Today, October 6th, 2015 was supposed to look much different. October 6th was supposed to be the day before we stepped out into the unknown and moved our family to Uganda. This was to be our last full day in the States for at least a couple of years. We have thought about this day and played out a scene in our minds countless times over the last 12 months.
What would we be doing the day before we leave to move to northern Uganda? We pictured checking and re-checking packing lists and maybe even weighing our 24 totes that will carry all of our remaining possessions again to make sure we are not over the allowed weight limit. We envisioned double and triple checking travel documents and airline itineraries. We would make sure our transportation to the airport was taken care of. And then there's the obvious, the tears would flow as we soaked up as much time as we could with our family and friends before heading out. We probably wouldn't sleep at all tonight......well Gaines doesn't sleep much anyway, but the rest of us wouldn't either this night. Then the day of departure would come.....and we would go.
But that's not what today looks like. About two months ago, "our plans" were interrupted. (If you have no idea what I am talking about, click here.) So as a result, October 6th looks nothing like I had envisioned. Instead, we had seven kids up at 6:30 getting them ready for their day at school and daycare. Kim went to Bible study with the 8th child in tow. Since we would prefer that all of these children have food, I am off to my office (that I didn't think I would even be working at anymore) trying desperately to grasp major lending changes that are taking place in the mortgage business right now (changes that I didn't think would affect me, because hey, I'm moving to Africa, right?). Tonight, I will take 2 kids to soccer practice with the other six in tow. Kim will make a run to Costco.....because we have to buy in bulk. Then, after practice, we will begin the task of cleaning all of the children thoroughly, feeding them, and putting them to bed. Kim and I will then collapse into bed when the last child goes to sleep......and we will do it again tomorrow. No boarding passes. No luggage. No hurrying to gates. No waking up in the country that will be our new home. Not yet anyway. Only the new routine.
This new routine is not what we had planned for. For that matter, this new routine is not what we asked for. But I know one thing for sure, we do not want to waste it. We are one million percent certain that the Sovereign God of the universe orchestrated these plans long before any of us were in existence. Therefore, we do not want to waste what He is trying to teach us through this. (He has already shown me, Josh, things about myself that are not awesome, and needed to be repented of.) We do not want to waste an opportunity to show the Gospel in action to our own children and to the children entrusted in our care. And we do not want to waste an opportunity to lean into Jesus and trust Him more than we have ever had to before. We are beginning to see that this is some hands on training for some of the broken situations we will encounter overseas. And we are thankful for God's grace in allowing us to experience that.
One of my favorite quotes is from missionary Jim Elliot. He said "Wherever you are, be all there." Maybe you, the person reading this right now, find yourself in a situation you didn't expect, or necessarily plan for. Maybe it's a situation you don't even want. Wherever you are, be all there. What is God showing you through it? How can you trust Him more? How can He be brought glory through what you are walking through right now? Ask yourself these things. Whatever your current situation is........own it for the glory of God. Be. All. There. For His glory and His renown.
As for us, we still have a lot of unknowns. We are praying for some clarity in the situation over the next few weeks. Please pray with us. We still don't have a rescheduled date of departure. Please pray for God to move mountains. We desperately want to be in Africa, but until then.....wherever we are....we will be all there. We love you guys and covet your prayers and encouragement.
In Christ,
The Moody Tribe
