Twelve Stones

Joshua 4: 5-7

 “…and Joshua said to them, ‘Cross again to the ark of the LORD your God into the middle of the Jordan, and each of you take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Israel.  Let this be a sign among you, so that when your children [or you] ask later, saying, ‘What do these stones mean to you?’ then you shall say to them [and to yourself], ‘Because the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD; when it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off.’  So these stones shall become a memorial to the sons of Israel forever.”

For those of you who do not yet know, our family has been given an exciting opportunity.  My husband, Michael, has been offered a short-term work assignment in Russia.  Yes, you read that correctly - Russia.  Brrrrrhhhh….  J In short, we will be stationed in southern Moscow for 2-3 years; Michael will work on pet food and the girls and I will go along for the adventure!  

I write this post for several reasons.  The primary motivation though, is a selfish one.  You see, recently, I have been re-reading the book of Joshua… And, I am struck.  Joshua is a man who remembers.  He sets up visual clues/references (a.k.a. stone altars), he rehearses God’s truth – passed down from his predecessor, Moses (to himself and to the Israelites – Joshua 8:34) and he consistently calls to mind/remembrance all that the Lord has accomplished for His people (even immediately prior to his death – Joshua 24).  And, THAT is what this is for me.  This is my own “twelve stones,” my own memorial – to recount and remember what the Lord has done.  I want to remember.  I will need to remember.  Help me, Lord, to remember -- Your incredible grace and faithfulness.

Therefore, what follows is a brief rehearsal of what the Lord has done to bring us here – to this decision, to this move, to this place.  I’m setting up stones.

1.        Rewind.  Two months ago.  It is Friday, around noon.  I stand in the kitchen, preparing lunch for my girls.  Phone rings.  It’s Michael, so, of course, I answer.  Put the phone up to my ear, and spread on more peanut butter.  I say, “Hey, what’s up?”  His voice sounds different somehow… “Well, I need to talk to you.”  Me, “Ummm, okay.  Is everything okay?”  I put the peanut butter down.  “Yeah. I just got out of a meeting… and they want us to go to Russia.”  I laugh.  “This is a joke.  You’re kidding me, right?”  He chuckles too, “I know… Sounds crazy, but, it’s not a joke.  I’m serious.”  Okay.  Wow.  Russia.  Okay.  “I’ll tell you more about it when I get home.  I gotta go.”  Me, slightly dizzy, “Okay, love you, bye.” 

 

Later in the afternoon, 2 p.m., to be exact… Rest time at the Thatcher’s.  I hop in the shower.  And, I start to cry.  Here’s the crazy part.  I am NOT crying from sorrow.  I am floored by this thought, “Was this what that was for?”  Peace floods my little heart.  Tears of joyful submission run down my face.  I will do, or go, or be wherever my great God wants me to be.  That is a miracle. 

2.       That happened on Friday; the company needed to know if we would consider the position by Monday.  J  How could we make such a big decision in two days? 

Rewind again.  It is the end of summer.  A position within the company looks interesting to Michael; the position is in Ohio.  Another one pops up -- in Reno.  That means a move.  That means we leave our home, our friends/family and our church here.  Could we do that?  Could we leave our church?  Out flow the tears of sadness…

Weeks go by.  We talk.  We pray.  We seek counsel.  We talk some more.  We pray - a lot.  Other people pray.  I ask for clarity.  And, then Russia gets tossed into our laps.  Suddenly, the situation became clear.  The Lord had been preparing us.  We could make a well thought out and united decision – in less than two days.  Yes, we would consider moving to Russia.  Michael e-mailed his boss on Sunday night.  Stone two, in place. 

3.       First response.  “It’s like we’re getting paid to be missionaries!”  I smile at that now… Not because it isn’t somewhat true, but because it is somewhat naïve.  Being a missionary IS exciting, but it is also challenging.  We have so much to learn.  First, I know two words in Russian – hello and good-bye.  I would guess I need to expand my vocabulary a bit before I share the Gospel with an unsuspecting clerk at the market.  Although, I don’t really do that now – share the Gospel with my Publix cashier – and we don’t even have a language barrier. Hmmmm…  By the way, where do I shop in Russia? Open air markets seem a little incongruous… and I don’t think Costco has arrived in Russia quite yet.  Do they have peanut butter?  How do I get there, or anywhere?  How do I know how much something is?  How do I even know how much I have?  My head starts to spin…. 

