[column width=”1/6″ title=”” title_type=”single” animation=”none” implicit=”true”]

[/column]

[column width=”2/3″ last=”true” title=”” title_type=”single” animation=”none” implicit=”true”]

Lauren is one of those people that everyone needs in their life: solid. Strong. Caring. Thoughtful. And she would one day like to meet Richard Simmons.

I was only there for two weeks, but the time was enough to make one of the biggest impacts on my life…

During this season of life I’m in the process of interviewing with different medical schools across Texas, trying to get a feel for which school is best for me. In fact, as I start typing this blog, I’m sitting in the El Paso International Airport staring out a window at mountains in the not too far distance. To me, the scene looks exactly like my first glimpse of Kyrgyzstan, where I was met with similar mountains peeking out of the horizon behind the Manas International Airport as I stepped off the airplane. I’ve been talking and thinking a lot about my time in Kyrgyzstan lately…One particular instance stands above all the rest in my memory.

Lesson #1: Beauty and Laughter are Universal

The church we were visiting honored us by hosting a picnic in the middle of a forest. When all had been prepared we ate, we laughed, we told stories, and we ate some more (incidentally, I don’t think I have ever been more full in my entire life than I was while in Kyrgyzstan). After everyone was finished eating the youth in the church led some of our team members on a walk through the forest. I have never seen such beauty as I did in that forest.

While in Kyrgyzstan, I learned that beauty and laughter are universal; even with an intense language barrier, the surrounding beauty of the land or a funny tone of voice translated perfectly and could be enjoyed by all.

The walk ended and our team was preparing to leave for the next city.

Lesson #2: We can Dis-empower Goodbye

Another lesson learned: how difficult goodbyes can be. I had known these students for less than 24 hours but I didn’t want to leave them. I hugged the last young woman in line, both of us with tears in our eyes. She told me something I will never forget as long as I live.

“Don’t worry,” she said, “We are sisters! We will see each other one day. Even if we never see each other on Earth, we will see each other in Heaven.”

It was a simple statement, yet so profound, a beautiful thought that I took for granted and had never taken time to dwell on. The statement had so much more meaning because it was the first time that I was meeting believers I probably never would see again on Earth.

Lesson #3: Eternity with Jesus

I was reminded of this story a few days ago. While catching up with a friend the conversation turned, and I mentioned that my sister had recently been saved through college ministry. He had such raw words of encouragement and was not just excited for me, but as a brother in Christ excited for the advancement of the Kingdom! “This means she will spend eternity with Jesus!” he said.

Eternity with Jesus.

Lesson #4: There are no Dead Ends on God’s Path

We labor for the goal of all to spend eternity with Jesus. Sometimes we see the fruit immediately, sometimes we see the fruit after a few years, and sometimes we have the honor to see the fruit perfect only in Heaven. This is the beauty of missions and the Lord’s work. How lovely that there are no dead ends where He is concerned. He calls us to empty ourselves completely and to pour all we have into His work. We like to see changed lives with our own eyes as a direct consequence of our work; after all, isn’t that the only way we will know if we are doing the right thing? But God often works differently.

Lesson #5: Live a Missional Life

I’m not a missionary overseas, but I live a missional life in San Antonio right now. I’ve led a small group for the past three years, but I feel that more often than not I question if I’m doing things right when I don’t see the results I expect. This past year especially I have found comfort not in results only but in the fact that the Lord can grow something beautiful from the seeds He has sown over the years on His own timetable.

Earlier I mentioned how I learned the difficulty of a goodbye in Kyrgyzstan, but I have come to realize that with believers, goodbyes don’t have to always be sad. When we’re living for Christ we can trust that seeds have been sown, and where seeds have been sown we have the hope that the Lord can create something beautiful!

[/column]