Lebanon/Syria #13: Mutually Encouraged
Mutually Encouraged
It is, after all, the essence of these journeys with The Outreach Foundation— guided, as we seek to be, by Paul’s words to the Church in Rome: “I long to see you …that we might be mutually encouraged by one another’s faith.” (Romans 1).
In many ways, it seems like such a simple thing: to just show up. Really? Go that far? Spend that much money? Take so much time away from jobs and families? Yes, it is a simple thing to just show up. And yet, it is profound, if we understand it as our (imperfect) attempt to imitate what Jesus did as he made his journey towards his cross. His incarnation—our incarnational-ness, perhaps.
As this team of 10 made its way from Lebanon to Syria and then back to Lebanon again, we worshiped exuberantly with congregations, absorbed some of the weariness of pastors serving in hard places, and shared in visions for service with partners who minister “to the least of these.” We were often overwhelmed by extravagant hospitality and humbled by oh-so-many manifestations of a persevering faith and faithfulness—both individually and collectively—in countries broken by war or crippled by economic disaster.
If there was one constant refrain from so many with whom we met, it was this: “Your visit is such an encouragement to us.”
That was enough?
No, that was everything.
by Marilyn Borst (with enormous gratitude for this team)