"Brain is mush. I'm surprised it is not oozing out of my ears."
That has been my status many times for finals weeks during college and seminary alike, and I have to admit that the feeling after a week of Missionary Orientation is very similar! At Global Partners Headquarters, I was bombarded with an incredible amount of important information and training to prepare for the months ahead of support team building and preparation for ministry in New Zealand. Also, I was able to interact with several denominational leaders; just rubbing shoulders with these godly leaders was a challenge and encouragement. I suppose my greatest "take-away" from the week was a deepening understanding of the philosophy of support team building. Global Partners refers to this process as Home Ministries because they truly understand it as a season during which missionaries minister to the North American Church. Over the next months, I will have the incredible opportunity to invite people to join God in His work in New Zealand. Also, I will have the privilege of interacting with a large number of churches and fellow believers. I look forward to building new relationships, encouraging God's people, and challenging the Church to continue to pour out for God's global mission!
The week would not have been the same experience without some incredible people God placed in it. First, the GP staff was phenomenal. Second, the other missionaries who went through the training with me became instant, dear friends. Isaac and Amy Thompson are headed to Ecuador, and Sean and Sam Schwarze are going to be with me in the South Pacific Area while serving in Australia. In addition, I was honored to be able to stay at Shunem House with Jim and Jeanette Vermilya. They have become like family to me over the past few years, and I am so glad to have them as my Home Ministries Missionary Pastors. Finally, God blessed me with the opportunity to be reunited with some old, close friends along with making some new ones! God amazed me throughout the week as He set up unexpected divine appointments. There is nothing sweeter than praying with people you love and mutually sharpening one another as believers over meals and even through playing games and laughing together. God is so faithful!
So... now that I have been "oriented," I am ready to jump deeper into this process! May the journey to New Zealand continue!
Amber,
ReplyDeleteIt was SO great to see you this past weekend! Your friendship is such a wonderful blessing from the Lord and I thank God for you! I love how we can have fun, laugh and play ridiculous games (like scum:) together, but also how we are able to talk about the deeper things that are going on in our hearts and pray with and encourage each other in our walk with the Lord. Thanks so much for the many ways that you've challenged me to love Him more.
I pray that as you begin this process that you would continually depend on God and lean on His strength, truth, promises,and wisdom and NOT seek to do this on your own. I pray that as you travel to various churches and interact with the people there, that God would be glorified through your every thought, motive, word, action and every conversation. I pray that the hearts of those that you share with, would break for the needs that exist in New Zealand, that they would catch a vision for what "could be" and that they would desire to partner with you in some way whether through prayer, financial support or actually going over there to be a laborer for the kingdom. I pray that when the enemy attacks, that you would be able to identify his attacks and resist him. I pray that when your flesh just wants to give up and quit that you would "look to the Lord and HIS strength" and that you would "seek His face always" (Ps. 105:4). And I pray, that as we, your supporters, lift you and New Zealand up in prayer that we would see God do, exceedingly above all we could ask, think or even imagine (Eph. 3:20). HE is able friend! I love you friend and am SO excited to see how God will use you as you begin this journey and continue to be obedient to His leading in your life. Keep it up sis! ;)
You are amazing, Charissa... Thank you so much. You have a facebook post waiting from me in June, and I'm pretty sure I left it the same day you wrote this. :)
ReplyDelete