1. “Speak”
This ended up being too long to write about and I turned it into its own blog.
Go read it here:
http://shannonmonaghan.theworldrace.org/post/speak
2. Romans
Well, I started going to seminary.
Apparently, Dallas Theological Seminary has free online mini-courses available.
So I started one that teaches about the book of Romans.
DUDE.
It’s been so fun.
I love learning all the extras.
All the ins and outs.
I’m reading commentaries, watching lectures, and listening to podcasts.
I was also given an in depth study from a friend on my original Race that uses another commentary to explore Romans.
There are questions that I have to really slow down and answer, which isn’t always easy for me.
I like to go fast and read for quantity.
But this has required me to slow down, study the word, and allow God to teach me through slow and deliberate meditation on a few verses at a time.
I’ll let you know how it goes.
3. Books
I’ve read a few books this month, and a couple left a pretty good impression.
The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown
If you haven’t read Brene Brown, do it.
Anything by her.
This one was great though, especially for a former perfectionist like me.
She talks about “wholehearted living” and the ways we need to get a little messy in order to get there.
Go read it.
Discipling Women by Lori Joiner
I didn’t love this book in the way I usually fall in love with a book.
In fact, I left it pretty indifferent at the end.
However, it did spark a passion in me.
Well, it mostly just pointed out a spark that was already there and told me it was okay to let it turn into a flame.
Slash a raging fire.
Because let’s be real…that’s more my style.
I have loved leading this time around because I’ve had the chance to focus on discipling women.
This book made me realize that it’s okay for me to enjoy that.
It’s okay for me to pursue that.
And when I go home in 5 weeks, it’s absolutely possible for me to find a way to continue what I’m doing here on the field.
4. Veggie Man
Almost every day, we go to eat at a vegetarian restaurant.
We call it playing “Veggie Roulette.”
We never really know exactly what we’re going to get, or exactly how much we’re going to pay.
We know it’s usually rice and curry for lunch.
The type of curry is a mystery.
And sometimes we get extra goodies on the side.
At night time, there isn’t any rice and curry.
So you order off a short menu, and even if you order the same thing three nights in a row, it’s different every night.
Welcome to Sri Lankan cuisine.
5. Womanistry Month
Dude.
I get to hang out with girls all month.
I mean, I have done that all year, but this month the entire squad is split into teams by gender.
It’s been such a sweet time to show women who were skeptical about an all-girl team that women together can actually defy stereotypes and cultural expectations and be really powerful.
We have chosen to love each other so well, rejecting ideas of “catty” women or “bitchy” bosses, and instead replacing it with a model of Godly women living in community, as Christ intended his Bride to live.
And since we can create that culture within our team, we have been able to bring it into the Sri Lankan community.
We have focused (kind of accidentally) on organizations supporting women.
We have worked particularly with a women’s empowerment home for women with a history of abuse or other traumas and at an orphanage/school for girls.
Since we can model the love of Christ as a group of women, we can then invite other women into that love, and really encourage them to know the worth and value that God created in each of them to live out of.
Girls are great.
I’m still fundraising!
Click the DONATE button at the top of the page to help me raise my FINAL $1600 by May 10th!
Thank you!
