“There we found brothers and sisters and were invited to stay a week with them. And so we came to Rome. Now the brothers and sisters from there had heard the news about us and had come to meet us as far as the Forum of Appias and the Three Taverns. When Paul saw them, he thanked them and took courage.” — Acts 28:14-15
It has been an encouraging coincidence that I happened to be studying the book of Acts both leading up to, and during this trip to Croatia. My family, church family, and I (18 of us in all) are here in Croatia to minister to the Saints living abroad as full-time missionaries. These missionaries live scattered throughout Europe, even as far as Africa. I haven’t met most of them yet, but am assuming that they don’t have the same comforts that come from having a close church family back in the States. These missionaries are all familiar with each other, but all working in different parts of the world. So, when they reunite tomorrow, I imagine it unfolding much like those verses above. Where brothers and sisters in Christ gather, there is mutual encouragement.
While the missionaries get vital respite at this retreat on the beautiful Istrian peninsula, our team from Salt Lake City will be in charge of watching over their kids for the next few days. We haven’t met them or their kids yet. By God’s grace, however, we are eager to serve them and their kids and allow them to receive some much-needed rest. The conference and our work begin tomorrow, and we are looking forward to what God has for us in the coming week.
A Breath of Fresh Air
Our team gathered here a few days early, for logistical and preparation purposes. Since we traveled in two separate groups, I personally “thanked God and took courage” once we were all in the same country. It felt like a breath of fresh air to all be together finally, even though we’d just seen each other last week. God’s love for us is powerful and shows through His people.
We had a unique opportunity to visit an ancient Roman amphitheater today in the seaside town of Pula, much like what the earliest Christians would have seen. Being there, reading the book of Acts, and reuniting with the body of Christ all in the same few days seems profound. Paul had a similar experience in a similar place. God’s love and the love found in the body of Christ transcends time and place. I can’t articulate it correctly, but as the conference and our work begin tomorrow, it feels like a gift to serve, to be tired, to be refreshed, and to be amongst God’s people in this particular time and place.
Thank you for praying for us.
Kim