It’s 4pm on Thursday the 1st April 2010.
It can’t be an ‘April Fools’ trick because it’s the afternoon. Pip has just left the tranzsend office as she heads out the door to South Asia to embark on the rest of her life as a tranzsend overseas worker. Well we hope its for a very long time anyway.
Having known Pip since she was 6 years old I find myself rather melancholic for some reason. Watching this young girl grow into a young woman who has a definite and special call on her life has been something extra ordinary to witness. I had the privilege of speaking at her commissioning last weekend and she certainly has had an amazing life so far. Great parents who showed the way, a full church life that anchored her faith, friends and colleagues who encouraged her and have been inspired because of her all add to the distinct call to mission she has.
I won’t get to see her off on Wednesday, but I know it will be an important time for her and her family as she steps onto an aeroplane to being a new life.
I am reminded of Rosalie McGeorge, another young woman of similar age, character and devotion to God, who stepped onto a ship 124 years ago to begin a new life in the same part of the world that Pip is heading to. What a feeling it must be.
What a legacy we have as New Zealand Baptists. Young men and woman of fine character and devotion to the Lord called to leave the comforts of Aotearoa, New Zealand, with missionary zeal to change the world, serve their God and witness the changing of lives of those they choose to live with. Awesome I say and bring it on for more to do the same.
Why do I write this reflection under the Future tab? Simple! Young men and woman like Pip are the future and their zeal to reach the nations is something we, back here in New Zealand, need to taste and support.
If you feel called, give us a call we would love to talk with you. If you are investigating there is an awesome opportunity to heed The Call in September. 01-04 Sept 10 Destination World is creating a space where you can explore mission… check it out at www.destinationworld.net.
Farewell Pip, as Frederick Buechner said once, “The vocation for you is the one in which your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.”
Peter Mihaere.
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