Coming to the close of the most bizarre year of my life, I have to say I am confused. This feels like a set back. For two years I watched as God unfolded a plan to make us missionaries in Liberia: maintenance director and English teacher wanted, Larry's trip to Haiti to learn to operate the block machine, the Liberian flag in my mother-in-law's driveway for goodness' sake! All the signs that pushed me from the comforts of home to the joyous discomforts of mission life. And now what? 

I'm living in Eastern Europe.

I can't speak Hungarian, and this is more frustrating than I thought it would be. It's isolating. Sermons and doctor's orders have to be translated with the help of a few patient, English-speaking friends (the girls have nasty, croupy colds). Nuances of humor have to be explained, and of course, the laughter is lost in translation. Sometimes the laughter is at us, not with us. The youth culture is eager to practice its knowledge of American curse words; I've had expletives yelled in my direction more often here than in my career of teaching high school in the States! It makes me laugh...sometimes. Larry says I need to develop umpire ears, small and deaf. 

And the victories come. A few first classes in the schools were quite awkward. But after several sleepless nights and much prayer, God blessed me with the breakthrough of ah-ha! moments and visible student enjoyment. 

Weird... Or divine.

By now I should know. I've spent the last seventeen years as a rededicated believer, and every time I follow God and the surface result seems to be defeat, the Holy Spirit breaks through with a reminder that He is constantly working all things for my good. 

Please continue praying for us, and especially for our students and co-workers. The Spirit has already had people open up and share stories of illness, struggle and grief. He who sent His only precious Son to die a prisoner's death will not hesitate to send us into unknown, uncharted waters to tell hurting people He loves them. 

I've been reading John Piper's Advent devotion, and one is titled "God's Most Successful Setback." He reminds us of the Old Testament Joseph's many apparent failures:

"And this is God’s way for us too. We are promised glory — if we will suffer with him (Romans 8:17). The way up is down. The way forward is backward. The way to success is through divinely appointed setbacks. They will always look and feel like failure.

"But if Joseph and Jesus teach us anything this Christmas it is this: “God meant it for good!” (Genesis 50:20).

Right? Of course right.