Keep Dreaming | Join the Movement | Edition 34

When I arrived in Spain, I was excited: I am finally here! It had been a long process of raising support and going through the process to get my visa. To be honest, I am still excited: I am here! 

It is not that the excitement wore off. No, I remain grateful for the ways God provided for me. He cared for me through the support-raising process and by providing a good job, surrounding me with incredibly supportive people, and protecting me while I traveled amidst the years of the pandemic.

Once I arrived in the field, I started to see ways that God’s timing is incredible. He had given me words beforehand that I saw come to fruition early on in my assignment. I knew that the patience and the hard work of the support-raising process were worth it.

Within my first couple weeks of arriving in Spain, the Holy Spirit began to stir this question: What will I dream for next? I had been dreaming of arriving for so long, and now that it had come true, praise God! 

But now, I need to look forward again, without forgetting God’s faithfulness to me in the past several months, but what do I press on towards? What am I hoping for?

Just as the Holy Spirit prompted this question, He has also begun to answer it. While partnering with a church a month into my assignment, the youth pastor prayed over me during a service. The Holy Spirit spoke through him and the children’s director, who translated the message into English.

Without them knowing it, the Lord gave me an answer to my questions. He gave me a glimpse into how he will use me in this 2-year assignment and beyond as I continue to follow the Lord (in whatever country that may be)!

I expect to learn more of what the Lord has for me the longer I am in the field. I will continue to be grateful for God’s faithfulness. I want to continue looking forward and to see where God will bring me and use me.

Dignity Restored

Hundreds of thousands of migrants risk exploitation, abuse, violence, deprivation, and discrimination as they flee from situations of death and destruction, fearing for their lives and believing there is something better in another place.

Shocking numbers of migrants—particularly, but certainly not those who headed to Europe—paid for their hopes of a better future with their lives. Many are left with physical and mental scars or are detained or pushed back from border crossings. The British Red Cross conducted a study of migrant risks along the Central Mediterranean route, which revealed a litany of abuse. “The people we spoke to almost all had a story that included being beaten, abused, exploited, and detained or imprisoned,” it notes. Their dignity was trampled on many different levels.

Upon arrival, migrants have no idea what will meet them after their perilous journey. They have no expectation of kindness or respect. How surprising and touching for them to be greeted by welcome arms, smiles, water, and blankets by Christ-followers. How encouraging it must be that someone is interested in hearing their story and simply being present. Their dignity to be restored as love and care is poured on them. Who better to restore dignity to those who have been mistreated than the Body of Christ?

Stay the Course | Join the Movement | Edition 33

In Spain, they use traffic circles, like a lot! Sometimes you end up missing the exit, and then you have to go around again to get to your exit lane. After a while, you get so used to it that you do not even question why you are in the circle. You just keep going around and around.

Sometimes we get caught in what seems like endless looping circles, in life, in jobs, in relationships. But, I encourage you to learn during these times. When I was 21, I told God that I was done with missions. I planned to go to a university, get a job, find a wife, and get a picket-fenced house.

After university, I got a random job, which had nothing to do with anything I studied or even wanted to do with my life. I was working at a TV station to turn their Beta tapes into a digital format. I left there after a while and started a spiral of looking for fulfillment in different locations and jobs.

Nothing seemed to fit until God told me it was time to get back to work, doing what He had trained me to do since my youth: MISSIONS. I was to go to Spain. What they needed was someone who could convert their Beta tapes into a digital format.

Now, I am going from being an MA to a Career Missionary. God, from your childhood, is putting things into you, shaping you, and giving you skills that He will use in the future. Even if you think you are going around in circles, do not despair!

The mission field is more than missiology classes and theology classes. It is admin work, sewing, coffee shop and fast food experience, wiring, art, auto repair, plumbing, gardening, toilet bowl scrubbing, and any other job you can imagine, so stay the course. He will show you when it is time to exit the circle. In the meantime, learn ALL THINGS and find joy in the fact that God will use all those things in so many different ways as you continue to serve Him by sharing Jesus with people across the world.

Expect the Unexpected! | Join the Movement | Edition 32

When we said “Yes” to God's call to Hungary, we knew it would be the biggest walk of faith for our family.

Having been a MA as a single woman, I had a taste of what it meant “to go.”  Although this time, we'd be going as a family with two little ones and the curveball that came shortly after our approval. The pandemic shook the world, and it hasn't stopped.

Jeremy, my husband, was considered essential at his day job. He received increased hours, and he began helping our home church launch its livestream system. With working overtime, itinerating, and homeschooling, every moment pulled at us. How can we do it all? We knew God called us, but how?

When you give yourself fully to the Lord's work in the role you are in today, sometimes, your next refreshment may just surprise you.

One afternoon, I found a quiet moment to reach out to a few more potential partners. I would be lying if I didn't say I was quite exhausted.

Just then, our son decided it was time to begin washing his lunch dishes for himself. “Good job, Buddy!” Yet, I thought to myself that my time for making calls was dwindling rapidly.

After a few more phone calls, the water was still running at the kitchen sink, and I observed that our french press was now being washed. Great.

“Here's more coffee, Mom!” With a proud smile, a “freshly re-brewed” thermos of coffee was delivered to the kitchen table, which was also my makeshift workstation. (His recipe: lots of tepid city tap water poured over the old coffee grounds from the last press). Yep, I'll always savor the thought of that handmade offering.

Refreshment came that day in the form of a handcrafted cup of coffee. God used the sweetest little boy to bring it.

Sometimes you may feel like the task ahead is endless or impossible, or you just don't know how you'll manage it all, but stand firm. Stand firm today and receive God's “refreshing” for the journey. Expect the unexpected!