Enter Mars Petcare Global Relocation Plan, a.k.a. a very practical and very real mercy of God.  They have a plan.  They have people.  They are prepared. 

At this very moment, we have a team of professionals working on our move.  They have given me a daily checklist of everything I might need to do to ready myself and our family for “the big move.”  Overwhelming and freeing.  But, no need to worry, I will not be moving myself; nope, they will send a team to pack, load and ship whatever stuff I want to bring along.  They set up our appointments with tax guys, school headmasters, realtors, etc.  They supply a vehicle.  They provide our new home.  They take care of international schooling for our three girls.  They fly our family back home yearly.  And, that, is just a short list of the vast and sundry provisions we have been offered. 

The Lord is letting us go, and making it easy.    

 

4.       There is more.  We are able to keep our home.  We have a place to come back to.  Question is, who will be here while we’re away?  Enter the perfect candidate – Ms. Newell.  J  No striving.  No worry.  No work.  Just, wow.  I mean, wow. 

5.       In the midst of this, Michael is experiencing his busiest season of travel.  Work projects.  Russia visits.  Pet food factories.  Mexico.  It’s been just me and the girls a lot.  Being the sinner I am, I can grow to resent this.  I can focus on myself, my feelings, my preferences, ME, ME, ME.  (Yuck!)  In short, I can be quite unpleasant and self-pitying – hard, but true.  Yet, somehow, right now, I have joy.  I have contentment.  I am okay.  I am actually patient with my children for days on end (well, with slips here and there).  Those three little girls and I have fun!  I mean, we play Go Fish almost every day and throw a dance party on the weekend!  Raise the roof!

How did my attitude change?  What happened to me?  My great God did it.  Me, responsible?  No way; I am a self-absorbed, rigid mess.  But, in the Hands of Christ, I become something different.  I am made new.  I have His Spirit.  I have Him.  He is my source of joy, contentment and strength.  There is absolutely no other explanation.

6.       The traveling also affects another member of our family – the man doing the globe-trotting, my husband.  I am hard pressed, however, to recall any moment wherein he complained, grumbled or resented this aspect of his job.  In fact, the lack of negativity almost led me to believe he liked traveling.  Almost…  The truth is, he does not enjoy being away.  He wants to be home.  He likes being with us way better.  J  Yet, he chooses not to burden me with the discomfort and hardship associated with this part of his profession. 

In fact, his office in Russia is located about an hour (or more) south of Moscow.  In spite of this, he wants our family to live within the city of Moscow.  Why?  There are a variety of reasons, but I believe that the main motivation is ME.  He is considering my comfort, my ease, my adjustment above his own.  He sacrifices on my behalf.  That, too, is a miracle –made possible by the saving and changing power of Christ.  Help me, Lord, to treasure this man more (but, never above you). 

7.       Speaking of family, there are three additional little people to think of: Rory, Claire and Jane.  Their response to Russia?  “Really?  What’s it like there?” Me, “Cold, snowy…”  Claire, “Okay.”  J  Rory, “Oh, cool!  Can we go to China, too?”  I smile, “Ummmm, maybe.  Let’s go look at a map.” 

As time has passed, they have become more accepting, more enthusiastic.  They could cry, but they don’t.  (They might later.)  They could be angry and upset, but they aren’t.  (At least, for now.)  They could be worried, but they’re not.  Questions do come up.  Sometimes we have answers, sometimes we don’t.  Regardless, they trust us.  They know why we go.  They get it (as much as they/we can).  And, that’s a blessing. 

8.       Surprisingly, other people are excited too.  No one, not one single person, has expressed anything but affirmation.  Family.  Friends.  Elders.  Work mates.  Acquaintances.  Dance teachers.  Hair dresser.  Sitters at my gym.  Doctors.  And more.  Most commonly, I hear – “How exciting!”  And, you know, it is.  It really is. 

 

Certainly, our sweet family and friends are sad to see us leave them for a time.  In the midst of that, though, they offer overwhelming encouragement and support.  It feels like we are being sent off with a great, big bear hug and a few sniffles.  How incredibly gracious of our Lord and His people to love us this way!  Thank you.  Thank you so very much.  We are so grateful, and we love you. 

