Update Re-Entry
Dec 21 2025
Re-Entry
The wheels of our airliner touched down on Minnesota pavement at 1pm Tuesday December 16th, three months and 16 days after we left.
Our last three weeks in Germany were less structured than most, but still busy. I (Patience) was invited to share at two different Moms’ groups. We were invited for afternoon tea and for dinner in several homes. We continued counseling with some couples. We met with future Bible college leadership. We visited Christmas Markets in Germany, France and Switzerland. We received a border crossing certificate and de-registered our residence so as to leave Germany in good standing with the option to return. We ate through most of our groceries and had our final döner kebaband Hefeweizen—ah, we will miss some of the local cuisine!
The return trip went about as smoothly as it could (except for wandering the Paris airport for two hours in search of the hotel shuttle…). Flights were on time, passports were stamped without question, lines were not too long. We have come to prefer a nine-hour daytime flight (where you can watch movies and chat with seatmates) over a nine-hour overnight flight (where you desperately try to sleep but really can’t). Either way it’s my least favorite part of European travel.
Everyone here asks how the trip was and how we are doing now. The sound bite answer is “Great to be home with [family, small group, furry Murray, comfy couch, everyone speaking English]!” But when invited to share more, the array of stories to choose from is vast and we rarely start with the same ones. Casual conversation feels inadequate to communicate a life-changing adventure—yet we try.
It is essential that we try. Because it helps us remember. There was good reason for the Lord to tell the Israelites, “Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” (Deuteronomy 11:18-19) Because we humans forget quickly.
In Germany, in a tiny apartment with few distractions, we were largely focused on the mission of building relationships and noticing who God put in our paths. Back home now, I can get wrapped up in Christmas shopping and Cal can binge watch football games…and the surrender and obedience God was cultivating in our hearts fades into the background. I suspect our only hope is to keep talking and sharing--with each other and whenever invited by others--until our missional mindset becomes the new normal even when surrounded by the trappings of the old normal.
We do not know what God has in mind next. When you drive using GPS to navigate, you can zoom out and see the whole route from start to finish. But if you want to actually be guided through each step, you have to zoom in close so you can see the next turn. Surrender means taking each next turn without seeing the final destination. This is going to take a lot of practice. And trust. And we will make mistakes. I am so glad we serve a God of grace and forgiveness.
Here. I. Am.
Humbled by your majesty.
Covered by your grace so free…
Your grace has found me just as I am
Empty handed, but alive in Your hands…
From Majesty (Here I Am) by Delirious?
The adventure will continue. I don’t know how often a blog post will seem appropriate, but if you’re subscribed, you’ll get a notification at your selected frequency (daily, weekly or monthly) when there is a new post. (And you can always go to the website to see more photos and read previous updates too.) We really appreciate so many people caring enough to read and even comment on these posts. Stay tuned!