Looking at my blog entries on this site is like looking through old journals...sometimes they're few and far between. At the end of this week I'll have been at my job (Interim Student Minister) for 3 months and the four month mark is coming up from when I came back to America. A lot has happened over these few months and I didn't really know what to write or when to write it. Here's a small update about what's been going on, what I've felt and wrestled with along the way and what's to come...
I guess you could say that things are getting "back to normal" now. Good food, a nice bed and warm shower are taken for granted again. I have my own car and cell phone, which proves much more convenient than traveling on the Race. In a spontaneous decision I got my hair chopped off to donate...over 10 inches...and now I put on makeup and fix my hair everyday. So, you could say that I'm starting to "settle" again in Statesville.
But some days are still unsettled. There are those times when my mind goes back to sweet Vincent in Kenya and his hilarious dance moves or I find myself wondering about my friends in the bars of Thailand. I still meet people that think following Jesus around the globe was an insane idea, the experience of a lifetime to be sure...but now it's time for me to calm down and get a real job. Some days I have such joy because of an encounter with the Lord, other days I find myself literally laying on the floor and asking, "What am I doing with my life?"
With the job that I have there are certainly ups and downs. Some days are more joyful, others are discouraging. The world wide web is not the place for those details or emotions, but I will share some wonderful God-sized things that have been going on lately...
I've made it a priority to attend Christian club meetings at the local middle and high schools as well as make it to the cafeteria to eat lunch with some students. There have been some good connections made as students that I've never met before are starting to have conversations with me. I was able to speak about my World Race journey at the high school down the street where I graduated in 2007. Some of the same teachers are still there and there is even an opportunity for me to help with the basketball team this fall. I am continually amazed at how the Lord opens door after door for new relationships so that I can begin to have conversations about Him. He did the same thing in Thailand, why wouldn't he do it here?
Another big part of what I've been up to is attending athletic events. There are lot of students from my church that play football, soccer, volleyball, run cross-country, you name it. They're all over the county in their athletic endeavors. I love going to these events in order to support the youth, but it's been a huge blessing to get to know their parents more as we talk in the stands. Monday I was at a soccer game...those of you who know me know that I don't really care much about the sport and that I'm partial to volleyball...but I went to watch one of my students. The team did a great job and won the game. The Lord gave me a good experience in the stands as the other spectators were a lot of fun to talk and joke around with. I also caught a bit of the varsity match and they dominated the field. Soccer is more fun than I thought!
Really, the best part about this job has been getting to know the youth. I know they're awesome, but sometimes they still surprise me. This morning, after See You at the Pole, one student walked up and handed me something wrapped in a paper towel. I smiled questioningly and asked what I'd just received. It was a "homemade pop-tart". We had spent some time in the cafeteria the previous week talking about classes, homework, sports, movies and pop-tarts. (Personally, I strongly believe that you should toast your pop-tarts. They are "toaster pastries" and they "pop" out of the toaster. Just sayin'...) This student said that his mom made amazing homemade pop-tarts and I joked about stopping by one morning for breakfast. The surprise (and wonderfully tasty) breakfast pastry totally made my day. To see generosity and simple kindness like that from a sixth grader blew me away. I can't believe that he remembered.
Maybe I was so impressed because I haven't seen that type of kindness much lately. On the Race it was humbling to be the honored guests everywhere we went and to be the recipient of so much generosity and hospitality. I was thinking the other day about one of our pastors from the Race and how wonderful it would be if he could come spend time with my family. Would we be as hospitable as he was? Would people come to honor him and hear him speak if he was given the opportunity? Or would they choose to stay at home watching ESPN and arguing about the replacement refs in the NFL? Why aren't people a priority anymore?
I guess what I'm getting at is this: I wish Americans would be as relational as the rest of the world. All it takes is a kind word, a simple note or a wave and a smile to brighten someone's day. Yea, we're willing to briefly speak to someone in the hallway when we see them, but intentionally tracking someone down to have an in-depth conversation and truly see how they're doing is asking too much.
What if we really got involved in the lives of others, not for the purpose of gossip on Facebook, but as a friend, mentor, prayer warrior for them and their faith? What if we truly took time to grow in the Word so that we could disciple others and set an example for them? What if when we took "prayer requests" or asked "how's it goin?" we listened to the responses and kept a check on others' progress?
This is a bit of a random entry, mostly because my life feels a little random right about now. Some days I forget what I'm doing or where I'm going, but I'm thankful to know Who is with me all the time. If I can just remember to focus on Him and constantly point others toward Him, I think I'll be alright.
