REST AND RETREAT

I just returned from two months in the United States. Usually when I head into a vacation time I look forward to having some time to rest, but I have learned that that does not always happen when I travel to my home country; in fact I’m often quite busy.

My family and I usually get to the US every two years and these past two years of teaching were full of challenges that often left me drained, so this time in the US I thought very little about academic concerns and even struggled to read for fun. I finally decided that was OK; I needed a break and allowed that part of my brain to rest a little.

One thing I did do with great intent was to continue the custom I’ve learned while in Nigeria these past twenty-two years and began each morning with prayer. As soon as I opened my eyes, I closed them again and thanked God for keeping me safe throughout the night and prayed for the day before me. I prayed for the various activities I would be a part of. I have learned over the years that prayer, and giving my concerns and activities to God opens the day up to His many blessing. Our trip was full of blessings.

My children were blessed through their connections with old and new friends from church, the neighborhood, church camps, soccer camps, mission trips and time with their aunts, uncle, and cousins.

My husband met old and new friends at church who welcomed him to pastors’ meetings, prayer meetings and involved him in visiting members. He also had a few opportunities to preach and we shared about Nigeria.

As for me, I too enjoyed reconnecting with people at the church I grew up in, as well as with friends from other Lutheran churches in the area. I made a few new friends through garage sales and church and began almost every day with breakfast with my mother. I did an awful lot of shopping in supermarkets and malls, cooked many meals for the family, and took many walks at the lake-sometimes alone and other times with my teenage daughter. I learned how to make cheesecake, had fun playing with a few spices and even made ice cream a few times.

One week my family and I did a lot of driving from one end of Washington state, into Idaho, and down into Oregon and to drop off and later pick up the kids from church camps while my husband and I enjoyed some time with one of my sisters and her husband.

It was a busy time! And through it all we were blessed with safe travels, the older kids were challenged to take their faith more seriously, and they all opened themselves up to new friends. I spent more time than usual with my sisters, and appreciated time with my cousins and their families and spent some time with nephews and a niece, of course the kids enjoyed time with their cousins too! But the time I prized the most was being with my mom who just turned eighty years old. She hosted us during most of our stay and she and my nephew that lives with her, put up with us as we often took over the small house and put many miles on the car.

Without her hospitality and the warmth and openness so many shared with us, our time would not have been the same. So thank you to all those who we met and thank you Mom for your hospitality, but most of all, thank you God for a blessed retreat to the US! Even if there was little actual rest, I was able to come back with a fresh perspective and feel ready to start school next week.