Marching orders

 For about two weeks, we knew some changes were in the works for us but we weren't supposed to say much until there were some confirmed green lights set in place. This put us in a tough position, people would ask us for commitments to help with future events and we had to answer vaguely like, "hmm, we don't know for sure, can we get back to you on that?"

Figuratively and literally walking on eggshells.

Knowing our world was about to change made everything we did this week that much more poignant and special. Being with cherished friends during this time took on deeper meaning: 

The Convo Club

                 Our adopted sons- Akashb'gosh

and Poog

   Disclaimer: I'm not hugging these boys! I'm technically only touching Elder Dunlap who is. 

We finally had a street contact come to church

We had dinner guests not afraid to wear aprons 

  A blessed afternoon with the William Family

     A venture with them to nearby mountains

               (The soil was just like St George!)

                  And a beautiful Indian sunset

Then the official marching orders came. "It's time and there's no other options. We need to have you move to Bengaluru to take over the mission office duties for the couple whose visas expire October 6th and whose replacements have been indefinitely detained." Oh Captain, my Captain. Well...For now, we are only going there to train, then we'll come back one more time to Coimbatore to say our goodbyes, to pack up the senior apartment, move everything into storage, and wait for a few more clearances from the Foreign Relations Office before we make the permanent move back to Bengaluru.  As difficult as it is to halt our assignments, projects, and relationships midstream here in the beloved Toejam of India, we know we have to go and there is no protest involved. "We'll go where you need us to go, Dear Lord."

  On that long train ride, watching the miles go by, and furthering the distance...

So here we are once again at the mission headquarters, training with our friends and mentors, the Robinaughs who we'll soon have to say goodbye to as well. Once they go, there'll be only one other couple left in the mission and then they depart in November, leaving only us to tell the tale of the lone surviving American couple in India. (Sigh.) It's the reality of missionary life; Transfers, Releases, Travels and Departures. Ironically, that's what I'll be  trained to deal with. But the sad truth is our incomings are not keeping pace with our outgoings and our already sparse little army is slowly shrinking each month. I was about to say more but I was constrained by the Spirit. (Sound familiar?)

 Life in Karnataka's capital city is cleaner and quite swanky by comparison. Here we are in the fancy shmancy Metro Brigade lobby of the Mission Office

within walking distance of our cosmopolitan 17th floor Brigade highrise apartment. 

It's quite the contrast. It's also 20* cooler. But it's still got all the noise and feel of India and that's a strange comfort to us. 

One really, really happy piece of news came Friday afternoon. The Robinaughs FINALLY received word of their new assignment. (which, hoping and praying and fingers crossed, we'll be following suit right after when our time comes.) Drumroll.....They will be serving as temple missionaries in the brand new, yet to be dedicated, Bangkok Thailand Temple but ALSO helping the Bengaluru Mission with their English Connect Program. How ideal is that?? Can you imagine such a wonderful new assignment? To be in yet another exotic land of few but faithful saints (and delicious cuisine I might add), serving in the temple almost daily, yet still be able to maintain a connection to the missionaries of your first love? I think it sounds absolutely perfect! So we wish them God Speed. But as for us, even though we never desired to be office missionaries, we will do our darndest to support our beloved President Bushi and our dear missionaries to the best of our abilities. I may actually conquer my frustration with computers and my fear of sitting at a desk all day. (Pray for good ergonomics!) As for Elder Dunlap, I'm betting all my best rupees he will thrive handling the financials of the mission. He's a natural with whatever he sets his mind to. He's got this. We gotta think positively too, this merely allows us to expand our circle of people we'll love here in India. There is a whole new district-full of missionaries to love on, larger wards full of saints to serve, and millions more people on the streets to meet. We are determined to make the second half of our time here in India as fulfilling and joyful as the first half. 

 Can we ever forget our first love? Impossible! We will cherish Coimbatore forever. Was there ever such a match made in heaven? Surely not.  We are thoroughly convinced the Lord knew to put us there exactly. And we couldn't have don't it in the opposite order either. So as we move on, we want the true grittiness of Coimbatore's dust and soil and people to remain in our proverbial toes forever. That's true grit! And we assume that this next quarter phase of our mission will hold marvelous experiences and relationships too if we have any say in it. So sign us up for the Brigade Platoon! We are marching onward and upward! 

Onward Christian soldiers!

We are marching on to glory

To heaven we are bound

Each good act brings us nearer

To that home where we'll be crowned.

We are marching, marching onward

To that bright land afar

We will work for life eternal

It is our guiding star.

Hymn #225