Guest Blog: From the Perspective of a Friend

A friend of mine wrote this very special article as a guest post for my blog.

From A Friend's Perspective

James 4:13-15

13 Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” 14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15 Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”

This verse has always been a challenge for me. I like to plan. I like to micromanage, I like to be in control, and I LOATHE change of plans. Over the years and from various sources, God has been teaching me to let Him be in control, and change my imperfect human plans. It always turns out better than anything I could have ever dreamed.

I had a less-than-perfect relationship in high school that led me to decide that I probably wouldn't get married. God had different plans. Just 8 months after graduating high school, I met my husband. He was tailor-made for me. I thank God daily for this change in plans.

After getting married, I began to have an increase in some health problems that were previously just slightly annoying. I was told by various doctors that I may have trouble having children. One doctor told me he didn't think I would ever have children. So we decided we were probably never going to have them.

When my husband and I had been married for just three years, we felt called to the mission field. It was something neither of us had seriously considered in our adult lives, but we had become heavily involved in our church Mission Team and the stories of reaching the lost tugged at our hearts. We had meaningful friendships with the international students at our local college, and we felt especially burdened for the Japanese people. We began to study Japanese and looked into what it would take to get to Japan.

The thing was, the paths we had chosen in our lives so far made leaving the country very difficult. My husband was in the middle of a doctorate program that increased our student debt by thousands every month. And the degree he would graduate with would not allow him to work in Japan. We still felt such a burden, that we continued to try to make the puzzle-piece of our lives fill a spot that it didn't seem to fit.

In December 2010, a year and a half before my husband would graduate, we received shocking news: we were going to have a baby. Praise God for this change in plans. This added another, wonderful corner to our puzzle-piece that made it even harder to move to Japan. When our son was less than a year old, we finally concluded that Japan was not in our future, at least, not at the moment.

Our hearts were still so burdened for the lost all over the world. We couldn't help but feel like we failed just a little. But God began to show us that we could make a difference right where we were. My husband may not be able to work in Japan, but he can work in the U.S., and God blessed us with a higher salary than either of us had ever experienced. We began to see that we had a unique situation. We could give to missions more than most.

All the while that God was changing my plans into a beautiful picture I could never have created myself, my long-time best friend Sarah Larson was going through her own journey. She went on short-term mission trips and went to Bible college. My husband and I prayed for her throughout this time, and we both felt called to help support her when she decided to commit her life to long-term missions. She has blessed my life in so many ways, and I am thrilled that I can allow God to bless her through me. Not only that, but because of our close friendship, I will be able to have a real connection with the people she ministers to in Honduras. I am amazed to look back on my life and see the awesome pattern that has begun to emerge. I am so excited to be a part of Sarah's journey as she gives herself fully to the will of our Savior. I know He has such big plans for her and so many people for her to reach.

I have learned, and I am still learning, that God's plan is better than mine. I still try to fight it sometimes; I try to micromanage and take control. But He is gently teaching me to hand over the reigns to Him and enjoy the ride. I'm just so thankful that He is allowing me to reach the lost, even though it's not the way I planned.

July Travel Plans

3 Things I Learned in Honduras

I realized that I haven't been posting much on here, and I don't have time to write an update for a few days, so I decided to re-post something I wrote a couple of years ago.

Living in Honduras was a chance for me to grow and it was there that I realized, or grew in my understanding of, three things (well, more than 3...):

1) Home is wherever God has me.
Leaving home is hard- especially when you will be gone for a while and are not very familiar with where you will be.  When you get to your destination you are faced with a new situation- a house that isn't your home- yet.  A town you are unfamiliar with.  And the challenge of finding/deciding where to buy groceries and everything else you need.

I started to learn this one when I went to Oman over Christmas break my Sophomore year in college.  It was Christmas day and I felt very, very far from home.  Christmas isn't celebrated in Oman (except for a few decorations for the benefit of tourists).  I was with a college group and I didn't know anyone very well.  I sat by the ocean and it just didn't feel like Christmas.    As I looked at the ocean I did the only thing I could do: I prayed.  I told God how far away I felt.  How far away from home and family.  How lonely and lost.  But as I looked around me at the beauty God had made I was comforted by the realization: God made the world.  Both near and far.  He is the God of the universe.  And I could sit on a beach in the Arabian Peninsula and be heard by the same God I talked to daily in the Midwestern US.

