Stepping In

"Whatever town you enter and they welcome you,

eat what is set before you, cure the sick in it and say to them, ‘The Kingdom of God is at hand for you.’” Luke 10: 1-9

A few weeks back I found myself feeling disconnected. Active, but not totally engaged. It was like I was wading in the shallow end of a pool too timid to dive into the deep end. Well.... I wouldn't say I have let myself be fully submerged, but I have had the incredible blessing of allowing myself to be engaged and float in the grace of a community that knows love and generosity. When I began my work at Gk Libmanan I stayed with a host family an hour away from the village and would visit for the work hours of 9-5. I approached it almost like a job...minus income, a boss, and a real job description. As the work continued and the my scheduled time with them was drawing to an end I realized I wanted to be with them. I wanted to know them more than what I had allowed myself. So I stayed. I packed my bag and stayed the night. Spending the night is nothing momentous, but in that time our relationship changed. I was welcomed into their homes to share with and be a part of their families. We broke bread...ok well ate rice...shared stories of our families, joked, and prayed. It was beautiful expression of faith lived in its purest form. We have become a part of each others lives and the impact of our time together has changed our lives in both small ways and big ways. It has been incredible. I have grown attached and I hate to leave not knowing when I might be able to return..at least to visit. I fear being assigned to a new place where I will hopefully foster the same type of relationships grow attached again and leave them. They hold a piece of my heart and have shown me that the kingdom is indeed at hand.