Cultural Assimilation is challenging and an ongoing process. I just observed Georgia eating breakfast at our table, facing out to the street for all to see. Our house is open to the street and we could easily hold a conversation with a passing neighbor from the kitchen table.
This morning a neighbor passed by and Georgia joyously waved at him and continued eating as if it was completely normal to have your breakfast meal be a public affair. Year one in our Ecua-home she refused to leave her room in her PJ's because of the possibility of being "sighted" and now we are in our PJ's, waving and eating with a big smile; messy hair and all. Living abroad plays out in zig-zags and swirls of assimilation. Much prayer and processing goes into shepherding Georgia and Reese through this process of cultural assimilation and identifying with multiple cultures and environments. This looks like allowing them to "hide" from time to time and then challenging them to step out a little when we see the fortitude and desire which often only exhibits in droplets or glimpses. Stretch, release, comfort, cheer, challenge, repeat. This is our life.
So today I rejoice. I rejoice that the zig-zag, swirly process bore fruit today. Fruit that encourages this momma's heart. Fruit that says, "Yes. They are ok." Fruit that says, "I am the Lord your God. Trust me. I have them in the palm of my hand."
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