Thursday, December 06, 2007

Two years....

So this blog has been looking the same for over 2 years now, so I decided to shake it up a bit, for a while anyway.

Speaking of two years, it was two years ago that we said goodbye to family and friends in LA and moved to Durban, SA, on Nov 30, 2005. I remember when we were dating Clint would say "you realize if we get married you will probably live in another country, and be a pastors wife." That seemed so daunting then, and scary. I pictured me in a foreign country as a pastors wife wearing long puffy floral sleeves, a long floral pink skirt past my ankles, learning some foreign language with three dirty kids running around (silly picture, isn't it!). Didn't sound like what I wanted. But I knew I loved Clint, and I trusted God. And life has been a wonderful adventure since, absolutely no regrets.

Now I don't think I could live a life that wasn't immersed in ministry. It's so awesome to witness peoples lives being changed by the Word of God. And to be involved in a church that upholds Scripture like it does is such a pleasure. My ministry has changed since having Noah. I used to be able to be involved in many different things and in peoples lives, and now, in this stage of life, my family is my #1 ministry. As Proverbs 31 says… "She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. " May this be true of me! It took a little while to realize when I wasn’t able to be as involved as I used to be, but taking care of Noah frees Clint up to do ministry. And raising Noah in the fear and admonition of the Lord is my ministry now (once he can understand all these things anyway!) But for now I'm trying to learn as much as I can so that when the moments arise, I will be equipped for the occasion.

I do miss the States sometimes, especially the people and Grace Church. But we are in a place that is really filling a gap in ministry. There aren't many churches in SA that teach Biblically, and very very few in the Durban area.

When I miss LA I usually listen to Derek Webb. He is a songwriter that really puts life into perspective about what really matters in life.

From his song "I repent"
"I repent, I repent of my pursuit of the American dream
I repent, I repent, of living like I deserve anything
Of my house, my fence, my kids, my wife
In our suburb where we're safe and white
Well I am wrong and of these things I repent."

It's just a reminder to me of what's important in life. Eternity is at stake, so me missing Starbucks coffee and air conditioning, and it being winter instead of summer around Christmas time, the "American dream" doesn't really matter in the end. Life isn't about comfort, but about the gospel. I guess our life must look kinda crazy to some outsiders. My most frequent question is...."if your from America why did you move here?" But honestly we could give up a lot more, and live in like Papua New Guinea! But this is where the Lord has us, and it's a joy to serve Him here, and I love it!!!!!

4 comments:

Hayley Hays said...

I love the new look!

And your thoughts are a REAL blessing.

H said...

I really love the new look and I like hearing your thoughts. It's always an encouragement and such a blessing to see where God has brought and your family over the last few years :)

Emily Ban said...

You said: "But for now I'm trying to learn as much as I can so that when the moments arise, I will be equipped for the occasion."

And with those words you have encouraged me to really pursue the memorization of scripture and to know the word more. I always thought being a wife and mom would make it easier to make time in the Word a priority because I would have a husband I need to be an enouragement to and children I need to be a spiritual role model to. But "newsflash!" it just gets harder!

I love reading your blog! You are such a blessing to me and I feel as though you guys aren't so far away.

Victoria said...

Hey Kim,

Thought I'd leave a comment since I've been checking out your blog. Your little boy is so cute! Isn't it great to keep up with people on the other side of the world? Gotta love technology.