Stories: Always at Home
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
It has been said more than once.
Mission Arlington / Mission Metroplex is more like a family than it is an organization or a business. People connect to the Lord here, and to each other. Even when people return after being away for many years, they immediately feel at home once again - as if they had never left.
Rebecca and Emily (pictured above) served with Mission Arlington / Mission Metroplex this past year as Summer Missionaries. Their home is in Florida. Their second home is Mission Arlington. At least that’s the way the Mission Arlington family feels about them.
Over Spring Break this year, Emily and Rebecca brought a group of their college friends to Mission Arlington. When they walked into the mission offices, everything stopped. Amidst the many hugs from the Mission staff and volunteers were hearty cries of “welcome home!”
There is something about being a family of faith, brothers and sisters in the Lord, which keeps the connection strong. Soon, those whom they brought with them were part of the family too.
This sense of “home” happens on so many levels. Whether you are someone bringing in donations, a volunteer lending a helping hand, or someone needing help, Mission Arlington’s heart is to welcome everyone as family. After all, as Tillie Burgin often reminds her staff, “It is all level at the foot of the CROSS.”
This past Saturday, a lady came through the Mission. She had received help here many years ago. It was a momentary crisis in her family, but Mission Arlington had stood in the gap for them. There were tears in her eyes as she embraced the staff and had her picture taken with “Ms. Tillie.”
The connection was instant and real. It was clear to all who saw, that though we really didn’t know her, she too was a part of our family. She had come home.
Soon, another group of summer missionaries will be on their way to Mission Arlington. Like Emily and Rebecca, they too will become a part of our family. It will be that way until the heavenly Father brings all of His family home some day. Until that day, we will faithfully serve Him here. We are grateful for each of you who walk this journey with us.
Next: Semester Missionaries (April 21)
Previous: From Rock Bottom to the Rock of Ages (March 7)