Living in Honduras really strengthened this realization.  My apartment in Honduras became home to me.  It took time and the  help of a wonderful roommate, but what really made it home was knowing that God is with me wherever I travel-and that is what really makes a place home.

2) The Family of God is a great family to be a part of.
I was nervous the first time I went down to Honduras.  I was going to be gone for 3 months, and I didn't know anyone.  I had met a couple of people who would be there, but I didn't really KNOW anyone.  Even when I went back for 10 months I still didn't know anyone particularly well (I had traveled during my first 3 months).

But I wasn't lonely.  I met wonderful people.  I looked forward to holidays and other gatherings.    Hondurans, missionaries, volunteers, and work team members became friends.  Their fellowship and support meant a lot to me.  It still does.

At the end of my time in Honduras the missionaries and volunteers on the field gathered at the guesthouse for Thanksgiving dinner.  I remember looking around and realizing what a "family" God had placed around me in Honduras.

When I return I know I will see many changes.  People have moved or retired or are back in the US for Homeland Ministry Assignment.  But I know that God will again surround me with a great family.

3) It's not about what I think I can do.  It's about what I know God has called me to do.
If you had asked a 10 year old version of myself about my interests and abilities I am pretty sure you wouldn't have gone away from the conversation thinking I would be a missionary.  A clothing designer or interior decorator?  Probably.  A high school aged version of myself might have had you thinking that I would be a biologist.  My freshman year in college I would have told you that was going to be a history professor.

Missions wasn't on the radar until partway through college, and even then I wasn't sure I was cut out for it.  I loved the idea of travel, but I wasn't sure I could "rough it".  Of course, some of this attitude was based on the false idea that all missionaries live in grass huts and eat rats cooked over a fire.  There are missionaries who are called to live in places where those things might be true, but certainly not all missionaries.  It really depends on what people group God calls you to work with.

However, even with an accurate representation of what my life would be like in Honduras I probably would have said that I couldn't do it.  I could never have imagined teaching English to classes teenagers (one class have over 30 students which was a lot for someone not trained in classroom discipline).  But I did it.  I loved it.  I saw God in it.

In all 3 ways, I saw God.  In my need for Him, I saw his power and love.  In what ways has God taught you things?

A Role to Play

Yesterday I sat down with a friend to begin plans for some lessons I will teach on missions at a youth camp.  She and I talked about what subjects I should cover and how to divide the information into four sessions.  We talked about what kinds of things teenagers(the target audience) should know about missions.  One of the things we discussed was how important it is to know about all the different roles that are played in missions.

Not every missionary is a pastor or Sunday school teachers.  Some are doctors and nurses; others are accountants and office workers.  Some missionaries work with their hands as mechanics, electricians, and farmers.  Some teach English or other subjects in schools and training programs.

One of the roles I will play is in communications.  Even as a photography intern in Honduras I didn't grasp all the ways that communications is important in missions.  I probably still don't.  My area is mostly visual (photography and graphic design), and a little in written.  Others are great at making videos, spoken communications, and are fantastic writers.  It's used in ministry in the countries we work in.  Maybe it's putting together a Bible study, making a video to portray Biblical principles, or helping publicize an outreach.

But one thing I've realized over the last year or two is how communications can be used to share what is doing in Honduras (or wherever!) with the people back home!  This is really important because those of you who live in the US are such an important part of our team.  While I am here raising funds in the US, it's so wonderful to get updates and receive communication from Honduras because it connects me to the ministry there.  It reminds me to pray for it, helps me know how to pray, and helps me when I share with others about the work God is doing in Honduras.  It lets me be part of the team even when I am not there.

That's one of my goals- to use the gifts God has given in communication to help connect you with the ministry in Honduras! If you have any ideas of how I can keep you better updated, please let me know!

