Reflections on Support Raising
I hate the unknown. I am a researcher by nature, and I have always been an overachiever, wanting to be the most competent at everything, to do all things exactly right. Basically, I’m your classic perfectionist. Doing things perfectly protects me from vulnerability, criticism, judgment, weakness. This need to be perfect and for self-protection was the root of my fear and hesitation towards support-raising. After all, support-raising was something I hadn’t mastered (and didn’t know how to do in any way) and wouldn’t be able to without trial and error (I hate trial and error). It required… Read moreLessons from Becoming a Goer: What makes support raising so challenging?
What makes support raising so challenging? The hardest part of support raising isn’t the work itself. It’s not the hours put into calling folks and setting up meetings, it’s not pouring my heart and soul into a meeting with potential partners, it’s not even getting a “no” from someone. The hardest part of support raising is feeling alone and misunderstood. The devil seeks to kill and destroy. We know that. But what we often forget about is that the devil doesn’t always look a little red dude with horns sitting on our shoulder. It can also look like comparison, isolation, and unreasonable… Read more
Becoming Sweet Elixir
Recently, after coffee with a friend, we were discussing literature or, more so, the production of it. You see, this friend is a phenomenal author, enjoying the process of putting thoughts on a page to convey something meaningful to the masses. While I enjoy the written word as a sweet elixir, I am not so fond of the production side. In genuine curiosity, my friend inquired as to why. My answer simply is that I resented my inability to do it well with general ease. You see, I struggle with spelling and syntax, grammar is a nightmare, and maintaining a single tense in a passage is next to… Read more
My letter to future Goers...
2 years in a flash. One moment I was dreaming about what it would be like to live and serve overseas and the next it seems I am back in Oregon after doing the thing, only there was a lot in the middle too. And that’s where all the good stuff is… right in the middle. Living outside comfort, socializing outside comfort, eating outside comfort, working outside comfort and simply functioning in a world that is so different from your own is hard. While I felt so ready to be where I was I learned quickly in my initial transition that I needed to take time to lament the things… Read more
New Year's Resolutions - Silence and Solitude
2024! The year I leave the United States to live overseas on mission to serve and share the gospel to the people of Asia. The year I grow and stretch exponentially by learning a new language, culture, way of life. The year I will learn that I have never truly known the importance of dependance on God and His plan for me or His will for my life. The year I will question what I am willing to sacrifice for the sake of the gospel. This year, I am preparing for the highest of highs and lowest of lows. Preparing for battle is crucial, and thus far, it has not been easy but it has been RICH! My New… Read more
A Typical Day in the Life (Training Edition!)
During this season of preparation, our schedule looks different than what it will when I am on the field in Papua New Guinea. Below is just a quick look into what a typical training day looks like, with some differences depending on the week/day! Mornings often begin early as our weekdays on base start at 6:15/7am, depending on the day. It is one of my favorite times of the day as I can spend time with the Lord, have some quietness before the busyness of the day begins, and enjoy watching the sky during sunrise when I am out on deck in time! After breakfast, we spend a few minutes caring for… Read more
Running the Race
I am not a runner. Like at all. I will happily agree to hike a mountain, but ask me to run a mile and I’ll decline. However, despite my personal preferences, my perspective on what it means to finish a race—and finish it well—was recently altered. During our training, we had the chance to volunteer at the Ironman World Championship. As we volunteered and watched the race, we had the opportunity to see many of the athletes at the starting line, in transition, and at the finish line. When they would pass by, the crowds would cheer loudly. Although the athletes appeared… Read more
Unqualified
There comes a time in every person's story when they are facing an impending change, altercation, or decision. In these moments, one of two things tends to happen: (1) there is an overwhelming fear of inadequacy, or (2) they are filled with a robust sense of pride in their ability. Being a Christian does not exclude us from feeling these two opposing mindsets but provides us the opportunity to take it captive. It is not an if but a when that a sense of fear, bravado, or insufficiency will hit every Goer whether it is at GoWeek, within the throws of Fundraising, or after arriving at one's… Read moreLessons from Becoming a Goer: What does it mean to be a missionary?
What comes to mind when you hear the words mission, missions, or missionary? Personally, I didn’t grow up hearing these words very often. My parents took me to Sunday school and instilled spiritual rhythms like praying before bed and meals. However, I didn’t have much exposure to global missions. Before becoming a missionary, I honestly felt a certain distaste towards global missions because I didn’t understand it. I didn’t understand how it could be sustainable. I didn’t understand what a missionary actually does day to day. I didn’t understand much, but now I know significantly more so let’… Read more