Walk On (Doug)

School is now fully under way in Bethlehem. Classes have begun, changes have been made, and kids are already getting in trouble. Things march on seemingly as normal with one huge difference. We’re not there. We’re here now. We’ve moved to Fitchburg, MA and I am an associate pastor at a small inner-city church. The extent to which our world is different now than it was even 4 months ago is dizzying. I wish I had a dollar for every person who has asked us “Are you glad to be back?” or “Is it weird to be back?” or “Do you miss Bethlehem?” For the record, the answer to all 3 is yes.
The fact that we can call family on a normal phone whenever we want, or get Dunkin Donuts coffee whenever we want, or watch the Red Sox in the playoffs at the same time as the rest of Red Sox Nation never gets old. We are continually marveling at the beauty of Fall in New England. Every red, orange, or yellow tree fills us with the absolute joy of being HOME. At the same time it is “weird” to be back as well. I have to admit there has been more than one night that I’ve woken up wondering where I am. My body seems very puzzled by the fact that the weather is turning colder rather quickly. A process that took a matter of several months in Bethlehem takes place in a matter of weeks here. I found myself outside without a coat on this morning wondering why I was chilly.
Of course, we miss Palestine. We miss the food. There is this amazing bread that sell with Falafel on the street corner there and you can get it for less than the equivalent of $2. We miss the fact that we could take off and be at any Biblical site we wanted within a couple of hours at the most. But most of all we miss the people. Our students, the people we taught with, Miss Grace, Miss Lilly, the other American Teachers are all people we will never forget. Our prayers are forever with them and with the school there in Bethlehem.
We found a new walking route here in Fitchburg. My last post was about walking in Bethlehem and how it affected us. We are walking a different road now. That’s true on so many levels. But we are where God has called us to be. We are a part of what God is doing in this city and especially right here in this neighborhood. Please remember the school in Bethlehem in your prayers and please remember to pray for us right here in Fitchburg.