The Enjoyments of Technology

Last night after Shayne and I finished watching the ROL Podcast we received "The Message"from Dave and Missy Stroeve...   "Hey, you guys wanna FaceTime!"  Who doesn't want to FaceTime with some of the most awesome people at ROL, not to mention close friends, when we've have been away from home for 2 months and are fast approaching the Christmas season all alone in a strange place.  Needless to say FaceTime, phone calls, emails and texts are our lifeline.    Technology has been a real blessing for us as we journey.  Some of you will know what I'm talking about.  The feeling after we watched Ryan, Jep, and Lawrence's Ordination on the Podcast was very special.  As I sat there with tears in my eyes, I couldn't help wishing we had been there.  It is so nice to get a message or call from home.  Last night after FaceTiming was very emotional.  Seeing our friends children growing up so fast, hearing all the awesome things going on in their lives and knowing we were missing it all.  Then times that by 20 as the reality sets in that were not only missing everything in their lives but in all of our friends and family's lives back home.

Last night as I lie in bed I cried and prayed.  My prayer has always been and always will be "Your will be done".  Anything that the Lord would do in my heart breaking me of my selfishness and my flesh is welcome, although the pain not so much.  Of course, I realize that everything we are experiencing on this trip is for our good and His glory and we yield to it willingly.  The Lord has given us so many great people around us on our travels, and I don't want to demean that.  We are really, really blessed but sometimes if we don't guard our hearts we can yield to the loneliness.  We are human after all.

Now more than ever we are aware of the value of community.  If you are not in some type of community group or bible study regularly, doing life with others, you are robbing yourself of one of the richest blessings the Lord offers us in His body the church.  Also, on behalf of all in the Lords service who will be spending the holidays away from friends and family, I would strongly urge you to write a letter, make a phone call or send a message to a Missionary or Kingdom worker encouraging and blessing them.  At a time of year that can be so lonely, the Father's heart is longing for all His children.  Longing to draw them in close and love them, and you may be the hands and feet of the Father for some person in your life.

In the next few days we are gonna get some video of us and the kids for ya'll back home, Christmas greetings and what not.  Stay posted.  Sorry for the sporadic-ness of the blog updates, I'm going to try to be more diligent.

Thanks for Journeying with us,
The Schafers