Kolonia, Pohnpei
Wednesday, January 1, 2014
.
New Year, New Chapter, New Season
This New Year has marked a new chapter and new season in our lives. There is a saying that my Messianic Jewish friend uses often, "Happenstance is not a kosher word." It wasn't by happenstance that on January 1st of this new year, my Pohnpeian promise brother, David Epina arrived in Pohnpei after being away from his home island for thirteen years. I have been communicating with David through Skype this past year and we have been dreaming about him coming back from the U.S. to live in Pohnpei so that we can together carry the love and the glory of God here in Pohnpei and to the ends of the earth. Those dreams accelerated into our current living reality. David was able to spend seven days with my parents in the San Francisco Bay Area during Christmas, which was another unexpected blessing. Soon David's wife and child will also move here to Pohnpei.
David arriving at Pohnpei State Airport
David and I reunited in Pohnpei
.
I had the privilege of leading David to Christ back in 1999 when I was a pastor with The Salvation Army. Ever since then, we have not only been close friends, but promise brothers. It is his mother and siblings that we currently live with in Komwonlaid. My family and I left Pohnpei in late 2000 and came back in summer of 2012, while David left Pohnpei in summer of 2000 and has now returned in early 2014. Altogether, David has been away from Pohnpei for longer than I have, yet our reunion together here on this beautiful island that we call home and where we first met has been a wonderful one. The dreams, visions and plans that Papa God has given us together for this island and beyond are already coming to pass.
Mikvah at Lidakika Beach
Mikvah at Lidakika Beach
Mikvah at Lidakika Beach
.
After David arrived at the airport, we all headed to Lidakika Beach where my son, David, Nionoh Dio, our Messianic Jewish friends and I all performed "mikvah," which is what Jews do every Shabbat to symbolize the washing away of the filth picked up from living in this sinful world of the past, and having a fresh start. As our first act of the New Year and David's arrival in Pohnpei, we all experienced "mikvah" together, as we are leaving the past behind us and pressing on to what Yeshua has for us in this new season, new chapter, New Year.
.
Christian Young
David and I in Pohnpei - late 1999
Me, my son and David in Pohnpei - early 2014
No comments:
Post a Comment