Loud parties.
Broken hearts.
Fits of anger.
Messes upon messes.
Mistakes.
Regrets.
"I did not sign up for this," I grumbled to myself as I cleaned up the shared kitchen after another rowdy night in Alaska. My colleagues and I live in company-owned housing, where nightly parties, over-drinking, and similar activities are a nearly nightly occurance. I had no idea what I walked into 8 weeks ago.
I choose to move up to Alaska for not just a job, but as an opportunity to reflect and adjust to life, work on my non-profit, go on a few adventures, and make a friend or two. But what it has become is an opportunity.
An opportunity to love a group of 20- and 30-somethings who, as a whole, are bitter towards God and Christians in general. An opportunity to go beyond my comfort zone and reach out, love, listen to, make dinner with, comfort, and encourage these men and women who use Christ's name in vain rather than praise, who live for today and not eternity, who thank Mother Earth for the mountains and sea and not Father God.
To say the least, I am being challenged by living up here, but I am grateful that even though I did not sign up for this, God is using me right where I am.
What did you not sign up for, but God is showing up?
