Sometimes in ministry it’s tricky to remove yourself from work in order to recharge. This is especially the case for our ministry team because where we work is also the apartment complex we live in. The needs of our refugee friends and the logistics of ministry constantly surround us, and it can often feel like we are on-call 24/7. Therefore, it takes a lot of discipline for us to separate ourselves from our work and recharge physically, mentally, and spiritually. Often it requires us to leave 19 Apartments for a few hours and go somewhere else to rest or do something else not related to our jobs. We all have our different places we go. For some it’s chilling at a coffee shop, and for others it’s taking a walk at a park.
For me I’ve really enjoyed hiking and exploring the various trails I had no idea existed in Phoenix. A less than 30-minute drive can lead to some awesome mountains and rugged trails taking you to the very top of them. It’s up in the mountains looking down into the Phoenix valley where I feel removed from the world for just a little bit, and it's enough time to think and talk with Jesus. The mountains can also be a place where sometimes I don’t think at all, but instead I just look out in the valley and take the view in. It’s a really good place to take a breath, and I leave that place feeling refilled and ready to pour back into my community. No matter what your occupation is, I hope you have a space where you feel free and safe to admit how tired you are, take a breath, and recharge.