Furlough is an important part of cross-cultural work, but it can be difficult! Before I get to that, I’d ask you to pray for two things:
- Surveyors Crystal and Mary are on a survey trip to Gulf Province. Pray they’ll have wisdom, proficiency, and good teamwork. Pray for Hanna, the translator they’re working with, and her team, some of whom are on the trip to build relationships in villages. Pray for two YWAM staff who are accompanying the survey team to grow in their understanding of sociolinguistic research. Pray for Mary’s husband Devin as he looks after their child while Mary is away.
- We’ve recently connected with several couples – ex-colleagues or on furlough – who are facing significant challenges in their marriages. It’s not uncommon for husbands and wives to have very different experiences overseas, and to then pull in different directions. Pray for healing and unity!
Furlough being difficult: in 2011 we were floating sideways down a muddy river in a dugout canoe that was ridiculously long and narrow. All four surveyors were scrunched on a small bench in the middle, laughing at the awkward scene we were making, but careful to keep our balance. At the far end of the canoe was a PNGan man with a pole… which broke on one of his first punts.
On furlough we’re scrunched together, going somewhere sideways, not knowing what to expect. MANY of our colleagues have gone for furlough only to never make it back to PNG. We are 1 of only 4 teams remaining in PNG from the 21 teams we started with in 2010.
As in that canoe, we aren’t steering on furlough… YOU are. God uses you, his Body, to care for cross-cultural workers, send them to their place of service, and support them while there.
Without the Church providing transport, overseas workers get dumped in that muddy river.
Furlough is a faith-growing exercise for cross-cultural workers. We do what we can, then wait trustingly – balancing the while – for the Church to say, “Yes, we want to make that happen!” (If you’re ready, get in touch, go to Partner, or ask us for suggestions about work that aligns with your interests.)
“Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds” (Heb 10:24)! There’s room to improve this partnership in both directions.
More inspiration from Hebrews 10: For we are those who “have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way”! “Let us draw near to God” and “hold unswervingly to the hope we profess” (vs 19-20, 23) so that we will “receive what he has promised” (vs 36).
Let us be faithful in following and proclaiming this Way, for “it is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (vs 31)!
