Waiting with Purpose
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... Read moreA Very Uncomfortable Blessing
A Very Uncomfortable Blessing. If I had to describe my departure to the field in four words I think these would be the ones I would pick. Let me layout the timeline of how the day was supposed to go: 11:30am Arrive at my grandparents' house for lunch 12:30pm Say tearful goodbyes and give long tight hugs 1pm Arrive at the airport and get checked in with plenty of time til my flight 1:30pm Say tearful goodbyes and give long tight hugs to my parents and sister 3:40pm Take off! It was a great plan! And quite different from how the day actually went: 11:30am Arrive at my grandparents' for lunch... Read moreSupport Raising Stories!
Hello! Let me just brag for a second on how good God is. Less than a month ago I was sitting at home stressed out, wondering how God was going to complete my support raising in such little time. I felt very behind and was wondering if I should start making plans for the next launch cycle (which is around September). But I kept asking God to provide and show up in unexpected ways. And you know what happened? He did exactly that! Here are two amazing stories from support raising. This happened the weekend before my support raising deadline. I had been referred to an individual that someone... Read more
You Are Sent
Today marks the 7th day of in-person training with my sending org! And holy smokes it has been a lot of information. See the picture of my scribbled notes from the past week--trying to capture each of the many nuggets of wisdom, encouragements, lessons, and prayers that have spoken to my heart in this last week. We’ve covered topics like what it means to be a follower of Jesus versus a follower of religious tradition and habits, studied the key importance of prayer in ministry, discussed security practices for workers in certain areas of the world, learned about ancient spiritual formation... Read moreExpecting De Ja Vu
On January 21, 2018 I arrived in South Africa for a semester abroad. Over a span of those three months I grew in very substantial ways, but as is often the case, my growth came from a myriad of challenges. And I can’t help but feel the similarities between my preparation for that season and now as I look forward to a new cross-cultural experience. As I was reflecting on the similarities, I pulled out my old journal, and stumbled upon an entry I’d like to share. February 24, 2018 I am learning so much about poverty, poverty alleviation and social justice; I am learning that God works in... Read moreLeaving Versus Going
I’m officially a month and a half out from my first ‘leave.’ In mid-February I head off for two weeks of training with my sending organization. And by mid-March, I should be off for Central Asia! I might be able to come back home in between both of those ‘leave’ dates, but it will likely be down to the wire before I know for sure. With that being said, the goodbyes I’ll have to say have been heavy on my heart and mind. And in some ways it’s harder because I don’t know when that last goodbye will be. The moments with family and friends have become simultaneously sweeter and somewhat tainted... Read moreSacred Stories
It’s been a little over a month since my last post, and boy has life been busy! Support raising has been no joke. But it has also been far more of a blessing than I could have imagined! I want to share a bit more of my story, so below is a section of the letter I’ve written for the purpose of support raising: My junior year, I was able to take a Master’s level class in Community Transformation (or Community Development). What I saw in CT was a way to be involved in community growth and change that begins with, and is sustained through, community members. The idea that community goals and... Read more
MY LETTER TO FUTURE GOERS
Dear Future Goer, We are people of the promise. We have been grafted into the family of God and we are blessed to be a blessing. These last two years make me want to change my name to Jacob because I have wrestled with God so much and I have the bruises to show it. I have spent so much time wandering in the wilderness, sometimes quite literally. (Shoutout to you my beloved East Africa.) Yet, at the end of my wandering, I find myself on the edge of the Jordan, anxious because I think "this is it". I am here, where God's promises meet my obedience and wandering soul. When I’ve been hungry, I... Read moreWho, Where, Why, What!?
Hi! I’m so excited you’re joining me in this journey, from wherever you might be as you read this (feel free to comment below where you’re at)! I look forward to using this blog as a means to share stories from my time on the field, but before I get too far ahead of myself, introductions are in order. My name is Evelyn. I’m twenty-two, a recent university graduate with degrees in psychology and humanities, and in just four months I’m moving to Central Asia for two years of ministry. I'm gonna share three more random things about me before I dive into why you’re really here. One, I’m really... Read more