Home for the Holidays

Very few knew until now as I have kept quiet, but I decided to return to the states. This was not an easy decision to make, nor does it mean that I am leaving AJM as a whole, it just means that I will no longer be serving with them in Ukraine. To be clear, there is no hard feelings and indeed I continue to share deep love, appreciation, and respect for those who are and have been (and will be) on the UA team.

I will not put words in the mouth of the Lord and pretend to know the nitty gritty details of His will over me, but there are many things that have lead me to this decision and I anticipate what is next. Speaking of which, you might be wondering, “Gabe, your last update said that you’d be in Ukraine for another year. If not Ukraine, then what is next?” To which I would have to reply, “Honestly, I don’t know!”

I have no intention of “dropping out” of ministry if there ever was such a thing for someone who ever claims to have faith that eternal life is a present reality, but most likely I will be taking a little bit of time before going International again. I have already begun praying fervently for wherever it will be that I do ministry next, but as I said there is no official plans and I cannot pretend to know exactly when or where at this point in time. In the mean time, the next half steps I will be taking are to do my best to plug into community, possibly get my hands on some books, maybe look at some employment opportunities to save for the next location, friend’s weddings and prioritizing family, etc.

Supporters and Prayer partners, please do not take this notice as me handing a pink slip to myself because it is very much not. In fact what would be most helpful right now is your prayers for the present and future as this was a quick turnaround (though not the first of many). Please also be praying for my family as we have lost a family member recently, have a family member in the hospital currently, and we have lost a dear family friend this week as well. I also will likely have to start my own medical journey very soon…

My mind and heart are very much action and mission focused but especially in the light of the past few months, it is enough to infer where on a personal level this could be misleading going forward from here; this is why I am doing my best taking my time but also spending time in prayer for the Lord’s will over me for the next while. He has given me passions and has burdened my heart for many people and many places, and there are many friends and brothers I have made in these past few years that I miss very deeply that have been laid on my heart persistently.

Lastly I want to extend a more personal thank you to to my team, my friends, my supporters, and my family for being patient with me these past few months. Because of the personal nature of everything I have chosen to be more discreet over the details, but again thank you for standing alongside me during the exalting and humbling alike.

 

… Also, I wrote this poem a while ago and wanted to share. Maybe you guys will like it also… It’s posted at the bottom.

 

 

 

A I R

I stand and place my feet in the

Freshly fallen snow as the

Cold wraps me up in

Arms of angels

 

My lips touched the air and

Alas it was sweet to the taste as

I inhaled and exhaled in

Reminiscence of the first time I saw

Water flowing under the bridge

 

My soul rose to the

Surface of my skin and I

Smiled

Small and faint but

Unable to deny that it was

Sublimely in love with subtlety

 

The cold was not subtle as

Crystals bounced off of my lashes and

Still to this day I savor the sweetness of

Merciless wind and

Unforgiving winters that

Melt the hearts and

Freeze the minds of

Men like me

 

The aftertaste lingers on the

Tip of my tongue as

Memories fall slowly into oblivion

Like flurries falling to the ground

 

Ripples go out as I

Take my last breath of

Cold crisp air and

Wade into this icy water of

Winter

 

Enraptured by the wind now

Grasping for a tangible handful of the

Bittersweet taste in the

Air

 

– GJ