Post script - things I missed

Rereading yesterday's post I realized it all sounded a bit too rosy.  Has this been fairly easy, yes.  But not without some moments of missing home and a little frustration.  3 significant events happened last week that I am very sorry to have missed.

• Kansas/western Missouri division's Officers' Councils.  Always one of my favorite times to be with my officers and share in worship, teaching and fellowship, it was really hard to turn that over to someone else.  I love those officers and care about their spiritual development, as well as just love being with them and having fun.  I'm sure they had a wonderful and inspiring time without me but I sure missed them.  
• My good friends and team partners, Doug and Janet Rowland, retired on Saturday.  We spent the last months praying together, planning and hoping for Janet's health and for a great celebration.   I know they had a great day but I sure missed them.
• My family celebrated a baby shower for Matt and Jamie.  I love being an aunt and will love being a great-aunt.  I know they had a fun time together but I sure missed them.  

And then the small frustrations.  Too many to mention and normal for any first week in a new place.  I know that I reach a point where I can't manage any more new things and that point has probably come more than once this week.  Am I doing fine, yes.  But some days, I just want to crawl into bed when I get home from the office (and sometimes I do!). 

It's been a week

I'm not one for idleness (well, usually) and so far that hasn't been a problem.  Not long after I got to my flat, the Smith family came to visit. You will often hear about the Smiths because it is a wonderful blessing that we are about an hour away from each other.  After leaving Latvia 9 years ago, we never expected to live near each other,  Abigail Evie is my goddaughter and now we get to enjoy being close. Their visit was followed by dinner with the Heatwoles.  Sunday I went with new IHQ friends to Penge corps and dinner.  Then, admittedly I crashed!  I was at the office first thing Monday morning for my first of many, many meetings in my future. And I haven't really stopped since, although there have been several naps as I try to adjust to the time difference and daily commute.  My things arrived Tuesday and another unexpected blessing was that my friend Cathy was in London for business and spent time helping to get my house ready.  Yesterday was a shopping adventure with Zoe and Abi.  Friends with cars are precious!  And today I went to Bromley corps.  Wonderful worship, just what I needed.

I don't intend this blog to be just a daily account of my life in London, but rather a reflection of what I'm learning, how I'm feeling and mostly how I see God at work.  Those who know me well may be surprised that I haven't had an emotional break down in public! This has been a fairly easy adjustment so far.  I'm learning about my role at international headquarters. I've been warmly welcomed and definitely kept busy.  I've figured out some things at home, like the washer/dryer combo machine and the convection/microwave oven, the many different trash bins (compost, household trash, recycle - 3 bins).  I've travelled on the bus and train on my own (true confession - I've done that many times before).

And, because I don't yet have tv or Internet, I read a book, listened to lots of podcasts and got some things unpacked and put in their place.

This morning we sang this simple and beautiful song.  And this is what I know for today and the future.

Faithful God, faithful God,

all sufficient One, I worship You.

Shalom, my peace, my strong deliverer,

I lift you up, faithful God. 

In Between Again

In just two days I will be on a plane heading to another adventure. Honestly, not a day has gone by in my 35 years (yes, 35) as an officer that there hasn't been some kind of adventure waiting for me.   Not always fun, not always pleasant and most often, not easy.  The adventure is knowing that I'm part of a much bigger plan and that I am not in this alone.  This is about the Kingdom of God and I'm honored and humbled to be part of the King's work. And that will continue in a much different way as I start my new adventure serving at The Salvation Army's International Headquarters.

I don't yet know much about my role. I do know that I will get to see God at work in places and through people in a new and inspiring way. I do know that I will learn a lot about what the Army is doing to fulfill our mission around the world. I do know that God is already there and working His Kingdom plan and once again, I will get to join in that plan.

What else do I know? I have claimed the verse that is at the top of this blog for the last several years.  2 Peter 1:3 says "His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness." It's been true so far in this adventure called officership and I know it will continue to be true in the next step of the journey.