(Read
parts I & II for context)
Telling
the news to my mom was going to be a stride in faith. Even with the prerequisite lessons learned
from going on the World Race
and going to Haiti, I couldn’t see how the path would unfold before me. I am grateful though, that I can look to
those ebenezers and know that He’ll get me there, even though I think, “but my
legs are short; I don’t think I can stretch that far.”
the news to my mom was going to be a stride in faith. Even with the prerequisite lessons learned
from going on the World Race
and going to Haiti, I couldn’t see how the path would unfold before me. I am grateful though, that I can look to
those ebenezers and know that He’ll get me there, even though I think, “but my
legs are short; I don’t think I can stretch that far.”
As I’m
sharing this new leg of my journey with you, I’ve gotten green lights with some
and flashing yellow with others. I want
to say to all of you, regardless of the lens color, I am so grateful for the
love that illuminates your words. Rob
especially has been instrumental in pouring courage into me. While it’s comforting to be in the company of
fellow WR alumni/AIM staff, there was an added depth to his allaying of my
insecurities and fears of going into full-time support-based ministry because
he’s not in the same boat.
sharing this new leg of my journey with you, I’ve gotten green lights with some
and flashing yellow with others. I want
to say to all of you, regardless of the lens color, I am so grateful for the
love that illuminates your words. Rob
especially has been instrumental in pouring courage into me. While it’s comforting to be in the company of
fellow WR alumni/AIM staff, there was an added depth to his allaying of my
insecurities and fears of going into full-time support-based ministry because
he’s not in the same boat.
I had
driven home the weekend before Memorial Day weekend and had thought of sharing
the news then. I arrived and a
spontaneous mini-family reunion broke out – my mom was having lunch with two of
my aunts and two of my cousins were also on hand. I didn’t have the heart to ruin such a
pleasant surprise with this development.
driven home the weekend before Memorial Day weekend and had thought of sharing
the news then. I arrived and a
spontaneous mini-family reunion broke out – my mom was having lunch with two of
my aunts and two of my cousins were also on hand. I didn’t have the heart to ruin such a
pleasant surprise with this development.
In true
CPA/business fashion, Rob then had me set a deadline for when I would tell my
mom. He threatened – no, promised – to
bug me until I did. That kind of
accountability was the motivation I needed – I even aimed to meet that deadline
early. With a lot of prayer – including
some of the inner-healing kind – I drove up to New York the weekend after
Memorial Day weekend to break the news.
CPA/business fashion, Rob then had me set a deadline for when I would tell my
mom. He threatened – no, promised – to
bug me until I did. That kind of
accountability was the motivation I needed – I even aimed to meet that deadline
early. With a lot of prayer – including
some of the inner-healing kind – I drove up to New York the weekend after
Memorial Day weekend to break the news.
Also on
that Friday I inquired my employer about working on a part-time basis. I was told that historically there has not
been openness to such an arrangement; nonetheless, I was told that I’d get a
response to my request within the week. What would I do if the answer’s no, I was asked. I shrugged and replied something to the
effect of, “I’ll cross that bridge when I get there,” while secretly wondering
to God, “are you taking me on a detour?”
that Friday I inquired my employer about working on a part-time basis. I was told that historically there has not
been openness to such an arrangement; nonetheless, I was told that I’d get a
response to my request within the week. What would I do if the answer’s no, I was asked. I shrugged and replied something to the
effect of, “I’ll cross that bridge when I get there,” while secretly wondering
to God, “are you taking me on a detour?”
As I hung
off this precipice, I asked Jeff to pray with me. “Take a step, ask God. Take another step, ask God again,” he
encouraged me.
off this precipice, I asked Jeff to pray with me. “Take a step, ask God. Take another step, ask God again,” he
encouraged me.
So I set
off to NYC that evening. It wasn’t until
Saturday over dinner at home that I broached joining AIM full-time.
off to NYC that evening. It wasn’t until
Saturday over dinner at home that I broached joining AIM full-time.
“Mom, I
didn’t come up here to hang out with my friends,” I told her.
didn’t come up here to hang out with my friends,” I told her.
“You have
to tell me something,” she said, completing my thought.
to tell me something,” she said, completing my thought.
That
conversation contrasted a bit sharply from the one I had almost three years
ago; in retrospect (per usual) it’s clear that God meets faith with favor. Not that she’s fully on-board; as I would’ve
expected from an Asian-American parent, she’s troubled by the support-raising
required, or as she refers to it, “begging”. The conversation was remarkable for what was missing from it – there was no angry outburst nor silent disappointment.
conversation contrasted a bit sharply from the one I had almost three years
ago; in retrospect (per usual) it’s clear that God meets faith with favor. Not that she’s fully on-board; as I would’ve
expected from an Asian-American parent, she’s troubled by the support-raising
required, or as she refers to it, “begging”. The conversation was remarkable for what was missing from it – there was no angry outburst nor silent disappointment.
That
she’s even open to my going into full-time ministry gives me such hope to carry
on. Slowly but surely, God is lowering
her defenses – “why don’t you become a nun?” she even suggested (she figures at
least that way my material needs would be met). It’s one thing for me as a believer to trust increasingly in His
provision. How much more difficult is it
for someone who isn’t Christian to “be sure of what [one] hopes for and certain
of the unknown”; particularly a mom who just wants her “baby” – I pointed out
that I’m twenty-seven but she said that’s who I’ll always be to her – to be
safe and secure.
she’s even open to my going into full-time ministry gives me such hope to carry
on. Slowly but surely, God is lowering
her defenses – “why don’t you become a nun?” she even suggested (she figures at
least that way my material needs would be met). It’s one thing for me as a believer to trust increasingly in His
provision. How much more difficult is it
for someone who isn’t Christian to “be sure of what [one] hopes for and certain
of the unknown”; particularly a mom who just wants her “baby” – I pointed out
that I’m twenty-seven but she said that’s who I’ll always be to her – to be
safe and secure.
Next, I’ll let you know the verdict regarding my
employment situation…
employment situation…