9.        We are being sent TO something.  Not only does Michael have a job he is excited about, we have a church.  A few years ago, a handful of Russians descended upon our church (Community Bible Church) in Nashville; one of those was/is Pastor of Russia Bible Church in southern Moscow (the exact location we planned to live).  Michael shared a Thanksgiving meal with him at TGIFriday’s this week.  I know, very festive.  As I talked with Michael, it was evident how encouraged he was from their conversation; and, he said this, “They had been praying for an English-speaking couple…”  Not even surprised, are you?  J

Now, that couple may not be us, as they would like the pair to teach English as an outreach opportunity…  Only the Lord knows.  I, on the other hand, trust, wait and watch.  What will He do next?!

10.    As some are aware, I homeschool Rory, our oldest daughter; she turns 7 in a few short weeks!  From the beginning, our plan has always been to homeschool for the first few years, and then, send her out.  With this move, we are sending her sooner than later.  In fact, she will likely finish first grade in Moscow, at the British International School.  This decision was spear-headed by my husband, who, from the start felt strongly about this.  I was open.  I believe that God saves whom He chooses, often in spite of a parent’s best intentions.  Home school.  Private school.  Public school.  No school.  Nothing can thwart God’s will.  No man.  No circumstance.  No thing.  No school.  Also, I want to follow my husband’s leading.  The Lord has placed him over our family for our own good and protection.  I trust him.    

It was Rory’s response, though, that surprised me.  See, she really enjoys her Tuesday tutorial.  I drop her off at 8:30, and pick her up at 2:30.  She hasn’t had a bad day yet.  J  So, I assumed she couldn’t wait to do that every day.  When told about her change in schooling, here were her concerns: “How will I know what happens when I’m gone?  I won’t be with Mommy and my sisters… I’ll miss them.”  Next, “What about all the books I haven’t gotten to read yet?”  And, “How will I finish school?”  When talking through those issues and more, she asked me, “What if they teach the stuff about us coming from monkeys?”  I said, “Well, you can tell the teacher that you understand what she is explaining… And, if ever asked more about it, feel free to tell her what you think is right (God created the world and everything in it).”  Rory looks at me very seriously, “Will they kick me out of school for that?” 

I thank God for that.  I am so grateful for the conversations I have with her.  I am so thankful for her.  Another stone.

11.   As you can imagine, our family has had a lot to process over these weeks.  With that, have come a lot of questions (mostly from me).  Can I get to a library with English books?  What would a normal day look like?  Where do I go to get a haircut? Grocery shop? Buy clothes?  What are the things I use every day that they don’t have?  Could/should I bring those or learn to live without?  What’s the coffee situation?  Usually, these queries are brought to my husband.  He answers as much as he can. 

What I have seen through this though, is how well he has shepherded our family in this decision/transition/change.  Let me not imply that he is “perfect”.  He would ardently assert he is far from it.  Many years ago, we made a move – a career change – filled with foolish mistakes and arrogant missteps.  This has been completely and drastically different in every respect.  Michael has sought guidance and input from those around us.  To the extent that he can, he has carefully weighed the possible impact and implications of this move to/on our family.  He asks lots of questions himself.  He checks his own heart.  He helps us check ours.  Anxiety is often absent, because of his attitude.  Instead, there is a confidence in our home - in the man who leads us and in the God who leads him… because we are about to embark on a great adventure. 

12.   “The sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad called the [stone] altar WITNESS, ‘For,’ they said, ‘it is a witness between us that the LORD is God.’” – Joshua 22:34    

 

My final rock…

“But you are to cling to the LORD your God, as you have done to this day.” – Joshua 23:8

There will be days of hardship ahead.  I am sure I will miss and long for the rich, deep fellowship I have here.  I will probably feel isolated, lonely and, maybe, even afraid.  I may get lost.  I may cry – a lot.  I will make several mistakes.  Troubles will come that I did not foresee.  Suffering is a guarantee. 

Yet, let me return to this WITNESS.  Let me look at my stones.  Let me remember that my Lord is God.  Let me cling to Him. 

It is for those moments and those days that I place these Twelve Stones.