An Opportunity

This whole doctorate thing that I am considering would be for the sole purpose of teaching. This being said, I was chatting with my mentor friend who asked me what requirements the Black Forest Academy, in Germany, had for their Bible teachers. Out of curiosity, I asked. I tried to make it clear that I was not in any way applying or even ready to apply and that my question was merely hypothetical.

Naturally they want someone with teaching experience which I don't have yet. No problem.
But then, as I read the rest of the response, I was surprised.

I was asked to consider a position of working in the Residence Life office, overseeing the RAs. I was not expecting this and felt a bit flustered all day yesterday. Knowing the individual who had this role before...I naturally think that I am nothing like her and couldn't possibly fill her shoes. Of course, I know that this is not the goal and I would have something to offer that position just as she did. But do I go?

I loved Loved LOVED my ministry in the dorms...I wonder if I would be content to work alongside the dorms. And, I'm a bit burned out on office jobs and I'm not sure how much of this ministry would involve working in the office. It definitely would involve a large element of interact with others, which I'd love and welcome.

I don't know.

I'm leaning towards saying "no thank you...not at this time." While I'd love to return to BFA or any other missionary kid school some day, I'm not sure now is the right time. But at this point, I'm not really sure of how and where God is leading me.

So I wrote back and asked if they had a job description and told them I'd pray over this.
And that's where this story presently ends...

Wait for it!

Last week, I wrote about the prayer retreat that I went on with some ladies from my church.

This past weekend, my mentor, who was also at the retreat, sent me the following verse that she found:

"For the vision is yet for the appointed time;
It hastens toward the goal and it will not fail
Though it tarries, wait for it;
For it will certainly come, it will not delay."
Habakkuk 2:3, NASB

What a great encouragement this verse is! Though it tarries, wait for it for it will certainly come! The Lord has given me a vision for ministry and He will bring that to fruition. His plan for me is not yet completed.

Thanksgiving Thankfulness, Part 1

I have a friend who is love and joy in flesh. I've known her for about 12 years but have only become close over the last 6 years.

She is quick to ask how things are going and will specifically inquire over certain elements of my life (school, time with God, running, ministry, boys, etc...whichever she knows is a main focus/struggle at that time). Because of her direct yet warm-hearted questions, I am continually challenged, both from conviction and encouragement, to persevere and to seek what is good.

She is so good at inquiring about me and getting me to talk that I find at times after we've met together, I have failed to inquire about her since I talked. The. Whole. Time. She has offered me such support and prayers over the years. I would not be me without her.

She is presently going through some health struggles: feeling tired, in pain, and even a bit weepy. And yet, she trusts God to provide for her and finds joy wherever joy is to be found. Due to her steady flow of doctor's appointments and my current class load, we haven't been able to connect for about 2 months and I miss her. During this season of her life, I want to be someone who can support and pray over her. Thankfully, prayers are not bound by struggles or commitments.

In the season of thanksgiving, I am thankful for her. God has made her wise, Jesus is her joy, and the Spirit draws people to Himself through her. When I grow up, I want to be like her and I think God is okay with that since she mirrors Him fairly well.

Chewing Too Much???

Approximately five or six weeks ago, I had dinner with my mentor. I proceeded to rattle off all the things I was going to do and focus on in my life (work, school, youth group, regular exercise, daily Bible reading, Bible Study, etc...) and she looked at me, with a twinkle in her eye (no, she isn't Mrs. Claus) and casually wondered if I was suddenly taking on too much. I think this is where I felt a surge of super-human strength, superior clarity of mind and confidently assured her it was all about balance and I was certain I would be able to handle it all just fine.

(he, he, he...giggle, giggle...Ha, Ha)

In the five weeks I've been in school, I have exercised a grand total of four times. And due to school stresses, I've been doing homework while walking on the treadmill which means I'm not breaking a sweat because I'm reading. (Anyone think that one 30-minute non-sweating walk-a-week will help me out? Anyone? Anyone? Hello?)

As for my daily Bible reading, I'm doing better at this than exercising but am not quite at the "daily" level yet. According to my schedule, I should be reading Leviticus 11-13 today. Umm...yeah....I'm currently at Exodus 21...a few days behind.

I am managing to get to work 5 days a week...so that's good...that counts for something right? And I'm keeping up with my homework (but let's not talk about the final project due in two weeks that I haven't started), so that's good too. And I've faithfully attended youth group over the last 5-6 weeks. So I guess I'm doing okay, right? (I'm sure my mentor is laughing at me now, shaking her head!)

Learning New Things

In my pursuit to become a missionary, it has been recommended that I find a mentor. I found myself a mentor officially about a month ago. What a blessing she is to my life! We've been friends and fellow coffee drinkers for years but to move into a mentoring relationship, is a treat.

So first things first...she had me take a Strength Finder test, which gives you the top 5 things that you excel in. Then she had me take a spiritual gift's test, which pretty much reiterated what the Strength Finder test revealed.

God has made me to be someone who is geared towards counseling or mentoring. Back a long time ago, I considered counseling as a career but figured I would likely "take work home with me" and should therefore avoid that field. Mentoring is something I've long desired to participate in with others but have alway felt uncertain, unqualified, and actually still have no idea about how I'd go about become someone's mentor.

So my mentor's goal is to mentor me to become a mentor to others.
This undoubtably will be a part of whatever missionary ministry I eventually go into.

The process of self-discovery is something I find interesting. Learning about how God made us and how He has wired our hearts, is something I enjoy learning about. I hope these times of self-discovery help me to become the type of person who can help others understand themselves and more importantly, the heart of God.