Something we learned quickly in Nicaragua was the saying “hurry up to wait.” There was this time, known as Latin time. You know, something starts at 11, but in Latin time that might mean 11:30ish. Quite often we would hurry to be ready at 11 and wait until 11:30 to leave for our ministry. Pura Vida time, no worries. The fun part was when we would be ready, waiting, having conversations, and boom we are running to the truck to jump in because it was leaving. Yes about 20 or more of us Gringos and locals jumping in the back of a truck. And holding on for dear life to not fall out. Fun times!
Monday the 16th of March is when we were woken up and told to pack to catch a 10am flight out of Peru. So many movements, too many emotions, still some unknowns, hurrying to wait.
We fly to the DR where we grab our stuff and wait to figure out a hotel for the night.
Hurrying to wait.
We stay in a hotel, fly out the next day to Atlanta where we stay at another hotel. Back on U.S. soil.
Hurrying to wait.
Everyone flies out on Wednesday, except me. I flew out on Friday. I pondered in those two days what waiting will look like.
B Squad along with 500+ missionaries were brought back State side, we hurried back to wait.
I don’t know what this phase of waiting looks like. America is such a fast pace moving country that sometimes resting and waiting is associated with weakness or not being productive. But when we take time to rest in the Lord the Revelations that he chooses to show us are astounding.
The world is upset because no one is working. We aren’t making money. We aren’t producing product. We aren’t teaching. We aren’t able to pay bills. Our kids are stuck at home. We were taken off the mission field. We are stuck at home.
But are we really stuck? What if we are supposed to be home? What if ministry actually starts in the home? What if we are to teach ourselves and our children true dependency on the Lord? What if we abide by the 10 person rule and have true, deep, intimacy with our neighbors and invite vulnerability. What if we actually seek the Lord and his Kingdom first?
Side note: I am not throwing out the virus, or discounting that it is actually happening. Take precautions and all the steps to stop the spread as much as we can!
However I am saying obedience to the Heavenly Father is so real in this moment, nation wide!
We have closed borders, restaurants shut down, stocking up on groceries, hurried back to our homes to wait.
The world has hurried to wait.
As I type all of this it is hard because I’m still in the category of being upset for being taken off the field. And I do not understand why. I still do not get it Lord.
But I have hurried to wait, and I am waiting on the Lord. Day by day with all I have. Even when my strength is weak and my open arms want to give out, I still stand waiting and praying that he will reveal His plans soon. And if he doesn’t then I still stand arms open wide waiting.
I hurry and wait for Jesus.
Who do you wait for?
Wow, Erica…thank you for your faithful perspective and for choosing to keep your arms and heart open to Jesus always. He is glorified through you and knows the depths of pain you are experiencing as you grieve the end of one journey to embrace another. Keep holding His hand!
This is so like God. Lift us up. Turn us around. All the while we appear to whirling in the dark. There are so many seasons in our lives and presently we find ourselves in a season that no one expected. God’s hand is on you Erica. Be strong in the Lord. This is all part of your testimony. I love you!
Very well, put sweet friend. We don’t understand all of God’s plans, but we know that they are good <3. And patience is a hard road!