Letting Go and Saying Goodbye.

In February of 2017 I (Julie) was looking at a piece of land in Bonfil a community where we serve with one of our program managers.  We were considering it as a potential site to build a Back2Back education/community center. As we walked around we came to a tree, and at first I was confused as I looked at the tree. Something about the tree puzzled me but I couldn’t figure out why. Then it struck me. I was looking down at a tree that was completely horizontal - laying on its side. And yet from this fallen tree, there were new trees – saplings - that were growing straight up from the trunk. We all just stood there staring at the tree and the owner of the property told us the tree had fallen over in 2005 during hurricane Wilma.  She said that the tree was her favorite so she just couldn’t cut it down or remove it. And now twelve years later the fallen tree has produced four new trees. When we were standing there looking at the tree I felt God prompting me to take a picture so that I would remember it.

In times like these I sense God is telling me…. “Pay attention to this.” Or “I want you to remember this.” And this experience with the tree was one of those times.  I had no idea how God would use the image of that fallen tree many times over the following months. He used it to change my heart and my mind regarding what He was calling me to, which meant He was calling me away from Cancun. During this same season, I had made a new playlist for the times when I walk.  I call this my “walking with Jesus time.”  It’s when I pour my heart out to God and He helps me process things.  Many of the songs were about:  Trust, Surrender, and Faith.  And it was during one of my walks with Jesus I realized the image of the tree was a picture of surrender….of letting go, of laying down my life and trusting God.  He was asking me a very hard question: Could I let go of everything I held dear here in Cancun and trust Him with His plan?

When Julie shared this story with me, I was challenged as well. For six years, we have put our hearts and souls into the ministry here. Into the lives of the children and families we serve - into the staff we serve with - into the mission teams who came down to serve alongside us. I have told many people that these six years have been the hardest six years of our lives. But they have also been the most transformative and the most fulfilling. And although we didn’t know if we’d be here for 3 years or 30 years, we knew God had called us here to love and serve the marginalized. Frederick Buechner once said: “The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet.” I would add to this, that it’s also the place where your heart is broken and restored…. many times over. It is the place where hope reigns supreme, even in the midst of hard things.

So today we are transitioning into the next chapter of the story that God is writing. We know He is the best author. So, while leaving is very hard and we are grieving the losses, we are also very grateful and excited for the next opportunity God has given us to take the Strong Families program, as well as other programs to the other Back2Back sites. We are so thankful for all who support us and ask you to continue with your prayers and financial support.

There are two passages that God has been using to speak to me recently.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-4

There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:

a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance

Psalm 78:2-4

I will teach you hidden lessons from our past—
stories we have heard and known,
stories our ancestors handed down to us.
We will not hide these truths from our children;
we will tell the next generation
about the glorious deeds of the Lord,
about his power and his mighty wonders.

Thanks for reading this. And thanks for continuing to be part of our team as we continue our missionary journey, taking the good news (and the Strong Families program) to other countries. 

Humbly,

erick & julie