Farewell Ambridge

It's hard to say goodbye.  How do you leave behind eight-and-a-half years and move on to something else?  Ambridge, Trinity, Church of the Savior, Pittsburgh, southwest Pennsylvania -- this is where our family grew into its current fullness, where we have known community and loneliness, great joy and deep depression, unity and fragmentation, intimacy and separation, bright beauty and clinging gray.

Of course, we don't leave Ambridge behind, not really.  Our years here, the relationships, my studies, the geography and weather, our experiences as individuals, as a couple, as a family -- all these have and will continue to shape who we are.  And, after all, it is what our kids know as home.  When I say "home," I still have hazy Texas images wafting through my head.  When my kids say "home," they have clear pictures of ragged Merchant Street dressed up in Christmas lights and shining with its own beauty, of the noisy, fun, and frustrating friendships of school, of sledding down our steep driveway and crashing into the fence, of long drives into Pittsburgh and feeling excited to see the skyline and cross the bridges, of various parks and restaurants and streets and kids...and our house here in Ambridge.  Our kids, for now, aren't Texans, they're Li'l Bridgers.

I won't spend the time right now to reflect deeply on our time in Ambridge.  There is too much there, and I'm too tired.  All that this time has meant and will continue to mean will unfold in the years to come.  We've had good closure, but I think it's a mistake simply to turn the page and say this chapter of our life is over.  Our Ambridge years won't fade into a barely remembered past.  They are a part of who we are, and will continue to shape who we become.

One significant theme I must mention:  God's provision.  As bleary-eyed as I am this morning, this much I see clearly.  Our Father has provided for us again and again and again and again.  He has filled in  gaps in our parenting, he has closed crevices in our marriage, he has given money when least expected, he has provided friends, teachers, pastors and counselors, he has comforted and restored us, he has brought us into places of authentic delight and simple joy.  Always what we have needed, he has provided.  Often what we have most desired, he has given.  Many times what we did not know we needed or desired he gave anyway.

About thirty minutes after I post this blog, I will take one last drive down Merchant Street, hang a right at 8th Street, take a left on Ohio River Blvd., and head out of Ambridge.  Texas is the next significant stop, then on to Uganda.  Nothing will turn out quite like we've envisioned it; nothing ever does.  These past eight-and-a-half years certainly didn't.  One thing I know, however, and of two things I am certain:  that God -- Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit -- loves us, and that he will provide.

Feeling the love in South Carolina

"I could get used to living this way!"  After saying this, Jesse flopped back onto his bed in our temporary home -- a beach house on Folly Beach, "The Edge of America."

What a way to live indeed!  After a full, warm welcome from the Gaillard family of six at the Charleston Airport, and a quick stop at Chick-Fil-A (paid for by that same family), we drove about 30 minutes to the above mentioned beach house.

Out front, the Atlantic Ocean.

Out back, beautiful marshland.

Inside, a grandkids' paradise of age-appropriate toys, hard wood floors, pool table, comfy beds, fire place, and a refrigerator and counter full of food provided by a hospitality committee from Church of the Good Shepherd.  A day did not go by without spontaneous praises being shouted out -- and we're not normally a family who does that.  God's goodness and love was so abundantly evident to us in his creation and in the hospitality and care of his people, our South Carolina family.

Needless to say, the trip turned out to be a wonderful time for our family.  Lots of walks on the beach, games of pool, playing in the ocean on cold, windy days (who cares? we're at the beach!), a few fun restaurants (Jesse discovered a love for crab legs), play dates with new friends, and a visit to historic Charleston.

 

  

 

Even better, my (Travis') mom joined us to help with the kids, which not only made it easier to make the several meetings we had scheduled, but gave Leslie and me more time together as a couple than we've had in months!

 

 

Our Partner Development time went well also.  In addition to preaching at two churches and meeting with their folks, we connected with groups and individuals from other communities within the diocese.  There is for us a growing sense of connectedness with the people in the Diocese of South Carolina.  There is a growing heart, interest, and commitment to East Africa there, and the vision God has given us of raising up a generation of Ugandans to reach the world for Christ interweaves with so much of what he is already doing in South Carolina.

There were also several moments of encouragement.  People visiting for the first time the churches where we were preaching deciding to partner with us, reconnections with old seminary friends, unexpected generosity from our host parishes (Good Shepherd and Saint John's Parish), genuine excitement in the welcome given by new friends....

One exciting development in particular.  We're asking the churches that support us to connect us with an individual, family, or small group who will act as our liaison to that community, and through them we'll weave together the communities of that church, our family, and the people of Kabale.  We've begun this with Trinity Beaver in PA with a wonderful woman named Ruth.  In South Carolina, another woman of great graciousness and care named Kits from Good Shepherd is taking on that role.  Already in getting to know these women there is a greater of sense of actually being a part of these communities, and we see the potential for the relationship to grow and deepen.  We look forward to more!

There is much more I could write about this visit, but I'm supposed to be packing boxes as we prepare to move to Texas in just a few days.  More will come after this move!

Until then, catch a glimpse of the glory and gratefulness we experienced in South Carolina with this short clip:

Sweet Thoughts from Lucy

I just have to share this.

Lucy, our 3 year old, asked me to sing Keith Green's "There Is a Redeemer" at bedtime tonight.  As I sometimes do with our nighttime songs, we talked through the verses first, discussing what they mean.  I sang to her the last verse:

When I stand in glory
I will see His face
And there I'll serve my king forever
In that holy place

I talked her through this verse, saying that one day we will get to see Jesus face to face at last (she often wishes to see Jesus), and that we'll get to serve him as our king forever.

"Yes," she murmured through the pacifier in her mouth, "we'll serve him breakfast and lunch and dinner."

I laughed, then explained that there are other ways of serving Jesus -- loving people, singing songs to him, just being with him.  "And hugging and kissing him," she added.  "But I might feel a little too shy to hug and kiss him."

"Well," I replied, "what do you want to do when Daddy comes home?"

"Run and hug and kiss him!"

"When Jesus comes and you see him, you'll feel the same way."

South Carolina

In just a few days the whole family will be headed south to spend a little over a week down in South Carolina.  I was there last May meeting with various churches and individuals, and I quickly learned why all my Carolinian friends during seminary days had such a deep yearning to return home.  I mean, I could understand why Texans missed Texas so much, but South Carolina?

Now I understand.  The people, culture, and geography of South Carolina have a unique warmth and beauty, and it's quite easy to step into their embrace, at least as visitors.  A few days of walking through Charleston and eating with the folks of South Carolina is enough to make me want more.  I'm glad to be bringing my family with me this time.

Sunday, December 6th we'll be at Church of the Good Shepherd, where my good friend Shay Gaillard pastors a wonderful community of folks.  Sunday, December 13th we'll be at St. John's, a church that has embraced us with surprising excitement and depth of commitment.  We also hope to get some time with Holy Cross, one of the first churches to partner with us.  In between we'll connect with as many other people and communities as possible, while also spending some family time together before making our final push to Texas.

(By the way, we'll gladly receive any recommendations for top-notch seafood and barbecue while we're there.)