I was so blessed to once again travel to Chiang Mai, Thailand and enjoy the annual Friends Network retreat. This is a beautiful gift that Friends network provides each January to all the FN missionaries in Asia. I had been looking forward to this retreat since I returned from the last one! It’s a wonderful time of community and fellowship with other missionaries in the field. Friendships are cultivated, souls are refreshed and lessons are learned.
After landing in Thailand (and a little fighting with my e-sim card), I was able to secure my ride and head to the resort. Thailand is known as the “Land of Smiles” and I could see why. My kind driver played relaxing music as we headed to the resort and I watched Chiang Mai go by the car window.
Waking up the next morning and greeting all my wonderful friends at breakfast was so amazing. A year had gone by but we all picked up like it was yesterday. It was in that moment God really comforted me and told me I wasn’t alone.
The theme of this year was “Ineffective Missionaries” which sounds rather contradictory. Shouldn’t missionaries be effective? Yes, but what about the times hard work falls flat, Bible studies go unattended, and friendships are lost for one reason or another. In those times it can be very easy to spiral into a mentality of frustration and self doubt.
One session at the retreat was focused on the story of the man with the withered hand in Mark 3.
Another time Jesus went into the synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. 2 Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath. 3 Jesus said to the man with the shriveled hand, “Stand up in front of everyone.”
4 Then Jesus asked them, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they remained silent.
5 He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored.
Ever heard of Hendrick Goltzius? I hadn’t either. He was an artist in the 1500’s who used engraving tools to create masterworks. His work is truly beautiful. Amazing due to the fact that he had a malformed right hand. More amazing still is that his deformed hand was perfectly suited to hold his carving tools. Because of his hand, he was able to create beautiful pieces of art.
We all have withered hands in one way or another. Holding my insecurity out in front of a crowd is the last thing I want to do. But Jesus tells the man to stretch out his hand and in that moment uses it for His glory.
I learned so many amazing things during this retreat so it’s hard to pick just one focus for this newsletter. But one word that I want to take away from this retreat is “Expectant”. I don’t have all the answers. Some days I just feel plain ineffective and all I see are my flaws and failures (my withered hands). But God has never been in the business of recruiting perfect people.
As I write this newsletter I think of all of you wonderful supporters. I’m right there with you watching and waiting to see what God will do in Korea. I’m just as expectant as you as I write this. Perhaps we’ll never know the results on this side of heaven, but God can use our withered hands to do His work.
To God be the glory.
In what ways has God asked you to stretch out your withered hand? How are you seeing God bring restoration and beauty?
I’d love to hear from you!
Thank you for your continued support! Until next time!
-Lauren <3
