The bag looks normal enough… carrots, celery, and parsley.
Now go back and look again. The red handles are missing. That is because they broke off. Which you would conclude that it isn’t a big deal. And I am assuming under normal circumstances it wouldn’t be worth a post on our blog.
BUT – I am not a normal person (my mom always told me that 🤪). The bag says California Republic and that bag is from California. That is where Mihi and I lived our first 10 years of marriage (2002-2012). That is where all three of our kids were born (2005, 2007, 2008). That is where our sending church is (Shadow Mountain Community Church). California is home.
But almost 12 years ago, we packed up everything and moved to Romania. We have spent more years in marriage in Romania than we have in America. The kids have spent more time living in Romania than they have in America.
Bucharest is nothing like San Diego… if you have ever been to either you would totally agree with that statement, and most likely follow up with a loud “not many places are like San Diego”. You wouldn’t choose Bucharest over San Diego unless God was leading. And so, Bucharest is home.
There is a conflicting thought when someone asks “where is home”. We have two homes. Two places hold dear memories and two places have our hearts. We have a church family in both countries. We have physical family in both places. We speak both languages. Mihi and the kids have passports from both countries (Lord willing I will be joining that list at some point). We have two homes.
So my grocery bag… we brought a few of those bags over with us. They are now old. Over the years, they have been fading, and now they are finally breaking. And the memory of home fade a little with each year.
It is just a bag. That’s what I have been telling myself. Get over it! But there is a part of me that is hung up on this bag. It is from home.
But our citizenship is in heaven,
and from it we await a Savior,
the Lord Jesus Christ.
Philippians 3:20
For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come.
Hebrews 13:14
Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.
Colossians 3:2
Previous
Next
– Pray for us as we spend another Christmas overseas away from my parents. As they get up in years, it makes holidays a little more difficult from the distance.Â
– Pray for us this Christmas season. There is a lot of ministry happening. Weekly we have 30 – 80 individuals coming through our home. Some, spending a night or two. Just the logistics of things can keep us busy… let a lone the ministry.Â
– Pray for AO church. It is at some very key moments, and our prayer is that the members will join together with Pastor Felix. The church is poised to have a huge impact in Romania and Eastern Europe. There are decisions to take, pray for wisdom for those taking them.
– Pray for our kids. They are growing. Pray for their protection. Pray for their spiritual growth. They each have a relationship with our Lord and Savior, and we are grateful for that fact. Brianna is 18 now. CJ is 16. And Abby is turning 15 at the end of this month.Â
