Susan LaffertyImperfect? Cast aside. Returned. Disposed of.
We look for something with all the parts and pieces intact. No scratches. Strong. Durable. Reliable.
“As it should be.”
This expectation? Just another subtle hint at the permanence we were made for.
But meanwhile, things fall apart. Disappoint.
Flaws come to light.
During our second month in Pakistan, our family of three traveled north to Murree. For a month of intensive language learning and cross-cultural adjustment.
We stayed in one of several flats (apartments) that made up an old house on the side of the mountain.
And began learning new patterns for living.
Language study. Shopping for groceries. Cooking with new ingredients. Boiling our drinking water. Washing clothes and hanging them on the line.
Breathing fresh mountain air eased the adjustments. New friends helped us find our way.
During those first years in Karachi, I struggled to find a place of morning quiet. With the Lord.
We were navigating the muddle of culture shock and power breakdowns. Learning a language with completely new sounds and an unfamiliar alphabet.
Trying to establish a rhythm for preparing clean water to drink. For getting food on the table. Daily.
And figuring out how to parent our children. I gave birth to our first child at the age of 33. And soon experienced what I now refer to as “mother shock.”
