Ripping away at my stomach, the shockwaves of loss come unexpectedly. We have left Mongolia and will not live in that land again. It’s thirty years since we first moved to Asia and it has been an amazing journey. Living with the Mongolians has brought us much joy as we’ve seen God work, although there have been many heartaches along the way too. Often, the Mongolians challenged us to the very core of our beings as God used them to broaden our perspective, deepen our love for Him and them, and shape us into the people we are today.

              God understands our grief and kindly gifted us space to slow down, rest and reflect before we move back to Britain. Staying in a granny flat belonging to some friends of ours, we have loved walking the coast. Most of all we have enjoyed been a part of the church community here.

The church is not large but it has a huge heart for global mission. Diverse with nationalities from many corners of the world, it is rich with language and custom, overflowing with stories that thrill our hearts and lift our heads. God is using them to remind us that there are no restrictions on the gospel. It has no native land, people or continent; His word crosses all borders.

Mongolian Christians understand this. They love their country but at heart, they are nomads, eager to travel, cross boundaries and expand their horizons. I get it too, but… would God mind if I sat quietly for a while, found my feet in a new place and, well, settled for a world that is less tangled and complex? Just now it feels too costly to be a part of His mission in this world.

No sooner are the words spoken than the answer comes. ‘God so loved the world...’ His heart is to reach every place on the face of this globe, to extend His mercy to all the corners of the world. Whether that involves me in remaining at home or Him sending us to new places, it doesn’t matter, He has called me to wrestle in intercession for the world and He will not let my vision become myopic.

Praying for the world and reaching out with the good news connects me with those who are different. Those who may or may not know God, may or may not speak my language or even look like me. It feels risky; scary too, sometimes. This life of faith, that God calls us to live, forces me out of my supposedly safe world, making me brave when I feel shy or misunderstood. Participating with God enlarges my heart, enabling me to grow and mature in Him. It also fills me with stories that testify to this: the life of faith can be lived in every place, among every people.

© copyright Gillian Newham 2023