If you've read my blog post or heard me speak on Life Rhythms (thanks to Dave Drury) you'll know that I consider myself a Seasonal person. Seasonal living comes naturally for me. I tend to look at life in three-month blocks, which works well with the four calendar seasons. This topic was one of the seminars I shared at our recent annual conference in Germany.
What do 135 people gathering from all parts of Europe and the Turkic-Arabic world have in common?
- need for rest and replenishment
- family time without the pressures unique to the field
- encouragement
- laughter
- spiritual and personal growth through the Word and teaching
- voices gathered in songs of worship
- a heart and vision to touch the world for Christ
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| Vegetable garden on the premises |
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| Lots of sunflowers! |
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| We ate our meals in this building. |
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| The forest paths. |
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| Outdoor activities for all. |
Our friends, Wayne and Jan Schmidt, joined us for the conference and ministered to us as they taught and shared from their passions and giftings. This being their first time in Europe, we took them by way of Vienna on the trip back to Budapest. What fun to have them as our first overnight guests in our home. Thirty-two years ago this month we stood in each others weddings. We found ourselves saying several times, "Who would have thought 32 years ago that we would be... " and we would complete the sentence in a variety of ways. So thankful for our time together!
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| Spending time seeing the sights of Vienna. |
To everything there is a season,
and a time for every matter or purpose under heaven.
Ecclesiastes 3:1
5 comments:
I love this post. Sounds like such a great time...relaxing, even though I'm sure it was busy transitioning back home and heading off again after being with us :). Miss you so much.
The pictures are just gorgeous! They make me drool. How amazing if Dwayne, Noelle and I could come visit you all too!
Jamie - I wouldn't change a thing! God's grace has been more than sufficient through the transitions. Love you!
Christin - It would be a pleasure to have your family visit with us.
This post was such an encouragement to me today as I'm feeling a bit discouraged about my current "season of transition." Love you Gwen!
-Rachel Nafis
Oh Rachel, we need to talk! :)
I remember that first year of marriage and feeling so far away from home and family in PA, even though I had moved away to attend college.
Think in seasons, and you will make it from one season to the next. Transitions are bittersweet - they bring grief from what once was, yet the sweetness of what is to come. And, I know so much lies ahead for you and Chris! Be encouraged. Love you!
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