Departing Missionaries - April 13, 2015

April 13, 2015

2 Timothy 4:1-8

I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, 

who shall judge the quick and the dead 
at his appearing and his kingdom; 

Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season;

 reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; 

but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, 

and shall be turned unto fables. 

But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, 
do the work  of an evangelist, 

make full proof of thy ministry. 

For I am now ready to be offered, 

and the time of my departure is at hand. 

I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, 

I have kept the faith:

Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown 
of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, 

shall give me at that day:  and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
 *  *  *  *  *

Another group of missionaries successfully completed their missions -- eleven elders and one sister.  They are returning home not as the kids they were when they entered the mission field, but as mature, experienced returned missionaries.  It's a remarkable transition.

We had the traditional departing dinner followed by a testimony meeting at the villa, and then we walked to the gelateria for one final gelato.  "Bee the best you can bee" is the mission theme, but gelato is our motto.  We have loved these missionaries and it's hard to see them go, but in our hearts we know it is time for them to progress to another phase in their lives.  We wish them well.  They might return home to different areas of the world, but no matter where they go they will always be "our missionaries".

Departing Missionaries - April 2015