mind
that the Lord would one day lead me/us back here. But as wise
Solomon once wrote, in
his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps
(Proverbs 16:9). And the Lord has indeed been determining our steps,
especially as we look back on our last year.
As
we drove home from work (yes,
work)
this evening, we laughed at the course our life has taken in one
calendar year. Last year we were missionaries, soaking up our final
rays of the Maui sun as our six month sabbatical from the European
mission field drew to a close. Today we are public high school
teachers in rural middle America, grading papers in our free time and
dodging deer on the road as we drive home to help take care of Erin's
grandmother.
We
have learned this year that when God is ready to make a move, He
makes a move. Within one year we have completed our teaching
certificates in Oklahoma (not
to mention avoided a tornado the day we were originally scheduled to
take our 8 hour exam).
We prepared a church we planted and pastored for our departure (they
were so gracious and patient as we played “red light, green light”
with the Lord and His timing).
We got rid of most of our belongings in Europe and shipped the rest
back home (the
rural postal carrier in our area was a bit curious to receive our
mountain bikes in boxes...she called me to pick them up since they
would not fit in her mailman jeep).
We said goodbye to Erin's grandfather at his bedside and graveside,
and said hello to grandma as our new roommate (and
a dog named Casey and longhorn cows who are our new neighbors on the
180 acres where we live in Macomb, population 34...oops...36). We
were offered jobs at the same school (I
am still amused at the fact that neither of us applied to teach there
… until after the principal offered us jobs). We
handed the church over to Slovenian disciples that we had the
privilege of leading to Christ and discipling (it
was actually much easier to let go that I anticipated it would be
after 14 years). We
began our crazy schedule of working non-stop as first year teachers
(so
glad we work together … if not we would never have seen each other
the first semester). We
passed lots of time in the car during our hour-long commute to work
each way (ironic
that in Europe we lived and worked in a ¼ mile radius … now we
don't even have any neighbors living in that same radius).
Although
the details and logistics of our life have changed dramatically in
one year, our purpose has not. We know that God has brought us here
to be lights to those who need Him and serve those who know Him. We
have plenty of opportunities to shine as lights in the school where
He has placed us. In the midst of grading papers, correcting grammar
(Erin
teaches Freshman English, I teach Journalism and Yearbook in addition
to Personal Finance & Computer Science), calling
parents, and maintaining order (and
sanity)
in the classroom, we see daily the huge needs our students (and
colleagues) have
in their personal lives and, even more importantly, spiritually.
Though we have stepped out of full-time ministry for a time, our
ministry is still indeed full-time. Please pray for us that He would
fulfill our purpose where He has us in this season.
We
hope you find time this Christmas to stop, rest and reflect on all
the Lord has done in your year. And may you find joy in discovering
His new plans and directions He has for you in 2013. May you grow
in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To
Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen. 2 Peter 3:18.
Blessings,
Mr.
Gerry & Mrs. Gerry
(aka
Justin & Erin)
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