Distance Makes a Difference

 Distance is somewhat relative. Growing up in suburbs, I would have scoffed at driving more than 30 minutes on a regular basis as too far! Going to college in Vermont, an hour didn’t seem like a long distance to travel at all.

Tom getting charcoal going

This weekend we drove over 2 hours to get to the plateau on the far side of our island. In the van, I sat next to a good friend, a woman born and raised on Clove Island. She admitted that she had never been to the plateau before. As the driver and I talked about the villages we’d have to pass through before we got to our destination, she marveled at the number. “It is really far!” she exclaimed.

My friend is not that unique. Perhaps 2 hrs or a $5 bus ride sounds like nothing, but for lots of Clove Islanders, they may only get to the farther sides of the island once or twice in their lives. The distance (whether a matter of time or money) creates a separation. It means that there are linguistic differences. Certain pronunciations, vocabulary or expressions that are unique to certain parts of the island. It means that when people move from one side of the island to the other, we don’t see them as much. Our medical teammates on the plateau often only come to our area in the capital once a month or so.

So that is why this trip was special. It was an intentional effort to create connection over the distance. The islanders in our area who have accepted the good news, wanted to connect with those like them on the plateau. So we braved the 2+ hours of bad roads. We met, we prayed, we sang, we listened to a talk, we cooked, we ate, all together. It was good.

Food prep for lunch on plateau

Crossing that distance makes a difference. It’s true that technology has made it easier to live with distances.  It is a wonderful thing to get a phone call or a video chat across islands and even across oceans and continents!  But getting face-to-face time still really makes a difference.

We are in the midst of planning different face-to-face times.  We want to go to the small island and see our colleagues there.  We want to set dates for next year’s annual gathering of all the workers on the islands. Megan is preparing to leave the islands to meet with other leaders in our organization and then to have face-to-face time with our kids at their boarding school. We make the effort, because we know that there is value in crossing the distance and being able to shake a hand, give a hug, and make actual eye contact.

Distance is isolating and time together in-person helps make connection. It’s worthy of effort.

At the end of the time on the plateau, one of our island sisters recognized what a good thing this was and asked when we were going to do it again! One guy from the plateau suggested, “once a month?” The others countered with, “how about once every three months?” They were all for maintaining this connection, but it still was a pretty rough 2+ hour drive. :)

Back to school day

PRAYERS ANSWERED
The trip to the plateau was a success.  Everything went pretty smoothly and we weren’t even that late getting back.  The time together was very fun and special and people seemed to be getting along and meeting one another.  Tom continues to teach the little boy to read and to read the good news together with the old man.  Our team doctors started their internship at the hospital today and it went well.  They were warmly received and met lots of people.  Our youngest started school today and he has the same teacher as last year (whom he liked).  Our teammates cistern project moves forward!  The island sister being threatened by her father has seen no followthrough on his threats.  In fact, she spoke to him on the phone and the subject didn’t even come up.

PRAYERS REQUESTED
Our son at boarding school just came down sick with a fever —talk about a time when you long to be face to face with someone!  Pray that he would recover quickly and that people near him would be able to provide some face to face comfort that we can only send through a video call.  Pray for an island brother being put in an awkward situation—being told that someone is going to ask him to lead the local prayers.  May he have insight into how to respond in wise and courageous ways.  Our medical colleague is still waiting on the funding for her breastfeeding training—keep praying.  Megan will travel to mainland Africa next week for some organizational meetings and then get some face to face time with our kids the following weekend.  Pray for good travels and lots of good time with friends and kids.  Pray for Tom and our youngest as they hold down the fort at home!