As an elementary school teacher, teaching students how to share is something that I have to do constantly. On an almost daily basis I have to be a mediator between students who are fighting over some object. However, I have realized in this past year that sharing is something that I am actually pretty terrible at. Hopefully not in the sense that I have to teach to my students. I live with six roommates so hopefully they would agree that I’m capable of sharing my space and things with them. But, I need to learn from my second graders about how to share with others about what’s happening in my life. My students are awesome at that; they ALWAYS will take the time to share about what they did the night before or what their future plans are. I need to learn this skill of sharing my life, which I would argue might be more important than sharing physical objects and space with others.
I have never been someone who likes to talk a lot; that was the only thing that my teachers ever critiqued about my work in school. I’ve always enjoyed listening to other people and hearing what they have to say, but am less eager to share my own thoughts. Although I do value listening, I think it is important to learn to share about what’s happening in my life as well. Last summer I went to India, and realized as I was preparing to leave that there were many people in my life who had no idea I was going. I didn’t want to try to brag about what I was doing or make a big deal out of my summer plans. But in doing so I was creating a problem that I was unaware of. If I don’t share about what I am doing, especially when it comes to missions, I am putting so many people at a disadvantage. I am foremost not allowing the amazing things God is doing around the world to be known to others. I am not letting the voices of the organizations and people I am working with be heard. And finally, I’m not setting up a base of people to support me while I am on my trip.
Independence has always been important to me and is still something that I value, but I need to learn to ask and receive help when I need it. Because the reality is that I can’t, and probably shouldn’t try, do everything on my own. I have done hardly any fundraising for my trip because I have earned enough money over the past couple of years to go on the World Race using my savings. But I essentially will use all of the money I have saved. Jesus in Matthew 19:21 says “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven, and come, follow me.” Jesus commands us to give up all we have and follow him, so I am at peace with using all my money to follow Jesus on this trip. But a friend of mine brought up the point that I am going to foreign countries and unexpected things could happen that might require me to have a bit of extra money stashed away to deal with emergencies. I was reminded of this conversation today when I got a lovely flat tire and am now currently sitting in my local discount tire waiting for my newly purchased tire to be put on my car. I don’t know what might happen, so it probably would be smart to have some amount of money left for emergencies.
Not only have I been encouraged to share with people about my upcoming adventures to be blessed financially, but to make sure I have a base of people at home praying for and encouraging me throughout my travels. Prayer is unbelievably powerful, and knowing that I have people at home praying for me would be the coolest thing I can imagine. And to be honest, the closer the Race is getting, the more terrified I am becoming. I’m more excited than scared and cannot wait begin this amazing trip, but there are so many things that I am sure I am not thinking of and am not expecting. And I not only would like, but need people praying for if I’m going to survive the full 11 months.
If you’ve made it this far reading some of the inner workings of my mind- I have an invitation for you. I am inviting you to become part of my adventure in whatever way that looks like for you. If that means you would like to support me financially I would gratefully accept that. If it means you want to be praying for me along the way I would even more appreciate that. And in return I will do my best to share about everything I am doing, and more importantly what God is doing, around the world.
