In the last month of our journey, our mentor began sending us questions to help us start reflecting on our journey. I thought I’d share a few with you because it might give some direction as to what questions you might want to ask me when you see me. I will admit this, my most dreaded question is: ‘So how was your trip?’ How am I supposed to put a year’s worth of learning and growing and seeing God move into a coherent simple answer? Don’t worry, I will try to answer the question if you do ask it, but don’t expect it to be very profound at all.
Here are a few of the questions and parts of my answers.
Q: What are three revelations you’ve had about yourself in the past 11 months that will be relevant to the rest of your life?
A: I AM GOD’S DAUGHTER! Nothing I do will ever make me worthy of it, but I also will never not be His daughter either.
-I love living in community and living out the church in such practical ways.
-If I set my mind to something, and with the encouragement of brothers and sisters, I can do anything God asks me to. I won’t ever forget the sound of my squadmates’ voices cheering me on and encouraging me in everything. You literally can do anything with friends cheering for you.
Q: What are 3 truths about the Lord He has revealed to you in the past 11 months that will be relevant to the rest of your life?
A: He waits on me. Sometimes I think I’m waiting on Him, but then I come to the realization that He was waiting for me to realize that He was actually waiting on me. And that I actually know what I’m supposed to do, I just need to go do it.
-Nothing I will ever do will be in any way good enough to deserve Jesus. And nothing I have done will in any way turn Him away from me. He just loves me for me.
-He leads me into hard situations and relationships so I can learn more about myself, others, and most importantly Him. And He wants me to love everyone, always.
Q: What has God done this month? What does it mean? What do you do about it?
A: In May – God led me to the laundromat lady, Mladenka, and I got to form a friendship with her. I think it showed me that I can find amazing friends in my random every day life. And I want to carry that home with me.
Spiritually, He showed me He wants me to step out and say yes more. And so when I came to Albania, and heard Him speak again, I had to do it. I signed up for G42. No matter if I actually go there, I know I obeyed and said yes!
Q: What is something you wish your training camp self would have known?
A: There’s no way you can remember everything they’re teaching you, so don’t get stressed out. Get to know your squad and be open to always learning (but maybe not retaining) new things. Know that if you’re flexible with things, your life will be easier and you’ll enjoy it. And you WILL MAKE IT!
Q: What are your expectations for yourself in going home? What are your expectations for the Lord? What are your expectations for your family and friends?
A: I think I’m going to expect myself to have this new outlook on how I view ministry. I might, but more likely not. ‘Life is ministry and ministry is life’ has become my motto. I’ll want to think of myself as one who’s going to live out what I’ve learned and show others by example as well. And without realizing it, I’ll allow the stories of this journey to be a part of my recent past and forget to continue it in the PRESENT.
-I might have it in the back of my mind that the Lord will be with me and bless me in all my endeavors and forget that I’m to FOLLOW Him rather than let Him bless me as I go. And I expect the Lord to teach me so many more things!
-I’m also going to expect those around me to let me adjust slowly and be myself. And they’ll have to realize that I’ve changed and being myself might be a different version of what they remember.
Q: What are three small realistic goals you’d like to achieve in the first month of being home?
A: Go on a date with each of my siblings.
-Find a mentor.
-Have a party to celebrate things accomplished in the past year.
Q: How have you felt you’ve succeeded this year? What did you learn from it?
A: I am learning to not over think situations too much. Be in the moment. If that means eating lunch with a friend, or sitting and listening to my team talk about movies I don’t know anything about, trying out a new way of making popcorn (and failing), smiling at the grumpy lady behind the grocery store counter, or spending a lot of time in silence with the Lord; I’ll do it!
Also to be extra flexible with the unknown. And to not let others stressing out make me stress out too.
