It's incredible, really, how quickly our hearts and lives have intertwined with this community, particularly through UVC (our school) and Wellspring (our church). In some ways it almost feels surreal -- truly, I didn't know it was possible to love so many people so deeply in so short a time. Granted, much has happened since we've been here: we learned how to love each other as husband and wife, we found out we were pregnant with Charis, we had Charis (in dramatic fashion), we worked in a several different jobs, etc. Perhaps the intensity of all of those events caused our hearts to subconsciously need people to love us "quickly" and boldly, and we have been overwhelmed with the response.
I could name time after time that the Lord has provided for us and revealed Himself to us through the love and generosity of our friends here: lending us cars for weeks when ours broke down; rushing to the hospital waiting room moments after Charis was born; inviting us to holiday meals with their own families; providing us with financial gifts (anonymously); babysitting Charis so we can go on dates; inviting us over for countless meals and nights of fellowship. I don't say these things to boast about how much we've been given, but to boast about the people who God has surrounded us with -- people who have showed us what the love of Christ looks like.
As we leave, one thing that Zach and I are somewhat struggling with is that we feel like we have received SO much more than we have given to this place. Yes, we have given of our time and our gifts and our love -- but it seems so insignificant in comparison to the abundant generosity that we've received. In fact, the term "generosity" has almost been redefined during our tenure here. People here are generous not because they want a thank you note or because they feel it is their duty or responsibility; they are generous because they love with total sincerity. We have also had to learn how to become gracious recipients of this generosity because at times, it has almost felt like too much (How could we deserve this?). The truth is, we don't deserve it -- but we recognize it as a "good and perfect gift" from the Lord.
Not only has the Lord blessed us with an incredible community of friends here, but we've also had some wonderful (very "Oregon") experiences that we'll cherish forever. We cut down our first Christmas tree in the snowy Umpqua Forest; we drove 42 hours across the country in 3 days; we went fishing on the coast for the first time; Zach shot a gun for the first time; we hiked along forested trails to see beautiful waterfalls and ravines; Zach climbed a 10,000 foot mountain; and we've even (sort of) become Oregon sports fans (I'm a Duck, and Zach's a Beaver). There is so much new and different about this culture, and it's been a joy experiencing the facets of life here that we couldn't necessarily find in Chicago, Nashville, or Cleveland.
As I think about driving away from this place one week from today, part of me can't even let my mind go there yet because tears come already. I think it's also difficult because I have only moved twice in my life, and both times involved a graduation (one from high school, one from college). When you graduate, it is a bit easier to move away because you know that everyone else is leaving with you; you are all transitioning to a new life, job, marriage, etc. One of the hardest things about leaving here is that we're the only ones leaving! Roseburg life will continue as normal when we're gone, and I'll miss being a part of that.
Ultimately, we could not be more thankful for the year and a half that the Lord has given us here. A friend summed it up simply by saying that our time here has been "short but sweet" -- and we mean that, of course, in the deepest, most profound sense of the phrase. We have cherished this time and are ready to move forward knowing that we have a new community in Roseburg, Oregon that will walk with us (though from afar) from this point forward. We love you, friends, and are so thankful for all that are to us. This is "See you later" and not "Goodbye" -- see you in 2 years!
And just because I want to brag on our Roseburg-born daughter. . . :)
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