Claire’s Mission Arrival in Australia: Finding “Bubbles of Love” Far From Home

Let’s talk about my daughter’s mission arrival experience in Australia. Because through it I have developed an incredible gratitude for “bubbles of love.” And the fact that we can pray for those bubbles to encapsulate our children after we’ve let them go, when they are struggling and far away.

The other day, after a particularly difficult few days for Lucy, we huddled together for a little prayer before she left for school. She melted into me like she does when she recognizes the need for extra love. And standing there in the kitchen as the sun was rising and her carpool was coming, I pleaded with God to let her feel a bubble of love around her at school. She was pretty delighted at that thought as she set off. I hope she could feel it.

When Your Missionary Leaves the MTC and Heads Abroad

Fast forward to Saturday. The day when Claire finally left her nine weeks of MTC study and began her mission arrival experience in Australia.

She was anxious that last week. She was heading a long way after all. How I prayed again for that “bubble of love” to surround her as she wrapped up those weeks of learning and set off on another adventure. I know she was praying too.

And it was so beautiful how that “bubble of love” manifested itself.

a Special Experience at the end of the MTC

Claire found herself in an unexpected bubble of love as her MTC experience came to a close. One night that last week there was a fireside. Someone was singing a solo and said they felt like they should sing Abide with Me, so they did.

Little did they know that right there, that very evening, there was one girl who needed those words, and that inspiration. Right then. It happens to be her very favorite song right now.

The singer probably didn’t know. But God did.

Then when she was walking out of that fireside, she got an email from a sister who is already in Australia. A girl she was acquainted with from high school but a different grade. That email was filled with the exact encouragement and love Claire needed. Right at that moment.

That sister could have had no idea how much those words would mean to my girl. Or maybe she did. Because God did. And I believe there were probably some tugs at her heartstrings to send off that letter when she did. Buoying up my girl. Creating a bubble of love to get her through those last days.

A Daughter’s Mission Arrival Experience in Australia

And then, it was time to go. Claire had a bubble of love en route to Australia, too.

Claire’s companions and the rest of her district left the day before she did. Heading off into their own corners of the world.

And then Claire left the next day.

Our hearts were full, thinking of her all day long with that long flight looming ahead of her into a world so unknown for all of us. I think the flight was close to 20 hours with connections. Phew! This is a helpless feeling for a mother to feel so far away. You wonder how in the world she is feeling, and how the journey will go. But this is a time when a mother just has to trust that God will carry her along.

In a way that only God can.

I love that even though we couldn’t communicate on the phone, this picture popped up in our shared album:

Ok, she looked ok. So grateful that she had that bubble of love right there with her at the airport…other missionaries heading out in all directions of the globe.

And then this:

We were SO hoping she’d be calling when she landed since it would be her p-day over there on the other side of the world, and we all jumped up excited when she did.

Recognizing “Bubbles of Love” in a New Place

On the left below is when she called us and told us all about the people she met en route. That first call after she arrived told us everything. We could hear it in her voice: she was nervous, but she felt held. The guy who sat next to her in the plane and was so nice. The Sydney Mission office staff who welcomed her so kindly and made her feel so at home. Her mission president (on the right below), who apparently is the best and most welcoming.

His wife was away for a family emergency, but she’ll be meeting Claire soon and we’ve heard the best things about her too. Praying her family is ok.

And then an Instagram friend sent this from Facebook (I’m not a Facebook girl so I didn’t know it was there…thank you, thank you, sweet new friend!):

Yep, looks like another bubble of love right there in Australia.

Adjusting to Mission Life in a New Country

Oh I sit here and wonder. How will her companion be? Which area will she be assigned to serve? Are there really that many Mandarin speakers in Australia, and if so, will she find them? I think about the time difference (she’s 16 hours ahead!) and wonder what she’s doing all the time. Adjusting to living in a new country in and of itself is a big deal, but being a missionary there is a whole new level.

Trusting God When Your Child Is Far Away

Watching a daughter mission arrival experience unfold is such an interesting combination of letting go and holding on. How I hope, and pray my guts out, as this girl of mine adjusts this week in her new “home away from home,” that she will not only find herself in bubbles of love, but that she will recognize those bubbles.

And in recognizing them, I hope she will see Gods’ hand in her life. That even when she’s uncomfortable and her Mandarin skills may be frustrating, and everything is new, she’ll know He’s there.

The ultimate bubble of love watching over her. And that her family bubble back at home is praying for her every day.

This stage—when they’ve arrived and you’re learning to trust from afar—feels like a whole new layer of letting go. I’ve collected so many things I’ve written about that process of letting kids go over the years. From high school to college and beyond. It’s quite a journey!

More Mission Moments: Letting Go and Watching Them Grow

• Claire’s Mission Call with Videos 🙂
• An Official Missionary and Home MTC
• Two Big Steps in Mission Preparation
• A Special Way to Send Off Your Young Adult