the beginning of another transition...part one

It seems as though we are always going through some sort of transition at varying degrees. The latest is Paul and Lori being here. We have been trying to help them with their transition. They didn’t go through any of the training that we went through in preparation to come here. We know how vital it was for us and our survival and we expect some struggles for them in the next six months. The training does not prevent the struggles, it just helps you recognize them for what they are (culture shock, transition) and what is coming next. Just being able to recognize where you are at and what’s wheat helps a great deal. We just found out that there are some more couples that are coming next year. One of them just got married and has never been here before. We don’t know if they are going to get any training before they come or not, we pray they do. Why are we here? It may be to help walk some of these couples through the mine field also known as the mission field and not get blown up or maimed which can easily happen. We were the first ones here and we did not have anyone help guide us through and we wound up stepping on quite a few. At least we had some training to help us deal with it. Are we looking forward to that being one of our roles? Not particularly. It is very draining and time consuming. For some reason GOD likes us to be “the point man/ the first”. It takes a “different” kind of person to be the point man. Maybe we are suited for it, I don’t know. I do wonder sometimes. We have gotten pretty battered and bruised in the last year, but we are still here. I guess that says something. I know one thing for sure: you change-being in the field changes you. I have changed a lot in the last year. Not all for the better I’m sure. Going through so much in such a short period of time, you have to change. You have to adapt; often just to survive. You have to change or I don’t think you’d make it. Being able to adapt and function to your constantly changing environment is the key. If you can not or will not do that because you think things should adapt to you and your way- well, you are going to have a tough road ahead of you.