God’s taken me around the world four times in
the last five years. Not such a bad score. For one occasionally prone to wanderlust,
this is one of my favorite ways the Lord shows his love for me. Providing
avenues and opportunities for me to share his love trans-continentally to many
different tribes, nations and tongues. I have smelled smells, seen sights,
eaten oddities, experienced adrenaline rushes and had my heart captured by a
rainbow of children I daydream about daily. In my new position at Adventures in
Missions, the Lord is pulling back a whole new curtain that is growing my heart
for a place you have also visited. The good ole’ U S of A.
the last five years. Not such a bad score. For one occasionally prone to wanderlust,
this is one of my favorite ways the Lord shows his love for me. Providing
avenues and opportunities for me to share his love trans-continentally to many
different tribes, nations and tongues. I have smelled smells, seen sights,
eaten oddities, experienced adrenaline rushes and had my heart captured by a
rainbow of children I daydream about daily. In my new position at Adventures in
Missions, the Lord is pulling back a whole new curtain that is growing my heart
for a place you have also visited. The good ole’ U S of A.
In Clarkston, Georgia, an area ten minutes from downtown
Atlanta, I was experiencing culture shock. In America. African women walking
down paved, black- top roads wearing shetenges (colorful pieces of fabric used
as ‘modesty skirts’), some even carrying babies on their backs in them,
balancing large bundles of items on top of their heads – just like the norm in
Malawi. Laundry being done outside, hanging from trees… Asians, Indians,
Middle-Easterners, Africans – 80% of Clarkston is made up of refugees. I could
not believe there was a place like this a stone’s throw away from one of the
bigger, busier cities in America. And I know this doesn’t even compare to some of the other immigrant
communities in America.
Atlanta, I was experiencing culture shock. In America. African women walking
down paved, black- top roads wearing shetenges (colorful pieces of fabric used
as ‘modesty skirts’), some even carrying babies on their backs in them,
balancing large bundles of items on top of their heads – just like the norm in
Malawi. Laundry being done outside, hanging from trees… Asians, Indians,
Middle-Easterners, Africans – 80% of Clarkston is made up of refugees. I could
not believe there was a place like this a stone’s throw away from one of the
bigger, busier cities in America. And I know this doesn’t even compare to some of the other immigrant
communities in America.
San Francisco’s infamous Tenderloin District. I made a few wrong turns while
scouting ministry sites here last week. Another eye-opening experience of what is
going on in one of America’s at-risk communities.
I have entered the logistics and set-up phase for my
position in Adventures Youth. Scouting several of the 13 different ministry
sites we are offering for high school-age students to serve at during summer
2012 is where the majority of my efforts and energies have been and will be
focused through the New Year. Just returning from a trip to the West Coast late
last night, I am now preparing to travel to Dallas and New Orleans in two weeks
to begin researching areas of need and ways to connect the next generation to
meet those needs. It was the trip to Clarkston, and my recent stint in San
Francisco when God began to pull back this new curtain of my perception.
position in Adventures Youth. Scouting several of the 13 different ministry
sites we are offering for high school-age students to serve at during summer
2012 is where the majority of my efforts and energies have been and will be
focused through the New Year. Just returning from a trip to the West Coast late
last night, I am now preparing to travel to Dallas and New Orleans in two weeks
to begin researching areas of need and ways to connect the next generation to
meet those needs. It was the trip to Clarkston, and my recent stint in San
Francisco when God began to pull back this new curtain of my perception.
The sights I saw, the languages I heard spoken, the smells
that I smelled, the children that stared back up at me…in our own
backyard…are just like the ones I experienced overseas.
that I smelled, the children that stared back up at me…in our own
backyard…are just like the ones I experienced overseas.
The Nations are here.
One of the biggest resistances I have received from my fellow
Americans in my pursuit as a missionary is, “Why do you have to travel all the
way around the world to help the needy? We have plenty of that here.” I’ll save
the explanation of a ‘calling’ for another blog, but I want you to know I hear
you. Now, more than ever. I am utterly fascinated by some of the people I have met and
the stories I have heard since becoming a domestic missionary. I have
always known there are needs to be met here in America, but the recent
glimpses I’ve
experienced throughout the past month have melted my heart for my
homeland.
Americans in my pursuit as a missionary is, “Why do you have to travel all the
way around the world to help the needy? We have plenty of that here.” I’ll save
the explanation of a ‘calling’ for another blog, but I want you to know I hear
you. Now, more than ever. I am utterly fascinated by some of the people I have met and
the stories I have heard since becoming a domestic missionary. I have
always known there are needs to be met here in America, but the recent
glimpses I’ve
experienced throughout the past month have melted my heart for my
homeland.
If you would
like to make an impact in your own backyard, please consider making a 100% tax
deductible donation by clicking on the ‘Support Me’ tab. Your donation will enable me to continue digging into places of need across America, as well as four international ministry sites that are a part of Adventures Youth. You will also be raising up a new generation of leaders from across the U.S. through the participants who will be serving at these locations. Blessings to you, I can not wait to share with you what curtain the Lord pulls back next!
like to make an impact in your own backyard, please consider making a 100% tax
deductible donation by clicking on the ‘Support Me’ tab. Your donation will enable me to continue digging into places of need across America, as well as four international ministry sites that are a part of Adventures Youth. You will also be raising up a new generation of leaders from across the U.S. through the participants who will be serving at these locations. Blessings to you, I can not wait to share with you what curtain the Lord pulls back next!
