Most normal people aren't interested in flying across the world to volunteer in dirty hot conditions. When they don't want to go themselves, it can be difficult for them to know what's going on in other countries or be very interested. In my position as Director of Connections at Valpo First United Methodist Church, I want to figure out a way to help a normal person like me get connected to other parts of the world (without having to get on a plane!).
Our church staff and ministry leaders talked about how to connect our congregation to our international United Methodist Church missions many times, but haven't discovered the right way to do it. Remember that God has a wonderful sense of humor? Recently I left a meeting in which we talked about giving up on connecting to our own church missions and simply supporting a World Vision or Compassion International Sunday at church instead. It would be easier since we didn't have the energy or resources to create our own vehicle to connect members to our United Methodist Church mission internationally.
Then a nice man named Mike ruined my white middle class lady life.
This man named Mike Strayer came to my desk. Mike was interested in what I thought about trying to find someone who could go to Sierra Leone in West Africa to help facilitate some sort of penpal relationship with our students there. He said the International Missions team wanted to financially support the right person. Of course this made my heart beat faster and I had just been talking about building relationships like this 10 minutes earlier in our meeting. Since I had just started back to work after missing several months with my Bell's palsy illness, I knew that I wasn't up for international travel. I was barely working part of my normal hours. He asked if I would be interested and I said no, thank you. I suggested they talk to our youth pastor, so we all went and had a conversation. The Youth Pastor Marc Adams encouraged me to consider going, even with my goofy face. He said God can do miracles and work through any situation and all of that.
I went home and told my husband casually that I had some conversations and that if our youth pastor wasn't interested in going I said I'd consider going to Africa. My husband who is risk averse and works full-time himself didn't say anything about me being potentially gone for two weeks to Sierra Leone West Africa on a mission trip that I never wanted to go on. All he said to me was "Well, you'd need a passport!" This was one of many times I thought the door would close on this trip and I would hear a strong "No'" but got encouragement instead.
I checked in with someone who did on the trip earlier and got some honest feedback. I checked in with the Pastor Marc to see if he was going and he did not feel led to go, again encouraging me to go even with my malady. I decided that I would not go.
I went and talked with Pastor Kevin (who is going on the trip) and I asked if he thought I should go even with myBell's Palsy. He said that he couldn't possibly tell me what to do. I asked why he was going on the Africa trip and he said it was a once in a lifetime trip for him. I still wasn't convinced. Together he and I came up with a list of 10 amazing people who would be great to go on the trip (instead of me!). I gave the list to Mike and within a day he called me back and said that I was the right person to go, and if they wanted me to go.
I am a crazy and at times
foolish woman,
but I do honestly pursue God
with my messy little heart.
I believe God has some kind of wonderful for me through this trip and decided to give in and see exactly what he has in store for me. I am going on this mission trip. I am going to Sierra Leone and leaving my husband and two little kids for two weeks to jump whole heartedly into....God only knows. I would very much appreciate your prayers and your thoughts as I prepare to go on this adventure In October. If you have tips on international traveler stories of your own to share, send them my way or comment below!
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