“Teaching by example, radical obedience, justice, mercy, activism, and sacrifice wholly inspires me. I’m at that place where “well done” trumps “well said.” When I see kingdom work in the middle of brokenness, when mission transitions from the academic soil of the mind into the sacrificial work of someone’s hands, I am utterly affected. Obedience inspires me. Servant leaders inspire me. Humility inspires me. Talking heads dissecting apologetics stopped inspiring me a few years ago.” – Jen Hatmaker
Hi! Welcome to the dreaded “About Me” section of my blog. I can’t tell you how much I’ve agonized over what to write here. Do I keep it brief and informal? Do I wax poetic about the journey that’s led me to this point? Do I tell you very little about me (as I would prefer) or do I just lay it all out there? What on earth do I write??! And really, let’s be honest, who’s even going to read this?
And then I realized something.
Psalm 107:1-2 says, “Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for His steadfast love endures forever! Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he has redeemed from trouble.”
And then there’s John 15:27…”And you will also bear witness…”
So, it’s like this: I don’t love writing about myself. Not a fan of it at all actually. But I do love writing about God’s faithfulness, about Jesus’ example and sacrifice, and about what it looks like to embrace the Gospel and live a life dedicated to a greater purpose. And although I am weak and in need of constant grace, I love bearing witness to the work that God is doing in me and in the world. So in that light, with that focus, here’s what there is to know about me (disclaimer: it’s a bit long)…
Over the last couple of years, I had the privilege of working for an organization close to my heart – International Justice Mission. As Director of Strategic Partnerships for IJM, I traveled throughout the Midwest and shared about our work, which was focused on protecting the poor from violence in the developing world. While it was a gift to be a part of IJM, I struggled with a growing desire to be in the field – to engage personally with the names and faces I was encountering in photos and stories on a daily basis. I had taken the occasional mission trip overseas, but I wanted more. I felt God calling me to a longer commitment…a greater challenge. I began researching mission opportunities overseas and came across The World Race, an 11 month Christian mission trip to 11 countries around the world. This was it! This was the challenge I’d been praying about – the opportunity I’d been searching for. While I was still in the process of applying, I transitioned out of IJM and started my own business, with the intention of departing on The World Race in July.
Then, in a twist that was difficult for me to stomach at the time, The World Race asked me to wait until 2016 to depart. This turned out to be further evidence of the Lord’s perfect timing. After I left IJM, I went directly to Haiti, where I spent most of February and some of March serving with various ministries throughout the country. In an amazing display of God’s sovereignty and grace, there was a squad of World Racers staying at one of my ministry sites! It was a joy getting to know a few of them.
While in Haiti, God made a couple of things very clear to me: 1. His invitation to seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow, and share His Gospel in word and deed is one that when accepted, brings about unspeakable joy, and 2. In the immediate, I was supposed to answer this invitation by going on The World Race in January.
So, in January, I’ll throw my giant hiking backpack on my back, filled with my tent and other gear for 11 months, and I’ll head with my team to Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, Bolivia, Chile, Serbia, Kosovo, Romania, Ethiopia, Rwanda, and Uganda. We’ll serve in partnership with churches and ministries in local communities to preach the Gospel, plant churches, work in orphanages, teach English, and bring the restorative hope of the Father’s love to many tribes and war-torn nations in various other ways.
I’m so excited, you guys! I love adventure. I love travel. But more than anything, I love living out the call to seek justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with my God.
I’ve decided to nickname this journey, “Less Traveled Paths” for a number of reasons, and I’ll write more about this name in the future. For now, I’ll say this: I don’t want to thoughtlessly meander down a path that’s been worn to death by the masses. My soul longs for the paths less traveled…the paths that may seem scary or lonely at first…but the paths that result in life.
So that’s it for now! There are other things about me that you’ll find out as we go on…I’m a born and bred Midwesterner. My career before IJM was all politics, all the time. I’m the oldest of three and love my family dearly. St. Louis is my city, and the Cardinals are my team. I didn’t really understand or grasp the gift of grace until my 20s…prior to that I was obsessed with following rules and pleasing people. I love singing and leading worship. Like every other sensible Millennial pseudo-hipster, I’ve been to every coffeehouse in every town I’ve ever visited. Entrepreneurship is my current fascination. You get the picture. 🙂
Finally and most importantly, would you please commit to pray for me and for my squad as we prepare to leave in January? If you’re interested in supporting me financially, you can do so by clicking on “Support Me” above. As I prepare for my departure, one of my greatest needs is for financial support, and I’ll write more about this component of my trip in the future as well.
Thank you so much for considering partnering with me in this journey. It’s going to be quite the adventure, and I would love for you to come along for the ride.
Joyfully,
E
