Where would I be had I said no?
Time and circumstances have a way of changing your ideas and plans of your future. In reality I really did think ten years ago I knew exactly what I would be doing at this stage of my life. Transitioning out of our business and spending time traveling to see our now 9, soon to be 10, grandchildren and their parents. Spending time with my best friend and sister Carolyn and relaxing at our second home in Florida. Ross and I would enjoy a leisurely trip to the east coast of Canada (always a dream of mine) as well as knocking off a bucket list of destinations, none of which I might add included a tiny country in Africa called Eswatini.
God certainly does have a sense of humour doesn’t He!
Ross moved here to Protect Canaan last April and I stayed back to pack, ship and sell our house with the plan that I would follow when all this was completed. In my mind that would only take a few months. Oh, how naive I was. The housing market went into a real slump, house sales were dropping and so were the prices. During this time we spent apart our family also experienced some significant loss leaving us grieving some 13,000 km apart. A FaceTime call does not replace a hug I might add.
But…God is Faithful! All the time!
God is Faithful! All the time!
By mid December our house sold and I was able to join Ross here in time for Christmas and to see our completed house here. With some amazing help I was able to get our belongings unpacked and our house set up in record time, easing the transition to a new house and making it feel cozy.
When we initially made the decision to sell everything in Canada and move here I was struggling with the fact that I was leaving my family. Ross is an only child and both his parents have passed away, I on the other hand still have both my parents alive and siblings that I have a close relationship with. I could not wrap my head around just how I could get by without seeing them on a weekly basis and in advance I was grieving the loss I would experience.
But……once again God is Faithful! All the time!
Once again God is Faithful!
All the time!
The Lord in His love has gifted me with an adopted family easing the grief of separation by placing in my life wonderful people here who I have very quickly grown to love and cherish. I can truly say that even though I definitely miss my family I have a second extended family; a brother and sister in Arlyn and Maria, wonderful grandchildren in Kate and Owen (Arlyn and Maria’s children), a son in Alec and hundreds of lively and loving nieces and nephews in the children who call Project Canaan home. I can’t even count the number of times I have heard “Hi, Auntie Laurie,” from the children. From my veranda I hear the cheers and laughter of kid’s playing and cheering each other on. It warms my heart helping me to feel like truly I AM HOME!
I love stepping outside my house only to see a group of toddlers out with their Aunties walking past my house on their daily walks. Even better than that is going over to say hi to them as they pass by and being bombarded with 30 two-year-olds all wanting a hug.
What does your future look like? Do you have your next ten years mapped out? Are you open to having God change your plans? I shudder to think of what I would be missing out on right now if I had said no to the Lord and stayed the course I had planned in my head. Sometimes detours are unexpected blessings and this blessing I am definitely savouring.
Laurie MacPherson, Long-term Volunteer
