AN OCEAN APART
by Mary-Margaret Morris
B
EING A MISSIONARY is the But the farther that plane flew from the the words of God became life to me.
most exciting and fulfilling U.S., the greater the feeling of loneliness Now, 13 years later, the scriptures are
life in the world! Those are my and loss settled upon me. Why was I so still life to me. Hebrews 4:12 says, “For
sentiments anyway. Having sad? I hadn’t known I would have such the word of God is living and powerful,
lived on five continents, my life has been a problem with this. But the ache in my and sharper than any two-edged sword,
anything but boring. But 1996 was a heart continued. Each day I awakened with piercing even to the division of soul and
challenging year—it was the closest thing it, and each night I went to sleep with it. spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a
to a sacrifice that I had ever felt. I came to realize that the only way I discerner of the thoughts and intents of
From 1982 until 1990, the four of could cope with my feelings was to get the heart” (NKJV).
us—my husband, me, and our two
children—had lived in Kenya. We were a “THE FARTHER THAT PLANE FLEW FROM THE
happy foursome even when our daughter,
U.S., THE GREATER THE FEELING OF LONELI-
Monica, had to go to boarding school for
a couple of years and then leave for Lee
NESS AND LOSS SETTLED UPON ME. EACH
University ahead of our going to the U.S.
DAY I AWAKENED WITH AN ACHE IN MY HEART,
for furlough and an education break.
After six years in the U.S., the
AND EACH NIGHT I WENT TO SLEEP WITH IT.”
moment arrived to return to the mission more of the Word of God into my heart. Reading and memorizing the Word of
field. My husband had graduated from I needed to memorize Scripture verses so God is making it part of my very being!
the Church of God Theological Seminary I could have head and heart agreement. I And I am thankful for the difficult experi-
with a master’s degree, and our son, started with Psalm 119, the longest chap- ence that drove me to God’s Word.
Derek, had gone through high school ter in the Bible, because it seemed the
and was now enrolled at Lee University. most challenging. As I memorized each Jack and Mary-Margaret Morris are
Monica was now married. of the psalm’s 22 sections, a transforma- founding pastors of Macarthur Worship
We were appointed to Botswana, Africa, tion was taking place. Centre in Campbelltown (Sydney), Australia,
but this time, we would have to leave our Initially I had been weeping out of where they also minister in the community
children behind. The day finally arrived. self-pity. Then the weeping was because through other avenues.
EVANGEL • MAR 2010 25
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