Tears, Toasts, and Bear Hugs

Layni, along with her husband and two children, joined this year’s Intake of 2023 and arrived at our home base in Louisiana for training.

We met the Geerling family on our discernment weekend with FMC back in March. I remember it perfectly. We had just arrived on a Thursday afternoon, and after our initial settling in, we were invited over to the retreat center for dinner and Cajun dancing.

I met Penny as we were walking through the kitchen, her joyful smile so big I couldn’t even see the color of her eyes because she squints them shut. She was radiantly beautiful, gentle, and so very kind. We introduced ourselves and small-talked briefly, but it was difficult to hear each other over the loud sounds of the accordion, fiddle, and drums. We were interrupted by my daughter Eleanor needing to go to the potty so we exchanged “nice-to-meet-yous,” but I was confident that we would be able to talk again.

Two days later, there was a communal dinner at the St. Joseph house where we were staying, and I was happy to see that the Geerlings were there. I was able to sit with Penny, intrigued by her every word as she told me about her family’s time in Costa Rica, their adoption stories of their now-teenage daughters, and their discernment of a new mission post. Her genuine spirit was contagious, and she smiled through our entire conversation. I felt honored to be in her presence, yet I barely knew her.

Fast forward six months later, and we move to Big Woods (FMC’s home base) to join Family Missions Company. With missionaries constantly coming in and out of the mission field, I was delighted to see that the Geerlings were still living here when we arrived. In their discernment, they were supposed to move to Trinidad to start a new mission post in late August. But because of a few major delays, the Lord kept them at Big Woods a little bit longer.

A bit selfishly, I must admit I was thankful for the delays as their whole family has become so precious to us in such a short amount of time. We have especially grown to love the Geerling girls so dearly. They are incredible with our kids and have become like sisters to us as well.

One thing about this family that I profoundly admire is that they can always be found in the chapel. And if they aren’t in the chapel, they’re either walking to it or walking home from it. Their hearts are radically close to Jesus and they each imitate Him in their own unique way. John and Penny also celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary this month, so it has been a huge blessing to witness a glimpse of the fruitfulness of their marriage as well.

This week this dear family leaves behind their home at Big Woods to bring the love and mercy of Jesus to Trinidad, where the Holy Spirit has already gone before them and prepared a way. As much as I am certain that the Lord will use them to do great things, I am learning how difficult it is to say goodbye.

As the Geerlings’ time with us comes to a close, I find myself reflecting on what it must have been like for the apostles to say goodbye to one another as they went out to foreign lands to bear the Gospel message. I imagine they shared stories, well-wishes, and exchanged the same tears, toasts, and bear hugs. To grow in friendship with each other, to share pieces of their hearts with one another, to live in community, and then be compelled to move forward – it must have been hard for them too. This is one of the many difficult crosses of missionary life. But what an absolute JOY it is to be a messenger of Christ!

Please join us in praying for this wonderful family – John, Penny, Mary, Teresa, and Catherine – as we bid them farewell in this season and wish them the best in the next.