how do we wait?

I, along with my friend Christina, teach a weekly Bible study for a group of national PNG women who work on our support base here in Wewak. I have been truly blessed by this time to do life with them. We have been studying different women in the Bible and what we learn about God in the midst of their stories. Leading up to Christmas we have been looking at the lives of Elizabeth and Mary. Before the angel Gabriel came to Zechariah and Mary, it had been 400 years of silence from God. We discussed how in this time of waiting for the coming Messiah, the nation of Israel had the chance to study God’s Word deeper, seek the heart of God and prepare for His arrival. However, the expanse of years caused many to be blinded and deafened to the point that when the humble Messiah came, they couldn’t even consider Him as a possibility.

Waiting.
How do we wait? What is our posture while we wait?
Is it one of anxiousness or of an unwavering trust in a God who is always in control?

Studying God’s Word to prepare for this study each week has me searching my own heart. I am humbled at how hard it is for me to wait sometimes and to not “do”...so much of me finds my own personal satisfaction, dare I say worth, in what I accomplish. It has been a crazy 15 months of moving throughout the country of Papua New Guinea, learning the national language and culture, living in different bush locations for stints of time, serving in various support roles, deciding which region I want to serve out of, etc...much has been accomplished and yet, now I find myself in a season of waiting. And the question I keep asking myself is: how do I want to look back at this time?

A team has asked me to join their existing work with the goal of coming alongside them to disciple women and the youth. There are some unique challenges in this proposal and because of lack of personnel, it will take just a little bit more time to assess the situation. I feel so much peace and an excitement about this possibility and yet, I must continuously lay it in the Lord’s hands, trusting He will ultimately make it clear if this is where He wants me to serve. There is a hope that in the next 2-3 months the necessary next steps will be made and a decision will arrive. Lord-willingly I will be building a house and moving into a bush location this summer.

I never know who is actually reading these updates I send out and I know each of you equally have much going on in your own life, but I find myself often thanking the Lord for those who partner with me by shooting up a prayer for the work out here in Papua New Guinea and for those who financial sacrifice consistently. I would be lost without you. On days that I pinch myself because I cannot believe the Lord allows me to be here to the days I long for the embrace of a good friend, your prayers strengthen me and allow me to run this race. And for that I will be forever grateful.

May we find ourselves truly in awe of the beautiful yet humble birth of our Savior this season while we wait with patience, purpose and endurance for His ultimate return. May it fuel our lives and...”let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” (Hebrews 10:24-25)

He is coming back, this life...is but a breath.

love, rach.

I had the opportunity to go into a bush location, Bisorio, back in November…Bob declared one of the Saturdays as an official “game day” and said, “Rachel - you’re in charge of all games”…I immediately scouted around to see what supplies we had and a day of games was forged. We had access to ropes and fuel drums- KAJABE CAN CAN - CHECK….a tarp + soap - RELAY GAMES - CHECK…but how will we differ between teams?? I wondered, do we have some random fabric to cut up so they are different colors? Nope. Hmmm….how will we know who is on what team? Well, we decided to name each team after a different leaf found nearby (coconuts/ferns/tanget/banana). They had 15 minutes to “bilas” (decorate) themselves with that leaf and the Bisorio crew understood the assignment. It honestly was such an incredible day of laughter, bonding and so much fun. The climax was definitely trying to shoot a papaya with an arrow, such skill. - I was in awe.

But here is the deal - it was such a fun day - but when I laid my head down that night all I could feel is such gratitude to the Lord. When I left Hume, I thought I was leaving behind so much of who I was/the ways God had gifted me and yet in this moment I felt so in “my element”. He is so gracious to use our strengths, experiences…all of it to build up His body. When we surrender our lives to Him, it may take sacrifice but there are so many blessings in the midst to remind us that He truly sees us. It is a day I will never forget.

rachel clossDecember 18, 2022