Should there be some almighty drumroll? I surely don’t deserve it, I haven’t put half as much thought into any of this as I would’ve liked.
Tonight we fly to Brisbane, tomorrow to the Solomons – about a 3.5hr flight – the country I grew up in.
They spot interviewed us at a ‘team meeting’ the other day and my answers sounded hashed and somewhat shallow. In reality, returning is very much more for me about showing off to Geoff a part of me and revisiting the place for myself, than it is about handing out Bibles. How ignoble. It’s unfortunate it possibly wont be quite as easy as a tourist holiday.
The one thing I have thought about is my reaction to when we get off that plane at Henderson Airport and I suddenly get hit by that distinctive smell. Reminds me of that annoying MercyMe song, “I Can Only Imagine”. Well, I can only imagine I will either start crying (probably less likely) or I’ll be struck somewhat dumb and the emotion will resonate only in my eyes which will grow wide (probably more likely)… or hey the converse. Perhaps the excitement will creep speedily through my body and come out my mouth in words. I think I can probably predict the combination of a enormous lump in my swallowing machine and a contrasting, yet genuine smile.
It will be interesting.
Do I know what God will do me when I’m there? No. But I think I might take the opportunity to ask myself some hard questions and we’ll see where that all goes.
In two days I will be back in the 32 degree weather, with the 100% humidity, the dust, the green, the sea, the birds, the mosquitoes, the dogs howling, the locals calling me ariquo and better fruit than the likes of Australia has ever seen.
In the next week, I will have seen the dog I haven’t seen for the past 7 years, the house I lived in, the beaches I snorkelled at, the basketball court and the ERC, the SWIM base, the local markets, the ‘city’ much changed.
And in another again, I will be back here. I do not know if I will want to be back here. My patriotism has never been very cemented.
Hey Bec
I know how you feel in a way. I understand how incredibly difficult it is to come home here. Lucky you have Geoff to support you on the way
Prayin for you
Sammy