Ministry Update

I realize I've not kept all of you posted on how God has been leading through this transition, so...I shall attempt to remedy this.

First, a brief overview.  When I came back to the States at the beginning of July, I'd been praying about whether I should look for work in California or pursue a stateside ministry with NTM.  The Lord just really gave me peace about continuing on with NTM, so I started checking into options with some of our different US centers: Sanford HQ, the MTC, our two Bible schools.  (Side note: I just want to say that I'm so thankful for the encouragement and support the mission has been through this whole transition.  Everyone has been very helpful and thorough in answering questions and pointing me towards what I needed to do.)

There were quite a few possibilities to look at - everything from writing to childcare to guest home ministry - so many neat options, in fact, that it was a little overwhelming!  After a lot of prayer, as well as input from my home church and others, I felt God nudging me to consider the Bible schools more closely.

Discipleship and encouraging young people (especially young ladies) are two things He's definitely given me a burden for.  The Bible school environment would easily provide many opportunities for that, so that was a huge draw.

I've talked with both the Wisconsin and the Michigan campuses, and it seems like either one could be an amazing place to work at.  God is doing great things there and I'm excited about the possibility of getting to be part of it.

What would I be doing?  Well, there's a significant need in the guest house at one of the campuses, and there are also various office "holes" to fill.  I know an office job doesn't necessarily sound very captivating or overly-spiritual, but ministry isn't confined to just a title or a role.  Ministry should be synonymous with life, and campus life will be full of opportunities to rub shoulders with others, to come alongside young people who want to walk with the Lord, to serve and to encourage those around me.

I haven't made a decision between the schools yet, but I'll be visiting the Wisconsin campus next month to meet the team there.  Your prayers would be much appreciated for that trip and the decision itself.

As far as time frames go, my home assignment will be up at the end of the year, so I'm supposed to move to my next ministry somewhere around then.  It's a bit stressful to my inner planner to know that there's going to be an out-of-state move in about two months...but not to know what state it'll be.  Maybe it shouldn't make that much of a difference; they'll both be covered in snow by that time and I'll probably freeze to death out there!  Thanks, West Africa, for rendering me incapable of handling temperatures below freezing. ;)

Anyway, that's the deal in a nutshell.  There's so much more I could write about this whole journey - about what the Lord has been showing me and teaching me through all of it - but that will have to be for another time.  I just wanted to let you all know what's going on and ask you to be praying with me.  Thanks!

More Catching Up

I didn't want to completely overwhelm you, so I split the pictures I accumulated over the last six weeks into two posts.  You're welcome. :)

I cannot. get. enough of him.

He looks so much like his daddy sometimes.  Minus the blue eyes - he gets those from his mommy.

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This was the night before Beck left.  We had a similar series of pictures, I think, sometime before I left for West Africa.  Or maybe it was after I got back from MTC.  I don't know.

Anyway, I like sisters-on-the-counter pictures.

We are all, I believe, slightly insane.  Some of us just have enough courage to let it show.

Or something.

"Ha!  I've got Auntie's camera and she can't get it away from me.  Snap!"

Chill, people.  It was apple cider.  I promise.  And the bottle was practically empty.

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Sarah, Malachi, and I flew down for a couple days to help Beck get settled in her new digs.

"Hold on, I'd better give this place an inspection first."

Malachi was a champ on the flights (it was his first time).  He slept most of the way, cried very little, and amused himself by looking over the in-flight menu.

Food.  It's his one weakness.  (You think I'm kidding?  You should see him eat...)

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Travels over, back to ordinary life...

Which is pretty funny, he thinks.

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As for me, well...

The summer was crazy.  Every week seemed so full, things all piled up high in wobbly stacks.

(Side note: I know I'm not unique in this.  I'm pretty sure y'all can relate at some point or another.)

The past two weeks or so, in contrast, have seemed almost too quiet, and the quiet has been unexpectedly hard to adjust to.

I'm not used to time and space like this.  I haven't been for a very long time.

So when the hurry slows, I feel odd.
Unproductive.
Uncomfortable.
Empty.

I'm waiting in this quiet, too, wanting to make decisions but knowing some pieces of the puzzle are out of my hands at this point.  And so I wait.

I'd like to believe that waiting on the Lord gives us answers and direction, but sometimes I think He simply gives us His presence - Himself - and no answers.  It's hard for me, 'cause I like action and certainty and moving forward.

In-between times are the perfect opportunity for doubt and fear to raise their ugly heads.  Am I doing enough and praying enough and trying enough?  What do I have to offer for this time?  Nothing to show for at all!

What if what He does through these in-between times is so much bigger, deeper, and more valuable than all the things I think I'm doing for Him the rest of the time?

Maybe He doesn't want my doing so much as He wants me.

Maybe it's okay not to have answers and everything figured out.

Maybe I can still write, speak, or share even when nothing seems to be happening.

Maybe quiet and small and insignificant are things to embrace instead of to hide from.

Maybe I'm just supposed to be and live this everyday, ordinary life because it's not even about what I'm doing, but Christ living in me.

Maybe this was what Paul was talking about, jars of clay and Christ in us and glory shining through.

Catching Up

I'm pretty sure that was my longest non-blogging stretch ever.  Computer issues and, well, lots of other things.

Church picnics.

Playdates for Malachi.

Visits to Grandma's.

Brownie parties.

Get-togethers with friends.

Life. :)

I do love blogging, but this break has been a good thing for me.  It's been freeing to realize I don't need to pressure myself into churning out so many posts a week or month.  There's a time for everything: a time to blog, a time not to blog...

Anyway, since we're here that obviously means it was time to blog again.

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Little kids.

They're so entertaining.

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His famous fist bump.  He gives them to his family, the dogs, the computer, the barista at Starbucks, and himself in the mirror.

So adorable.  I can't stand it.

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We went up to see Grandma - Beck and I - and stayed just a couple days.  We made African food, met her wonderful prayer group, snacked, talked, and...did I mention we ate?  I wonder how much we ate in those two-ish days.

Food is always on the agenda with Grandma.

Food processor: a horribly inauthentic stand-in for a mortar and pestle.

They didn't get the memo.

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Brownies are my one weakness.

It was our little going-away party for Beck.

Yay for friends and good food and laughter and movies.

More pictures tomorrow.