Waiting

Singer Tom Petty was right. “The waiting (really) is the hardest part.”

This painstaking word – waiting – seems to best sum up our first three weeks on the field. Praise the Lord though, our family is adjusting very well in spite of these "character-building" opportunities!

Since we arrived, we’ve found ourselves …

• Waiting in line to get blood tests and x-rays (medical clearance is necessary for a resident visa) – 6 hours
• Waiting in line on multiple trips to see the “typist” so that he can complete several forms for our visa applications – 5 hours
• Waiting to get internet service in our apartment (resident permit was required first) – 3 weeks
• Waiting in traffic – for who knows how long!
• Waiting to begin our “real” work – still waiting!

So why is this process of waiting so difficult, after all? I’ve come home, after spending hours waiting in lines or grid-lock traffic, plumb exhausted. I think it is because waiting is the work of patience and faith. Do you agree? Through our first three weeks, God has been faithful to us each and every day.

Beyond the lines and traffic, the rest of our time has been spent…

• Swimming and hanging with old college friends working in this city
• Eating meals on four different occasions with new, ex-pat friends
• Having meaningful talks with people from Pakistan, Dubai, and Egypt
• Taking road trips to Oman and Abu Dhabi for work purposes
• Going to three different churches (all were great services)
• Buying uniforms for school (gulp! Do uniforms REALLY cost that much???)
• Reading together as a family (great novel called “Blessed Child” by Ted Dekker and Bill Bright)
• Drinking frappocino’s at my Starbucks "office" and talking to my new friend from Syria (Sadly, I’ll not be going to almost daily to check e-mail now that we finally have internet at home!)

Time to wrap up this “post”. Before I close, let me ask you a question… For what are you waiting? Jot us a note. It would be our privilege to return the blessing by praying for you. Besides, we’ve had lots of practice. And chances are, it won't be long before we find ourselves back in that familar place of waiting. We'll try to take advantage of the unexpected time on our hands and remember your request!

Keep waiting and watching for the Lord’s return. It won’t be long! Then, (could it really be true?) all waiting will be over!!!