Five Years

Today marks my 5 year anniversary at Adventures in Missions. I’ve been trying to decide if I have anything profound or important to say.

It’s a milestone. I’ve held volunteer positions longer than 5 years, but paid positions are a different matter. The next longest one was just under 5 years. So I’m entering new territory. But there’s nothing particularly profound about that. 

Has it been worth it? Leaving Connecticut, an amazing church, incredible friends? Taking an out of character leap of faith to move to Georgia and work for Adventures in Missions? That’s worth pondering.

It’s the wrong question in one sense, however. I felt a strong sense of call. And a restlessness that intensified rather than abated. In the end, I was acting in obedience to that. “Worth it” is secondary to “call”. I wrestled with it, I wisely waited until certain things were clear, I did not rush into this. And all of those things worked together in very good ways. Ultimately, my “yes” was to the Lord and not to my own desires. A sense of call is the solid foundation I return to time and time again.

But am I glad I did it? Absolutely – a definite YES. It’s been both unexpectedly good and very hard. But both of those things have produced growth and I’m grateful.

I have missed the community in Connecticut deeply – and that has not lessened as time has gone on. In some ways, the longing for it has grown more intense. But I have also learned that I am stronger and braver than I thought I was. 

I have had the opportunity to build a new program (for parents), lead trips and see the world. In many ways, it is more than I ever imagined it could be. But I have also felt misunderstood and the sense that I don’t quite fit in never goes away. I am an introvert in an extraverted environment. I am quiet and I observe well, but the norm here is to dive headlong into things with greater speed. I get from A to B by seeing the obstacles and knowing how to navigate or solve them; but what feels like forward movement to me feels like I’m raining on their parade to others. It’s not about better or worse. It’s about different styles and different giftings. But there have been seasons of weariness in addition to seasons of great delight.

And in all these things I’ve never lost sight of the big picture. I’m called here – to be part of bringing Kingdom by bringing my skills to Adventures in Missions. I’ve grown through the challenges. My view of the world is bigger. I’ve loved the experiences. I love what I’ve learned about God and what I’ve learned about myself.

It’s also been part of God redeeming a season of my life far beyond anything I could have hoped for. With great confidence I can say that this leap of faith, this moving to Georgia, has been good.

Finally, for those of you who have supported me, prayed for me and encouraged me – THANK YOU. My needs go far beyond the financial support I need to raise. Without your love and your prayers and your words of encouragement, I wouldn’t have been able to continue to say “yes”. I treasure the many, many ways you have blessed me.

I believe the “yes” continues – and I can’t wait to see what’s ahead.

 

(For those of you who are newer to my journey, you can find some of the background in my early blogs, beginning here.)