the honeymoon is over

We've been in America for 6 months. I can hardly believe it! One thing I can say for sure is that transition is not my forte. I'm not certain which transition was harder- to the Philippines or back to America, but both have been trying. For someone who's never lived overseas for an extended period of time it sounds absurd to think that it would be a challenge to come back to a country where we'd lived for 20+ years after only spending 2 years away. But for anyone who can relate, you know it's true. There's a "honeymoon stage" where everything is new and exciting. Then reality sets in. No one wants to hear your Philippines stories, yet you don't really have anything else to share. You're American yet somehow you think so differently. Culture stress takes its toll...again.

Some things I miss about our life in the Philippines:

• the breathtaking scenery at every corner- mountains, ocean, rice fields, flowers, it's endless 
• coconuts in our back yard, and front yard, and side yard, and street 
• the sound of laughter and screaming in our outdoor kitchen, even when my baby was sleeping, because it meant our friends were there 
• mangoes. y'all, I really miss the mangoes. 
• having my freckles counted by silly kids 
• watching those same kids grow in their knowledge of the Lord and His grace 
• our first home as a married couple and a family of 3 
• simplicity. I long for the accepted simplicity. 
• some of my very best friends 
• the fresh air blowing through our open windows 
• cold showers on hot days
• the need to depend on the Lord for the simplest of things, because I really couldn't do much on my own there  

 Someone once told me that being a Christian was harder in America than in Africa (his home country). That sounded like the craziest thing I'd ever heard, but it makes a lot more sense now. We have so much at our fingertips in America. I've found that it's quite easy to forget about the Lord and rely on our own strength. There were nights when I prayed for Isaiah almost all night as I fanned him in the sweltering tropical heat when the electricity went out. It was so hot for such a little guy. I haven't exactly prayed for that here. More than once I've laid him down and walked out of his room (hello! he has a room!) before I even realized that I didn't pray for him. The same God who kept us in the Philippines keeps us here. He protects us and provides for us and loves us o so deeply. I'm praying as we embark on the 7th month of life in an affluent land that I will press into Jesus, acknowledging who He is, and pray without ceasing. 

I'm thankful for where we are in our journey. We believe we are where we are supposed to be. Thank you to those of you who have been a support to us in our transition back to the States. We're very grateful for the encouragement, prayer, and gifts we've received. God has been faithful.

Here's a little update on our status in Nashville:

• We've continued worshipping at The Church at Antioch that I mentioned in a previous blog post. We also got plugged into a small group there. We're so very thankful for the bond that is Jesus. We really know very little about most of the people in the group, but because we all love Jesus, it's such a refreshing time each week. We look forward to knowing them more.
• We've connected with other believing neighbors here and started gathering weekly to pray for our apartment complex, challenge each other, and visit neighbors who may not know of Jesus.
• We've learned that the majority of our apartment complex is made up of Iraqi and Hispanic families. There are also Africans and a few Southeast Asians that we've seen. And other Caucasians and African Americans as well. The nations are truly represented in this little pocket of Nashville! Most of our community is made up of refugees, seeking a life of peace in a new land. Join us in praying they'd find peace in Jesus.  
• Josh got a job! For at least the next semester Josh is teaching at a Christian academy in Smyrna, TN. During his job search, Josh sensed that God was telling him to be a teacher. In the future he'll pursue a master's degree in education, but God has so graciously opened this opportunity to get some experience at a school where an education degree is unnecessary in the meantime. This is a huge answer to prayer! 
• Isaiah is growing so fast- he'll be a year old next month! He's doing well and learning much. He loves life and his laugh is contagious. We're impressed by his new tricks daily. 
• I (Autumn) am praying about creative ways to contribute to our income, be home with Isaiah, and create a stronger sense of community for the refugee women around me. A few ideas have been tossed around so please pray for God's will in how I will spend my time. 

It's crazy to imagine that six months ago the following pictures were our life!