Leaving Friends
The Team arrived in Vienna, Austria today at 4:00 pm. Some of us napped on the plane and some of us reviewed or wrote/journaled about the week.
It was a very emotional good-bye for both groups: our Joshua Team and the leadership team of Grace Baptist. We came together at 11:45 am for lunch and fellowship. We shared stories and laughter. Vadim Yakim, the Youth Minister, shared the reaction/response of the Youth to the presentation (by Pat Wright) of the letters from the William & Mary Sunday School class. Then when it was time to leave, we had group pictures on the steps of Grace and began the process of getting bags into vans for the trip to the Airport. The surprising thing I think for us was the level of emotion from our host families and from the church leaders we interacted with this week. We expected to be a little sad at leaving, but didn't expect the tears, hugs and expressions of love from many of the others with whom we had worked during these six days. It was apparent that connections had been made when one of the Deacons shared that his heart was "crying". Lifelong connections and friendships have been made in this short time together.
A Joshua Team trip is different than most mission trips. You don't go to "do" any particular project. You go to listen, learn, share, open yourself to new ideas and thoughts, and understand new concepts and ideas. In many ways it is much harder than physical labor. The two teams had many hours of discussion and prayer together. We learned that our two Churches are very much alike, even though we may be in different growth phases. We learned to listen across cultural lines and to take the time to speak with and through a translator when needed. Even that didn't slow the exchange of faith and ministry ideas.
We look forward to seeing you soon and telling you some of our "heart stories." Soon there will be displays of more pictures than you can imagine as well as DVD's of their worship services and events.
Dick and Glenda Wade will be meeting Pat, Allan, Terri and Gail at Dulles Airport tomorrow to bring them back to Williamsburg. John and KJ will stay over in Northern Virginia and head home on Friday. Danner and Tony are staying in Vienna until Monday for a brief vacation.
God's blessings to you. Thank you so much for praying for the Team.
It was a very emotional good-bye for both groups: our Joshua Team and the leadership team of Grace Baptist. We came together at 11:45 am for lunch and fellowship. We shared stories and laughter. Vadim Yakim, the Youth Minister, shared the reaction/response of the Youth to the presentation (by Pat Wright) of the letters from the William & Mary Sunday School class. Then when it was time to leave, we had group pictures on the steps of Grace and began the process of getting bags into vans for the trip to the Airport. The surprising thing I think for us was the level of emotion from our host families and from the church leaders we interacted with this week. We expected to be a little sad at leaving, but didn't expect the tears, hugs and expressions of love from many of the others with whom we had worked during these six days. It was apparent that connections had been made when one of the Deacons shared that his heart was "crying". Lifelong connections and friendships have been made in this short time together.
A Joshua Team trip is different than most mission trips. You don't go to "do" any particular project. You go to listen, learn, share, open yourself to new ideas and thoughts, and understand new concepts and ideas. In many ways it is much harder than physical labor. The two teams had many hours of discussion and prayer together. We learned that our two Churches are very much alike, even though we may be in different growth phases. We learned to listen across cultural lines and to take the time to speak with and through a translator when needed. Even that didn't slow the exchange of faith and ministry ideas.
We look forward to seeing you soon and telling you some of our "heart stories." Soon there will be displays of more pictures than you can imagine as well as DVD's of their worship services and events.
Dick and Glenda Wade will be meeting Pat, Allan, Terri and Gail at Dulles Airport tomorrow to bring them back to Williamsburg. John and KJ will stay over in Northern Virginia and head home on Friday. Danner and Tony are staying in Vienna until Monday for a brief vacation.
God's blessings to you. Thank you so much for praying for the Team.
posted by K. J. Proctor at
3:57 PM
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