In certain regions of Asia, flowering tea is made.

When it’s ready, a tightly compressed ball of leaves and flowers is placed into warm water. Delicate flowers and leaves slowly unfurl, filling the teapot with color and flavor. Watching it open is captivating—so much so that sometimes one forgets to ask how the tea is made. It is a long process, requiring patience and skill.

Today I am blooming well in my new host country, but not long ago, I was like a compressed ball of flower tea. I was not open to experience the life God wanted to give.

We had just left a challenging field of service where the normal adjustments are difficult for most people. On top of those, our family experienced intense hardship for several years. Our safety was threatened repeatedly. We lost babies. Unexpected leadership transitions made ministry responsibilities difficult to define and carry out. We took on work for which we did not feel ready. A devastating natural disaster occurred. There were even more difficulties going on behind the scenes. We were hurting deeply, but could not find effective ways to heal with the resources available to us. 

I wanted to abandon God and hide from the world. I remember lying on my bed in defeat, saying with finality, “I thought You helped people. But I am destroyed. Please just leave me alone.”

Of course He did not abandon His hurting child. He arranged circumstances so when we left our host country, we had time in a wonderful “in between” place. We shared community with gentle people; experiencing acceptance, no expectations, and love freely given.

I gradually opened up. Simple time, receiving counseling, facing my hurts—this was all very healing.

After almost two years, a good friend gave me flowering tea.

“When you first came to us you were so broken. It has been beautiful watching you heal. Your personality is unfolding with more beauty and strength than before. You are like flowering tea— soaking up His love and infusing others—because of the process He has carried you through.” 

God and my friends celebrated the “blooming” of my life. They had also patiently walked with me through healing. These genuine relationships changed me forever.