(Sorry I have not written in a while, it's been a very busy month with travelling and some illness, fortunately I am feeling better and I have a few weeks at home to get reorganized!)

Glad It Wasn't in a Covered Wagon!

Well...I made it to Oregon.  Fortunately for me it was in an airplane flying high above the mountains and rivers rather than in a covered wagon over the Oregon Trail.  I arrived Saturday evening, and I spoke at Woodburn Evangelical Church on Sunday (I had a short time of sharing in the morning service and I shared my full presentation in the evening service).  The church was wonderful and welcoming and I have enjoyed getting to know my hosts!

Yesterday my hosts for most of time here took me to see Multnomah Falls and Bonneville Fish Hatchery, which are both beautiful and interesting places!

The weeks before this have been quite hectic (hence the lack of blog posts), and I am grateful to have a relaxing week.  On Sunday I will be sharing at Happy Valley Evangelical Church.  Then on Thursday I will be sharing with Jennings Lodge Prayer Fellowship, and Saturday I will be sharing with the Men With Vision group at Oregon City Evangelical Church. I am so grateful for the opportunities to share as well as meet some wonderful people!

During this time I am working on plans to visit Pennsylvania and Kentucky this summer.  I would really like to add some more meetings to each trip, so I appreciate you prayers (and if you know anyone out there who could be a contact for me that would be a huge help as well!).

Thank you so much for your prayers!

Did You Know?

What do you think of when you think about Saint Patrick? A day of green, shamrocks, and leprechauns?  Did you know that he that he was a missionary?

Saint Patrick was born Maewyn Succat, in Roman Britain sometime around the 5th century.   He was from a nominally Christian family.  At 16 years of age he was captured by Irish pirate and forced to work as a slave.  During his captivity he turned to Christ, and his time as a slave was important for his spiritual development.  Working as a shepherd, he devoted a lot of time to prayer.  After six years of slavery he felt that God was telling him that it was his time to escape.  He successfully escaped to England, where he studied more about Christianity. 

During this time he took the name of Patrick.After several years of study Patrick headed God's call and returned to Ireland as a missionary.  He was not welcomed initially, but he didn't give up.  According to records he baptised thousands, converted the sons and daughters of kings, started churches, and set up church leadership.

"In the light, therefore, of our faith in the Trinity I must make this choice, regardless of danger I must make known the gift of God and everlasting consolation, without fear and frankly I must spread everywhere the name of God so that after my decease I may leave a bequest to my brethren and sons whom I have baptized in the Lord—so many thousands of people." - Patrick

(Sorry the text is highlighted in this post...I wasn't sure how to undo it!)

(sources www.wikipedia.com and http://www.crossway.org/blog/2011/03/the-life-and-mission-of-st-patrick/)

Sometimes Community Is a Lemon

                                                    (Lemons in Honduras are green...not my pic)

Community can be as simple as the gift of  a lemon.  I was a recent college graduate, serving as a volunteer in Honduras.  My roommate (another recent college grad) and I both liked to cook, but one night she and I had run out of ideas of what to make.  All the meal ideas we had involved ingredients we that were miles away in town.  

Not knowing what to do, we decided to put off making dinner, and walked the hundred or so yards to the house of a fellow missionary.  She welcomed us with glasses of ice-cold zuko (it's like Kool-aide), and we sat down to chat about how our weeks were going.  Somewhere in conversation, she found out that were out of new recipe ideas.  She asked a couple of questions about what we had on hand, got up, and handed us a recipe and a lemon (the only ingredient we lacked).

I experienced a lot of community that year, but the gift of the recipe and lemon was really symbolic to me.  We could have found the recipe on the internet, and there was actually a lemon tree in our yard, but it was the friendship, not the lemon chicken that turned a discouraging evening around.  A few days later we paid her back with an egg she needed to make cookies.

 If I had to boil community down to one word it would be sharing.  Sharing our time, talents, possessions.  Sharing our lives, both the big events and the day to day joys and struggles.  Sharing our thoughts, hopes, and what is on our hearts.  Sharing our lemons.