Almost 2011 and over a year later since my last blog.
Almost two years after coming off the World Race.
What can I tell you?
What do you want to know?
What has ministry looked like for you in the U.S.?
Work, life, and ministry are all in the same. If I have any goals, I would hope to accomplish that. I get to work at a non-profit Christian legal clinic where I have the liberty to talk about Christ and pray with people. Pray that I take up those everyday opportunities that I take for granted. Working with internationals gives me air to breathe and couldn’t ask for better co-workers. Yet God has also called me to discipleship in the states. I sensed it clearly since getting back in May ’09. So mentorship and discipleship of college-age ladies has been a huge piece of ministry. They are blessings to me. Truly.
How does a person do ministry in the USA? Is it like being a missionary abroad?
The things I knew when I returned:
1. Summer in Wisconsin to minister and be with family
2. Return to the amazing church in Indianapolis that sent me
3. Trust. Maybe this could go first
Trusting Him in every detail. As my Grandma Rita would say, one of the most powerful ‘nuggets of wisdom’ I received on the plane over was, “when you return, return as a missionary to the United States”. A person in the USA doing the work of the Lord is best to have confidence of God’s reality, have experienced the transformative power of His love, and be able to create space for them and God. We are all at different points in the journey and all are capable of sharing the hope of Christ. But I understand what has helped me during this time. No formula available for ministry in my possession. Holy Spirit, trust, and fellowship. Then listen. Regarding the latter question, living conditions abroad provided extremes to look back at for gratitude here. However, it would be fair to say that a missionary here faces different battles than while abroad depending on that location.
What helps your relationship with God in American culture?
Finding TIME with Him. Seeing the Creator in creation and keeping awe in worship. Giving past comfortable. Remembering that the very worst on Earth is not worse than separation from Him.
Finding like-minded fellowship.
What’s hard?
Getting too comfortable. Forgetting.
How do you deal with the mundane?
Thankfulness, thankfulness, thankfulness. Humming, laughter, and the love from others.
What has been on your heart recently?
Being married soon to the most amazing man of God, Tony. The Lord is very clever in His plans, and very gracious. Also, on my heart is the hope of future missions abroad and an understanding of God’s specific call on my life.
Through you the readers, I reflect. At a glance or widely, not a week goes by that I don’t see that time abroad on the World Race sewn into the details of my life now. Thinking too at whoever reads this; What are your struggles as Christians, seekers, new-believers here in the United States? Any specifics of the culture, understanding Scripture while living in the 21st Century America, finding meaning, etc?
Grateful to you all and always curious.
