In my position, the first 9 months are dedicated to language learning. I log at least 30 hrs a week in lessons, study, and conversation. I remember feeling slightly disheartened that almost a year of my time here wouldn’t be specifically community development related.
Thankfully, that perspective didn’t last long. I now see these 9 months as a blessing of deep preparation. I can think of another time in life that is granted a 9 month season of preparation, and as I understand, it is a blessed time of anticipation and relishing the time to get ready! I’ve come to hold the same perspective about my next 9 months. In my season of preparation, my focuses are language learning so that I can serve with greatest effectiveness and form deep relationships, leaning into prayer so that I can be deeply rooted in my relationship with Jesus and because we believe prayer is the work, and building community with my team, host family, and all my supporters so that I can invest in and be learning from meaningful relationships.
It feels exciting to be able to look forward to the work I came to do, and know that my time leading up to it is purposeful. It means I can diligently study, lean into prayer and Jesus, and spend time with people, knowing that I am investing in the season that is to come. In fact, if I steward these months well, my work will greatly benefit. And the opposite is equally as true.
So yes, I am absolutely excited to start the work that I came here to be involved in! Working alongside people and communities to mobilize skills and assets in order to make changes, overcome obstacles, and accomplish goals is something I deeply want to be doing. But I’m also immensely grateful for the months where my goals are to be present and to be preparing. Learning. Praying. Building community. Waiting with purpose.