Are We There Yet?
Peter Gabucci / Director of Student Ministries
One of the usual questions you are likely to hear on any road trip is, “Are we there yet?” I mean, it’s so common, most people just jokingly ask the question as adults … even though kids on the trip genuinely are curious to know if they are there yet! The follow-up question to “are we there yet” is “how much longer?” Have you ever been there?
In February of 2018, my wife Krisha and I surrendered our hearts to the Lord and followed His calling on our lives to move to China to work in an international school located in the city of Wenzhou. We knew beyond any doubt that it was God’s will for us to sell everything we had and go on the adventure of a lifetime! By May of that year, we were leaving our home and friends in Riverview, Florida for an unknown future in China. Our hearts were broken to be leaving, but we knew we were going in the right direction. In June of 2018, we finally landed in China and hit the ground running! Talk about exciting! The first few days were a whirlwind, but we settled in pretty well. Although it took time for us to adjust to the culture shock, the food, and the time change, we accomplished all that in time. Our first year there was a learning experience filled with ups and downs; but overall, it was amazing! We couldn’t wait for the next school year. In fact, we were committing ourselves to be there for the long haul at this point! Then, January 2020 hit … we were sent back to the U.S. right before the COVID outbreak hit the news. When we found out we were going to have to leave, we began to take stock of what personal belongings we could take with us and which ones we were going to leave behind. We packed up six suitcases and a couple carryon bags and headed “home.” Again, we were heartbroken to be leaving, but relieved to be going “home.”
After a quick breather in Florida, we spent 2020-2024 doing ministry at a couple of great places in Corpus Christi, Texas. While we were happy with our jobs, we couldn’t shake the feeling like we knew we were still in transition … on a journey since February of 2018. Many times I said to myself, “If we could just get back to Florida!” You all know that saying “you can’t go back home again” – it’s never going to be the same! Other times I questioned whether we did the right thing moving, selling everything in Florida and taking off on this adventure that still seemed to be going on! I seriously began to wonder, “Are.We.There.Yet.” “Are we ever going to feel normal again?!” I felt like a visitor, never settled in my life, except in my classroom. I felt like God had more for us, I just didn’t know when we were going to arrive at our destination. Being ripped out of China so abruptly left a huge hole in my heart and a huge void in my emotional security.
At the beginning of the 2023-2024 school year, I began to pray for my destination. Even if God saw fit to leave us in Texas, I surrendered again to whatever God saw fit. Little did I know how my school year was going to play out. “Thy will be done” became a mantra for me right next to “are we there yet?” I went on to have the toughest year I had ever been through as a teacher. I felt like my resolve was being tested, but I gave everything I had – and God gave me so much more in return! Out of nowhere, in April of 2024, we were asked by family to consider moving again, but this time to WNY – WESTERN NEW YORK! (“You know it snows in Buffalo” was the common response I heard from everyone in Texas.) While I thought it would be cool to be so close to family up here, my main concern was finding a job. MY CONCERN. Again, another time in my life of questioning, and rightfully so. But it didn’t matter that we weren’t there yet, God already was. Doors opened so easily and so quickly for us to get here to Eastern Hills Church! God, in His providence, matched us up with another group of people who were praying for the same thing we were praying for. I mean, that IS what God DOES!
It’s been a month or so of us being here in our spots at Eastern Hills Church. God has blessed us so much already, provided our needs and beyond, and has shown us His mighty hand in an awesome way! I finally feel like I don’t have to keep asking, “Are we there yet?” We are there. We are not only there, but we are also home.
“And the LORD, He it is that doth go before thee; He will be with thee, He will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.” Deuteronomy 31:8