Torn Between Two Families

When we left to go to Zambia as full-time missionaries in 1998, we had no idea how hard it would be to be so far away from family.  Phone service and internet was very poor, and since we didn't come home for three or four years we missed out on watching our nieces and nephews grow up, family vacations, special birthdays and holidays, and most of all the opportunity to talk to our parents and siblings any time we wanted. 

Thankfully, in those early days, Facebook did not exist so we did not see all the pictures of things we were missing, and what we couldn't see didn't hurt as much. I say "as much," because just knowing that our family was celebrating special times and events together without us was very hard at times-- especially at Christmas.

Today, in our present ministry at New Day we are able to come to the states every other year to raise support for the orphanage and see our physical family. This is a great blessing, but at the same time it is hard because we have another family that has captured our heart. We are torn between two families. Our heart strings seem to be pulled in two directions and sometimes it seems they will break. 

They may not be our physical
children, but they have our heart.

When we said good-bye to our New Day family in August, we felt a deep sadness not knowing for sure if we would see them again on this earth. But, when we arrived in the states and were reunited with our physical family, our hearts were filled with joy at being with them once again.  

During our five months in the states we had the opportunity

It's hard to talk about our kids at New
Day without getting emotional. 

to travel and tell people about New Day. Every time we shared we felt a tugging on our hearts to be with them, but we also had a tugging on our hearts to be finished with our speaking tour so we could be with our parents and siblings.

We were blessed to stay with our
parents for the months of November and
December. What a gift!

Now it is time to go the opposite way and the feelings are the same. We are gearing up to say good-bye to our physical family, also not knowing for sure that we will see them again on this earth. We feel sure, however, that when we arrive "home" to our New Day family, some of the sadness will be dispelled by their hugs and smiles.  We will be filled with joy at being with them once again, but we also know that there will be a lingering sadness of not being with our physical family on this side.

Hear me out, I'm not complaining, not many people get the joy of having two such wonderful families, I just wish we could all be together in one place. Hmmm, for those of who know Christ, some day we will. That will be great, our two families united together getting to know one another. Honestly, I can't wait for that day.