Community

Wednesdays are one of my favorite days of the week, probably only second to Sunday, because of the weekly SAM (South American Mission) Prayer Meeting. Each Wednesday afternoon a group of missionaries gets together for a time of worship, usually a short lesson, prayer, and supper. I haven't been able to go too often, but when I do I feel like it's quite a treat! Songs and messages in English, hanging out with friends, it's just a good time.
Well tonight was something a little different- celebrating the two boys of the group that are graduating this year. It was fun to hear them share some of their future plans and watch a little slide show of pictures. The most enjoyable part though, I think, was having four different people of the group (I would guess there's around 30 that usually attend) get up and share stories and words of advice to the graduates. I loved the sense of community that I felt with them. Some of their teachers shared, some friends, and the director of the school. I just loved how it was almost like the small town feel I get back home- they're such a tight knit little group. Their kids have grown up together, and they've shared each others burdens for years at this prayer meeting and out on the battle field, whatever their specific "missions" call them to here. I couldn't help but want to be part of such a connected, caring community. I feel somewhat connected to the one here of course, but I've only been here for such a short time- I look forward to having a support team like that some day. Whether it be here or back home in Wisconsin or somewhere else- I feel like our culture screams such an independece that we forget it's good to be interdependent too, sharing each others' lives, through both good times and times of struggle. I admire the family feel they have, and the love they have for one another. I don't want to misrepresent the community of my home church, for example, but I feel like here they just do life together, and I think there's an aspect of that that we miss out on back home. Anyways, it was just very comforting and encouraging to me. It was one of those moments that my heart just felt at home. I like those moments.