Reflecting on Fundraising
It’s no secret that my fundraising journey has looked a little different from what I had anticipated when I left GoWeek back in September of 2024. It has held countless exciting and encouraging moments, but also many filled with longing and tear-filled questions before the Father. However, looking back on this past year and a half, I can say that there is a unique beauty to be found within the process of fundraising. Fundraising in this capacity has been one of the most challenging things I’ve ever done, but also one of the most rewarding and insightful. It’s invited me into experiencing a… Read more
"*gasp*! Mithril!"
Growing up, I was never really interested in missions. I make a point of conveying that every time I talk with someone about why I'm doing missions now. I didn't hate missions, I didn't love it: I was simply indifferent. Missions happened, and they were a good thing (I was pretty sure), but I had nothing to do with those. That changed, obviously, when I actually did a short-term mission trip myself. Through that experience (as seen in my other blog posts), I found myself on the path of missions. Missions, and the ministry that comes with it, is what I want to do now and I'm so glad to… Read more
Be Faithful With Who God Puts in Front of You
Back in May, I was on a flight from Europe to the Middle East. I was on the way back to my country after visiting my family in Europe. Sitting next to me was a girl from Germany and her sister, who were on their way to spend the next two weeks in Korea. Sophia and I talked for over half of our eight hour flight. We talked about anything and everything, from American and German politics, what our upbringings were like, pop culture, and all sorts of other topics. We talked about our favorite holidays, and one of my favorite holidays is Thanksgiving. Sophia said she has always wanted to… Read more
For to You I Entrust My Life
"I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.” - Psalm 143:8 This verse is on a card hanging on our fridge, directly across from where I sit for breakfast in the morning. For the first week of looking at it, what I thought most often when looking at this verse was honestly: “Wow, it will take forever for me to learn everything I need to know to translate that.” Look at it. You have the present perfect tense, you have a command with the word “should,” indirect and direct objects, a few vocabulary words I do not know in Albanian yet. And… Read more"Good and Terrible"
"People who have not been in Narnia sometimes think that a thing cannot be good and terrible at the same time. If the children had ever thought so, they were cured of it now. For when they tried to look at Aslan’s face they just caught a glimpse of the golden mane and the great, royal, solemn, overwhelming eyes; and then they found they couldn’t look at him and went all trembly." (C. S. Lewis, The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe) God has been patient to teach me (as many times as I need--which seems to be many) to fear Him above anything else. He is a God worth fearing, one that leaves me… Read more
God's Constant Presence
To be completely honest with you, life here has been beautiful, but also tough and emotionally heavy for me. The more time I spend here getting to know the beautiful people God has placed in my life here and the precious women we serve, the more it hurts to see them in pain, difficult situations, poverty and prostitution. I spend a lot of time with the Lord processing this over and over again; mostly with tears, often with anger. I don’t understand how He could allow the human beings He created with love and in His image to be caught up in such darkness. I feel like a simple answer to that… Read more
Hobbies
A dear friend, older and wiser than me, told me to bring my hobbies and passions with me into a new culture. She had lived in multiple countries in the Middle East and said her love for painting and drawing has helped her build relationships and kept her afloat emotionally in tough times. I took her advice and have found ways to pursue activities I enjoy in a new context. A few months ago I joined a girls running club. Once a week we get together and run three or four kilometers. I ran cross country and track in high school before getting into weightlifting while in college. When I… Read more
Being Clay Hurts
10/21/23 - Senior Year of College I’m frantic. Juiced up on adrenaline. There’s no thoughts, just a one track determination. We’re tied and we need to win this game. If we don’t, we’ll miss playoffs for the second year in a row. Win. That’s all that matters to me as I’m scanning the field, trying to get organized on defense. Then, the other team’s centerback plays a desperate ball over my defender's head that would have been out of reach for most people. Not me though. Exhilarated, I rush towards the ball. Their winger’s chasing it, but it doesn’t matter, I know I’ll get there… Read more
Sam's Adventures: Season 1, Episode 1 (My Story!)
Hi! My name is Samantha (or at least that's my blog name haha). I want to introduce myself, and share what led me to apply for GoCorps, and ultimately say yes to tithing my career! I recently graduated from college with a double major in dance and psychology. While I have been a Christian for almost my whole life, college was transformational for me as it taught me more about my faith, and showed me how important my faith was in my life. Something that was particularly influential in my life was a world religions class that I took as an elective. It ended up being one of my favorite classes,… Read more