Hey hey future goers!
My heart goes out to all of you during this turmoil in our world; and, I'm sure, in your own heart as well. I just want to say that all your thoughts and feelings are valid. The LORD knows you, He hears you, and He cares for you. God is a merciful God, and He reveals to us that our fears and anxieties tell us that apart from Jesus we can do nothing. If you're having doubts about whether or not you should continue pursuing this, trust me, pandemic or not, doubt will be your greatest enemy all throughout support raising and even as you live out your 2 years in your field country. So, don't let this pandemic be the cherry on top of a sundae the LORD isn't even done filling for you. Doubt is inevitable in this mundane world, but so are the LORD's promises so let's cling onto Him as He grips onto us. Doubt and worry adds no good thing to what the Lord has called you to so stand firm in the faith, surrender your ego, cling to the LORD, and ride out the waves with Father.
Whether you're pursuing this to explore what missions means to you and your life or you're just in this to travel, I'm excited for all the things God will do in and through you to draw you closer to Himself, make you more like Jesus, and use you as a vessel to bring about His glory in the country where you will serve. I don't think I have much to say, but who knows, I'll just type and see where this goes.
As you step out of college and into the world outside of what you're familiar with, be gracious to yourself and others. Over the past 2 years in Thailand, God showed me what it really meant to die to yourself and follow Jesus. God created the world to be beautifully diverse of people, culture, tradition, color, smell, and flavors. At first we don't realize how judgmental and critical we can be of other cultures, but the mercy of God will gradually rip you of yourself and open your eyes to see people like He does, and love others like He loves.
In the west, we value productivity, but not just that itself, the purpose of our productivity. Productivity has to be tangible for us because it shows that we've accomplished something. However, keep in mind that as someone in the early stage of living in a new country who's just learning language, you can't expect yourself to be productive in ministry as you were in your home country; at least not until you can start having a better understanding of the language and culture. Productivity looks differently at first, and usually it starts with being able to count to 10 in the country's language, knowing how to get to language school by yourself, and knowing where the market is, etc.
Last but not least, 2 years seems long but it really isn't. By the time you start getting comfortable with the language and making friends, it's already time to say your farewells. Don't let this make you invest less in community and ministry, but let it draw you to be more intentional, vulnerable, and transparent with your team, local friends, local community, and the culture around you. As said by a poet, "'Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all." We are called to love with the Love given to us after all.
It seems I wrote quite a bit. Anyway, there's so, so, so, so, so much more, but I'll leave it to you to experience for yourself. I'll leave my email here so feel free to email me if you have any questions, want to process, or just want to chat about my time in Thailand.
To the ends of the earth,
Christina
[email protected]