Just Kamping

Sarah and I just moved away from Okinawa. I shutter even writing that sentence. Our season there was very sweet and the thought of it ending still sends a shiver down my spine. I often say to myself in disbelief, “this can’t be happening”.

Ironically, this is what I had been planning for. Since I first stepped on the island as a single guy in 2017, I’ve been planning to leave the Air Force and enter seminary. Now with a marriage, two cats, and a baby on the way, my plans have finally come to fruition. But to make this happen we had to leave our tropical home. We had to leave the deep friendships we’ve made over the last few years and the church we love. I’ll fail to write words that truly unpack the feelings both Sarah and I have. Okinawa was a place of firsts: our first “married” home, our first church together, our first opportunity to serve together in a ministry context. There were so many lows, only to be outweighed by far more highs. In fact, it wasn’t until the end that God blessed us with clarity to look back upon the mountains and valleys of our experience and see the story God had been writing the whole time. It is beautiful. Reflecting on all God has done still brings us tears of thankfulness, but also grief. We know our Okinawa story is complete and that makes us sad. A new chapter is beginning and we don’t know how it will read. We didn’t know what Okinawa would be like either.

Today Sarah and I began the process of unloading our storage compartment and moving items into our new home. We’ve had a restful but jetlagged few days at Sarah’s parents’ home. Our cats are recovering from their five traumatic plane rides to get here. There’s no telling how this story is going to unfold, but if our last is any indication then we know this: we serve a good God, who is also our Father. He knows our every need and only brings us difficulty to form us more and more into the image of His son, our Lord Jesus. He provides for our every need, even needs we don’t know we have. He graciously answers our prayers, even when we think He’s not listening. He plants His people where He wants them; He bestows on them opportunities to serve Him by serving others. He does not forsake those who seek Him. He is the good shepherd, who never loses His sheep.

We leave Okinawa sad to be leaving our friends. They loved us to the very end, serving us in ways we cannot repay. They sent us off with a shining example of how to love and serve others. Sarah and I can’t wait to get busy doing the same. Soli Deo Gloria! We’ll be praying for you Oki fam!

(Photo by Jessica Bowers Photography)