I Will Love and I Will Miss

I can’t quite believe that my first of 3 scheduled years in the Gambia is almost up. It’s a strange experience preparing to go back home for 'furlough' / 'home leave' / 'home assignment' / whatever you want to call it. For me it will be a mixture of family time / seeing dear friends / visiting partner churches / seeking refreshment at an excellent-looking conference and convention / enjoying some holiday / checking in with Crosslinks (my sending mission society) / a dentist appointment (largely to follow up on this nightmare...) and other admin...

So I’ll keep pretty busy. And I anticipate it will feel very odd leaving transporting away from the life that I’ve spent a huge amount of energy beginning to get used to here in the Gambia (before returning after 2 months, God willing). As I look forwards, here are things I will love (and won’t love) and will miss (and won’t miss) as I travel:

I will LOVE…

1. Beautiful green England and its rolling hills; 
   
2. Country walks and pub lunches; 
3. Seeing my dear family; 
4. Church and being well fed with good Jesus-exalting Bible teaching; 
5. The privilege of a reliable supply of both electricity and water - wow; 
6. FRIENDS and long summer evenings together; 
7. Jumpers, carpets and duvets; 
8. Strawberries and raspberries; 
9. Sausages; 
10. Jesus being “the same yesterday, and today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). 

I won’t love…

1. British grumpiness; 
2. The materialistic and sexualised West; 
3. The exhaustion of having the same conversations hundreds of times; 
4. The disappointment of some people just not caring that much; 
5. Having to say goodbyes again. 

I will MISS…

1. My dog, Rufus; 
2. Going for a quick surf; 
3. Constant sunshine and warmth; 
4. Stunning sunsets over the sea just a short walk away; 
5. The expectation always to smile and greet people; 
6. Mama (and her cooking!); 
7. The privilege of opening God’s word with my students; 
8. Fresh mangoes, guavas, bananas...; 
9. The friends I’m seeking to get to know; 
10. My faithful co-workers here and my new church family.

I won’t miss…

1. Chasing up never-ending bureaucratic headaches; 
2. The police checkpoint gauntlet every time I drive anywhere; 
3. Miscommunications and misunderstandings due to cultural clashes; 
4. Political and security tension; 
5. Being stared at everywhere; 
6. Oh and the mosquitoes, cockroaches, ants, termites... Though I’ve kind of got used to them!

If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.

Psalm 139:9-10