The Dark Before the Dawn

Where are we? What are we doing? When will we leave? What are our plans?

… and other “W” related questions.

The JAARS leadership has decided that to maintain compliance with the North Carolina stay-at-home order that Pre-Field Orientation (PFO) will pause and resume after re-evaluation of the situation on June 1^st. We finished all our classroom and book work via zoom and personal study this week and the next phase is practical application. We are unable to maintain social distancing while working together for practical application; this is what lead to the decision to pause PFO. We will remain at JAARS during the 6-week pause; we want to be ready to go if the order is lifted and we can resume early.

So, what are we doing with our extra time?

I think a lot of us are asking that question right now; the “break” of quarantine has more than worn off and we are looking for things to do. We are not in short-supply of things to do here. Anna and the kids were cool before it was cool as they started home-schooling in January. They continue with that each morning and they are progressing well through the semester. Lydia is getting better and better at reading every day and Jude’s cursive is beautiful and far better than most adults. Our downstairs neighbor; Grandma Irene as the kids call her, is a seamstress and has coordinated a sewing team here at JAARS. She found out that I (Daniel) sew and was persistent about recruiting me. The JAARS sewing team has produced over 1000 masks for the local hospitals and is also sewing masks for those who live and work on JAARS campus. I am also working on my FCC (Federal Communications Commission) radio license. This is personal study that I hope to complete and test on before PFO resumes. Assuming PFO resumes on June 1^st and stays on schedule we will complete PFO around August 7^th.

“Hey, weren’t you supposed to leave for Kenya on July 9^th?!”

Yes, that was the plan. For now, Kenya’s border is closed so we will now depart as soon as PFO is complete and Kenya’s border re-opens. I realize there are a lot of “assuming’s” and “if’s” in this plan as it is all a little nebulous right now. All our decisions and plans have been made prayerfully and in conjunction with JAARS’ and AIM’s leadership.

This past weekend as we celebrated Easter we reflected on what the disciples went through in that in-between as they waited. It rang true as we are also in a season of waiting. They buried Jesus on Friday and prepared burial spices but could not return to the grave to apply the spices because it was sabbath. They spent a day which should have been restful and worshipful in mourning. They knew the prophecies, Jesus spoke about returning; but there still must have been doubt weighing heavy with the darkness of grief. Song writer Andrew Peterson says, this is…

“the storm before the calm,

the cold before the warm,

the tears before the song,

sometimes all I see is darkness,

this is the dark before the dawn.”

Though these times are uncertain and many things are unknown, the reality is that our relationship with God should remain one of trust. God knew COVID-19 would happen when he helped us bring in our support in time to be at PFO. God knew borders would close as He prepared missionaries to depart for the field. When God told Jeremiah; a prophet in captivity, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope,” (Jeremiah 29:11) He knew this promise would only come after the people remained in captivity for a time (verse 10).

“And I could finally believe

The king had loved me all along

I had a dream that I was waking

At the burning edge of dawn.”

I encourage you find peace as you rest in His sovereignty. None of this is a surprise to Him and He has plans for you, but they may come after the dark, the dark before the dawn.

I will leave you with a quote from JRR Tolkien’s “Return of the King.”

“…the thought pierced him that in the end the Shadow was only a small and passing thing: there was light and high beauty forever beyond its reach.”

We know that COVID-19 has impacted each of you as well. We would love to be able to pray for your specific needs. Don’t hesitate to contact us and let us know how this has changed your lives and ways we can pray for you. We are connecting with God on your behalf.

Remember, the darkness is only a small and passing thing and the light of His glory is forever beyond it’s reach.