Closing it up with one of my favorite passages on how to live practically and love others:
Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil: cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
On a side note: I finally mailed in my application for graduate school today. It had been pushed to the back burner with all the other activities to be planned and carried out. Now it's a reality. In three months I could be moving to a new place, with new people, new responsibilities and new weather (cold!).
I guess you could say that things are getting "back to normal" now. Good food, a nice bed and warm shower are taken for granted again. I have my own car and cell phone, which proves much more convenient than traveling on the Race. In a spontaneous decision I got my hair chopped off to donate...over 10 inches...and now I put on makeup and fix my hair everyday. So, you could say that I'm starting to "settle" again in Statesville.
But some days are still unsettled. There are those times when my mind goes back to sweet Vincent in Kenya and his hilarious dance moves or I find myself wondering about my friends in the bars of Thailand. I still meet people that think following Jesus around the globe was an insane idea, the experience of a lifetime to be sure...but now it's time for me to calm down and get a real job. Some days I have such joy because of an encounter with the Lord, other days I find myself literally laying on the floor and asking, "What am I doing with my life?"
With the job that I have there are certainly ups and downs. Some days are more joyful, others are discouraging. The world wide web is not the place for those details or emotions, but I will share some wonderful God-sized things that have been going on lately...
I've made it a priority to attend Christian club meetings at the local middle and high schools as well as make it to the cafeteria to eat lunch with some students. There have been some good connections made as students that I've never met before are starting to have conversations with me. I was able to speak about my World Race journey at the high school down the street where I graduated in 2007. Some of the same teachers are still there and there is even an opportunity for me to help with the basketball team this fall. I am continually amazed at how the Lord opens door after door for new relationships so that I can begin to have conversations about Him. He did the same thing in Thailand, why wouldn't he do it here?
Another big part of what I've been up to is attending athletic events. There are lot of students from my church that play football, soccer, volleyball, run cross-country, you name it. They're all over the county in their athletic endeavors. I love going to these events in order to support the youth, but it's been a huge blessing to get to know their parents more as we talk in the stands. Monday I was at a soccer game...those of you who know me know that I don't really care much about the sport and that I'm partial to volleyball...but I went to watch one of my students. The team did a great job and won the game. The Lord gave me a good experience in the stands as the other spectators were a lot of fun to talk and joke around with. I also caught a bit of the varsity match and they dominated the field. Soccer is more fun than I thought!
Really, the best part about this job has been getting to know the youth. I know they're awesome, but sometimes they still surprise me. This morning, after See You at the Pole, one student walked up and handed me something wrapped in a paper towel. I smiled questioningly and asked what I'd just received. It was a "homemade pop-tart". We had spent some time in the cafeteria the previous week talking about classes, homework, sports, movies and pop-tarts. (Personally, I strongly believe that you should toast your pop-tarts. They are "toaster pastries" and they "pop" out of the toaster. Just sayin'...) This student said that his mom made amazing homemade pop-tarts and I joked about stopping by one morning for breakfast. The surprise (and wonderfully tasty) breakfast pastry totally made my day. To see generosity and simple kindness like that from a sixth grader blew me away. I can't believe that he remembered.
Maybe I was so impressed because I haven't seen that type of kindness much lately. On the Race it was humbling to be the honored guests everywhere we went and to be the recipient of so much generosity and hospitality. I was thinking the other day about one of our pastors from the Race and how wonderful it would be if he could come spend time with my family. Would we be as hospitable as he was? Would people come to honor him and hear him speak if he was given the opportunity? Or would they choose to stay at home watching ESPN and arguing about the replacement refs in the NFL? Why aren't people a priority anymore?
I guess what I'm getting at is this: I wish Americans would be as relational as the rest of the world. All it takes is a kind word, a simple note or a wave and a smile to brighten someone's day. Yea, we're willing to briefly speak to someone in the hallway when we see them, but intentionally tracking someone down to have an in-depth conversation and truly see how they're doing is asking too much.
What if we really got involved in the lives of others, not for the purpose of gossip on Facebook, but as a friend, mentor, prayer warrior for them and their faith? What if we truly took time to grow in the Word so that we could disciple others and set an example for them? What if when we took "prayer requests" or asked "how's it goin?" we listened to the responses and kept a check on others' progress?
This is a bit of a random entry, mostly because my life feels a little random right about now. Some days I forget what I'm doing or where I'm going, but I'm thankful to know Who is with me all the time. If I can just remember to focus on Him and constantly point others toward Him, I think I'll be alright.
Closing it up with one of my favorite passages on how to live practically and love others:
Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil: cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
Romans 12:9-13
On a side note: I finally mailed in my application for graduate school today. It had been pushed to the back burner with all the other activities to be planned and carried out. Now it's a reality. In three months I could be moving to a new place, with new people, new responsibilities and new weather (cold!).
