Well friends, God’s plan certainly is unexpected most of the time, isn't it? It can be difficult to follow along when we don't see the big picture. Realizing that following God's direction means that He is in control and He wants me to trust Him and walk by faith is something I must continually fight for.
My time in Africa was a beautiful time of growth in my relationship with the Lord, and it also was a time of searching for my next step.
At the core of who I am, I have always felt
God’s gifting and calling in counseling/mentoring others. I sense God’s pleasure most when I am able to come alongside others,
dive into the messes of life with them, and offer hope and encouragement found
in God’s word. But I have struggled with how to do this vocationally.
In the past few years, God has opened
my eyes to see that ministry is not just a vocation, it is a lifestyle. Every
encounter we have is an opportunity to love someone well through the grace of
Jesus Christ. This realization opened up a world of options to fulfill
what the Lord has placed on my heart. It also made me realize that I could pursue ministry through a secular vocation.
Through my three years working at Olive Garden, in spite of many personal challenges, I
have seen God’s working through me in various relationships I have had there. I
have been able to come alongside my coworkers and speak truth and hope and
encouragement into their lives. Because of this job, I have seen my own sin much more clearly and have gained an
understanding and an empathy for others that I have never experienced
before. God has taught me so much about loving others through my three years there, and it has continued to broaden my options as far as pursuing
this calling.
My dad often says, “You can’t steer a parked
car,” meaning, when you begin to walk, God will guide your steps in the
direction He wants.
When I returned from Tanzania, I felt God leading me toward cosmetology
school as a platform for ministry. I think it is a great way to build relationships and have meaningful conversations with others. I began pursuing this – I got a job at a salon as a
receptionist in order to explore the industry further.
I also began to look into different venues to receive my cosmetology education
– whether going to a school or completing an apprenticeship. Through my work there this summer,
God has shown me that it is better to invest my
time and training in my primary passion (coming alongside others) rather than
in something secondary (cosmetology).
This led me to a discouraging standstill. The journey I have been on to
explore different options and venues for ministry has been
long and frustrating. The two facts that I cannot seem to consolidate is that 1) I know what God has created me to do and 2) I need
some way to make a living. I have considered going back to
Olive Garden full time, but I know it is an environment that is not healthy for
my relationship with the Lord, or my community with other believers.
I have been
struggling through the idea of the meaning in my work. I have a desire for the
work I do with my hands and my mind to be meaningful. So, I have been asking
the Lord, “Where would You have me go? Am I supposed to work a job where I
don’t see meaning, and pursue this calling through my relationships?” Through
this questioning I have realized that there is a freedom in vocational ministry
that is harder to come by in ministry through a secular vocation.
I recently spoke with a friend of
mine who works for our church. I was telling her about my job situation and my
frustration with not knowing what my next step should be. She asked if I had
considered an internship with the church, with an emphasis in counseling. The
option has entered my mind briefly, and this conversation encouraged me to look
into it further.
After many conversations and lots
of prayers, I have been accepted as an intern with Valley Bible Church. Our
church has developed this internship in order to “equip men and women through
combining theological formation, apprenticeship and life together in the local
church.” It also may include a 4-5 month
evangelistic training in Honduras.
Besides interning 20-25 hours a
week, I will continue to work part time as well. I am
excited that through all this training, I will be serving the church while
gaining further clarity about how to best use my gifts.
I
have learned through a close friend in campus ministry the importance of having
a group of people committed to walking this journey with me. While I need to
raise $1500 a month for the next year, and will definitely need continual
prayer, I am trusting that the Lord will surround me with people who are
willing to interact with me through this process. Many of you have already been
on this journey with me through my time in Tanzania. Your prayer, financial
support, and constant encouragement were incredibly valuable to me. Will you
pray whether God would have you be part of my team?
I would love to hear from you, and I am excited to share more about this journey with you soon!
