My name is Andy. I’m a mocha-holic.

That is how I feel after my quick trip to the States. I just returned from a two week trip to America , preaching at a wonderful missions convention. Early one Friday morning, I grabbed my suitcase, kissed my wife and three girls goodbye, and headed to the airport (the 3 girls decided to wake up at 5 am, just to send me off with wailing and sobbing),

When I landed in Amsterdam , I fought my way through a sea of people, landing on an island named “coffee shop.” Upon arriving at the Minneapolis airport, I found a Starbucks coffee shop and left holding a tall mocha. And everyday thereafter, you could have found me imbibing a variety of caffeine-laced mochas.

We all have our poison of choice.

I will admit that part of the reason was due to the semi-comatose, sleep-deprived condition in which I found myself, trying to adjust to the 8 hour time change. It also may have been partially due to my belief that chocolate and coffee are the foundation level of the food pyramid.

But to be honest, I think it was mostly the comfort of the familiar. There is a world of distance between an American mocha and cup of sugar-laced black tea, both literally and figuratively! Though I love nearly all of the food in Moldova , the old tastes of America still are nice! I found myself savoring each bite of broccoli, burritos, and beefsteak. I was so excited to eat lefse, enchiladas, and Grape-Nuts!

The same thing happens to Moldovans when they go to the states. They miss eating nice runny sour cream on every dish, cold chicken-fat jello (the national dish), and shuba (a dish made of raw salted fish, potatoes, and mayo).

But I also realized that something has happened, either to me or to America . Something has changed. Life in the states was always familiar, but it wasn’t always comfortable. After a couple of days, I realized that I missed the sounds of Russian and Romanian surrounding me. I missed the adrenaline-rush of driving in Moldovan traffic. I missed the comfort level of Moldova .

That is the amazing thing about God’s leading. Often, people think about the things they give up. I believe that God returns more to us that we ever give up. Sure, there are some old familiar things that we leave behind. But God always brings on the “new” familiar.

When people need to move, leaving the old familiar church behind is always difficult. God will help you find another church, and help you to create a new “familiar” feeling. Sometimes life pulls us away from friends and family. God will lead you to new ones. Perhaps God is promoting you from adult ministry to children’s ministry! Don’t worry, you will soon learn to love it.

Occasionally, it is good to indulge in a mocha. But the best place to be is where God wants you, in the comfort of His peace.

At home in Moldova ,

Andy Raatz