There are three of us staying at our host home and at 10, we were picked up to get our rental car for the week (a snazzy little PT Cruiser) and then headed off to World Team headquarters. Sydney, my fellow southwesterner, and I were in awe of the trees and all the beautiful colors as we drove. Sydney's from San Diego and jokes that there are only 2 seasons there, mudslide season and fire season. I only see pinon trees which are always a weird greenish color, unfortunately.
We spent the day in different sessions, listening and interacting with a few of the different World Team staff members, and getting to know the organization. I found myself dealing with a lot of questions like "how in the world am I going to keep up?", "how can a young, single gal like me find a place where I can actually be used in an organization like this?", and "can I really do ministry work at all?". I have rather limited experience in ministry, having had trouble in the past getting involved with organizations at school, and I've shot myself in the foot a few times by being maybe a little too stubborn on a few doctrinal issues I had with different leaders at said organizations (I've learned a little more humility since then, but still have quite a ways to go in beating down my more arrogant side). There are things in those organizations that I felt very strongly needed some work, but instead of trying to help work on them, I just backed out. I hadn't really learned the meaning of "being the change you want to see".
I've also had this weird aversion to "organized ministry" and planning how to go about ministry in my daily life. Maybe it's a leftover college student mentality of wanting to just "wing it" through everything. I've been trying to train myself out of this mental state for a while now, but old habits die hard. I have been taking baby steps, beginning with just praying a lot for the people I know, and have had a few opportunities to share truths about Jesus with my coworkers since I started praying for them. One of the guys from Focus on the Family talks about "intentional living" and I try to remember that phrase throughout the day, reminding myself that if I'm not looking for opportunities to share Jesus, I probably won't find them.
Speaking of praying for people, there are a few people I met yesterday in the middle of my traveling that I wanted to ask for prayer for.
1) I got through security and went to sit down and put my shoes back on, and I sat down next to another young gal. I asked her where she was headed and she said Denver, and then she asked me where I was headed and I said Philadelphia. I told her I was going to a missions conference-type-thing, and she looked at me and smiled and said she was headed for training to go on overseas missions. I don't remember the name of the organization any more, but she said she was going to go to 11 countries in 11 months. I didn't catch her name, but pray for her training and her work if you think about it :).
2) After "jumping ship" and getting on my second plane to Phoenix yesterday, I sat next to a really sweet couple who gave me the window seat when I didn't even ask for it. I talked to the wife (whose name I didn't catch either) and told her where I was going and what I was doing, and then talked with her about her life. She's Lutheran, but I don't know if she is actually saved or not. Her sister is fighting breast cancer and has 2 kids in their teens.
3) My last plane ride, I sat down next to an older, African-American lady. I asked her where she was headed and she was on her way from LA to visit her family in Philly. We got into the longest conversation I'd ever had with a stranger just about life and how you never know where you'll end up. I never asked her point-blank whether or not she was a Christian, but she believes in God and that He is the author of our lives. She may have been Catholic and I also noticed a Yoga charm on her bracelet. We had a lot in common though, a love for reading, a love for Earl Grey tea with milk and honey, a desire to see England, grandmothers with the same birthday. We laughed a lot and really enjoyed each others company. Pray for her salvation if she isn't saved. Her name was Lucille.
Anyway, if this wasn't entirely coherent, sorry... it's late here and I had a long day :).
1) I got through security and went to sit down and put my shoes back on, and I sat down next to another young gal. I asked her where she was headed and she said Denver, and then she asked me where I was headed and I said Philadelphia. I told her I was going to a missions conference-type-thing, and she looked at me and smiled and said she was headed for training to go on overseas missions. I don't remember the name of the organization any more, but she said she was going to go to 11 countries in 11 months. I didn't catch her name, but pray for her training and her work if you think about it :).
2) After "jumping ship" and getting on my second plane to Phoenix yesterday, I sat next to a really sweet couple who gave me the window seat when I didn't even ask for it. I talked to the wife (whose name I didn't catch either) and told her where I was going and what I was doing, and then talked with her about her life. She's Lutheran, but I don't know if she is actually saved or not. Her sister is fighting breast cancer and has 2 kids in their teens.
3) My last plane ride, I sat down next to an older, African-American lady. I asked her where she was headed and she was on her way from LA to visit her family in Philly. We got into the longest conversation I'd ever had with a stranger just about life and how you never know where you'll end up. I never asked her point-blank whether or not she was a Christian, but she believes in God and that He is the author of our lives. She may have been Catholic and I also noticed a Yoga charm on her bracelet. We had a lot in common though, a love for reading, a love for Earl Grey tea with milk and honey, a desire to see England, grandmothers with the same birthday. We laughed a lot and really enjoyed each others company. Pray for her salvation if she isn't saved. Her name was Lucille.
Anyway, if this wasn't entirely coherent, sorry... it's late here and I had a long day :).
Here is some advice for you this week--Relax and don't take yourself too seriously. Be who God has made you to be and let others be who God has made them to be. Be willing to be stretched so as to learn somethings about who God is wanting you to become and realize that those around you are also people in process as well. Finally, irregardless of the outcome of the assessment process--God is at work in you, has a place of service for you (with or without WT), and will use this week to bless you in more ways then you will realize. So have fun and most important.....enjoy the food!
ReplyDeleteYay, thank you so much! I definitely need to hear some of that stuff more often... namely the part about not taking myself so seriously...
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