Tears welled up in my eyes and choked my singing. After closing prayer, I slipped upstairs to our walk-in-closet and sat on a stool, allowing the tears to flow freely. We’d just had our last worship at home with my parents, and I was grieving the long separation we would soon experience. “Lord,” I prayed, “I know You called us to go work with the Great River People. I don’t doubt Your call, and I don’t want to back out. But Lord, it’s hard to leave the people I love so much!”

I heard God say to my heart, “I know.”

Feeling I hadn’t quite made my pain clear enough for Him, I continued. “Lord, I’m going to the other side of the world. I may never see some of them again. This really hurts!”

Again, God responded, “I know.”

Light shone into my heart as I realized what He meant. He had been separated from His Father, too, with a lot more at stake! He had gone through this hurt when He launched to His earthly mission. He really did understand! I sat there, still crying, but with a new sense of awe for my God. As time propelled us closer and closer to our launch date, my sadness remained sharp, but I was comforted because I knew God truly understood.

As I write, we are en route to Cambodia. My heart aches with the sadness of separation from my dear ones in the States. But surpassing the ache is my desire to share the love of my God with the Great River People. To give them a glimpse of the God who loves them so much that He left His Father to come on a perilous mission to adopt them into His family. Oh, how I hope they will see His great love for them and respond!

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