Twangs

  

     At SPLICE missions training in Colorado, we discussed a concept called a twang. Basically a twang is an unmet expectation. At MTI they warned us that on the mission field, we’d experience twangs, but in order to prevent it from being as painful, we should bring our expectations as close to reality as possible. 

      I (Heidi) was prepared to come to Zim without any expectations; but as much as I tried to have no expectations, the sting of the twangs have continued to hit me. I wasn’t prepared to throw up every two to three weeks...for the difficult balance of being a wife, mom, and missionary...for the reality of the difficulty with power cuts...to miss people and things in the U.S. as much as I do...and the list could go on. As much as I tried to come here and not feel pain in any way, I realized that this is just life. Whether we try to or not, we all have expectations....and not all of those expectations get met. It’s what we do with the hurt from unmet expectations that will either motivate us or hinder us. 

     When God first called me to be a missionary, he gave me the verse Isaiah 42:16. It says, “And I shall lead the blind by a way they have not known--In paths they have not known I lead them. I make darkness light before them, and crooked places straight. These matters I shall do for them, and I shall not forsake them.” When I feel the sting of a twang, I feel as if I’m living in the darkness, on crooked places, as a blind person. So how am I making it? It’s through the hope that the darkness won’t stay dark and that the crooked places will become straight. Through the difficulties, through the twangs, I have a living hope that my Father and Savior will never forsake me.  I know that I’m not alone in this. I’m sure you experience different twangs every day. I pray that instead of being discouraged and hindered by it, you will be motivated by the living hope we have as children of God!