The Plot Thickens...

Hey Y'all,

I just wanted to give everyone a quick update on things. Quite a bit has happened in the past several months, and I'd like to keep everyone in the loop!

First thing, I'm pleased to announce that I (along with a team from Bethany) will be going to Niger, West Africa for a week in October/November. I'm very excited to be going back to the place where I spent a month and a half, three years ago. That internship was one of the hardest most amazing things I've ever done... and I'm looking forward to reconnecting with some of the people I met on that first trip. Support letters will be making their way out soon.

Secondly -- I've graduated Boyce... Sort of. This is my last semester, although I have already walked! I will be 100% done with my undergrad in November. This semester I will be, Lord willing, an intern at Refuge Louisville. I will be connecting with Refugee families and building relationships -- and within that sharing the Gospel. I've already jumped in a little bit -- I had some good Gospel conversations with two Muslim men. Pray for open hearts -- and pray that God would give the Words to say and the boldness to do so when the timing is right.

Thirdly... and this is the big one -- I was turned down by the International Mission Board (IMB) to serve. I shared with some -- but not with all -- that I was applying for a Journeyman position. The Journeyman position is a two to three year assignment overseas. I barely got into the process before I was blatantly told that they felt I was 'called to stay in the States'. To put this in perspective -- as someone who grew up in the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), I grew up learning and looking towards the IMB in amazement. When I was 14 and my passion for the nations grew and began to long to be overseas full time - I always assumed that it would be with the IMB. While I have a few health issues -- I was told time and time again that this would not affect a thing, by IMB personnel and other couples and missionaries. To be told 'no' came as a shock, especially in the way it was done. Now, I still respect the IMB -- but I was - and am - upset. From the way the IMB worded the email, it seems that I will not be approved to go with the IMB at all. It's been pinned on my medical status -- although others have thought that it may not just be that. Funding? Too much experience? Only God knows.

I feel part of it may be God telling me that I've made an idol out of missions... that I've made an idol out of the IMB, and I cannot do what I'd like to do on my own -- without His divine intervention. Now this is very evident... as I must look - and wait for God to open a door. I am personally not convinced that I am to stay in the States.... personally I feel the opposite... maybe even more so convinced that I should go because I was turned down. Although just applying for journeyman position has made me a bit more ready to go. God has really pushed a truth into my heart -- that He is all I have. Everything else, while it will be hard to give up.... is not that much in comparison.

I am encouraged by just how many people have been shocked by the IMB turning me down... and how many of you have told me that you still see God calling me to the Nations. This gives me hope, that I am by no way done with this journey. Although I am reminded that this is all God, and not me. I'm amazed by what people have said they see in me, because most of the time (if not all of the time) I don't see these qualities... I just see my sin, and my struggle.

I am praying... and hoping that this is just the beginning of a long journey. My desire "go" to the nations and share Christ is still strong, and I pray God has put that desire there... and if so, I pray God will finish what was started. I have some mixed emotions about leaving... but I'd much rather go to the nations than live a stagnant life.

Currently I'm looking at other organizations... and I'm thinking of getting my TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) certification and working as a teacher overseas. I'm not completely sure what this will look like, or where exactly I'd like to go. There's a very good chance (at this point in time)... that I will actually pick the country that I will serve in.... and I don't even know where to start. Just when I think I've got it all figured out..... I feel like I'm back in square one! This seems to be a pattern!!! Pray that God would grant wisdom and open doors. I'm very thankful for the peace and increased desire for the nations that God has given me. I'm thankful that God continues to draw me to Himself, even in my darkest moments. God remains in control. As the Psalmist says:

 

God is our refuge and strength

a very present help in trouble.

Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,

though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,

though its waters roar and foam,

though the mountains tremble at its swelling.
Psalm 46:1-3 (ESV)

 

Pray for me, and I ask that y'all let me know how I can pray for you. I'll try to keep y'all updated -- if the internship at Refuge pans out -- then I hope to be giving y'all updates on that as I would on any other mission.

Love y'all.

- E

Montreal 2016

This was a bit of a whirlwind trip - as in a lot was accomplished in a short period of time. This trip was quite a bit different than last years trip - just because we got the opportunities to talk to a ton of people. Last year we got to talk to very few. I'm going to try to give a recap of each day - and then a reflection at the end. :)

Monday, June 6 We left for the airport around 4am from Bethany Baptist -- and we arrived in Montreal around noon. This was really just a "get-there-and-settle-in" day.

Tuesday, June 7 - Thursday, June 9 This was our first day of ministry. We served the majority of our time at a local community service center. It reminds me of something like a homeless shelter - although housing was not provided here. Low cost meals (and coffee) and second hand clothes were available - as well as a food bank. The center was in a former church building. The sanctuary was turned into a main hall for music concerts (like a small orchestra) and other activities. This center is ran by the government - and we are asked not to make grand efforts to evangelize. We can answer any questions asked - but - the door to door evangelism type of practice could get our group and future groups working with Renaissance Church banned. The center is called "Share the Warmth".   This did not mean we couldn't share. We were often asked why we were in Montreal --- and we would simply say that we were visiting a friend in the area who is staring a church in Little Burgundy - if they seemed interested we would invite them to a meal or to coffee later for further discussion. There were various points of service. Our team was scattered between the food bank, clothes sorting, gardening (mainly pulling weeds), and cooking. I was in the kitchen 95% of the time. There were lots of volunteers and paid workers coming in and out & working on different things.  The first day I started out by pouring lemonade into cups -- and then making simple syrup for iced coffee. Eventually I moved on to making cookies and doing the dishes.  These are all things that leave room for conversation. One guy - I'll call him NW - was very open to spiritual conversations. His parents were Hindu, but he (now college age) had gone to Catholic, Islamic, and Christian schools growing up. He expressed that it didn't matter which one you choose (though he did not believe in any of the above) but the main idea was to do good things. I carefully told him that I was doing good things because  of what Jesus had done for me - and not the other way around. The topic didn't reach any deeper - as the topic was changed. I invited him to dinner along with the group - and even for coffee - as we did with several other people - who didn't show. So often I would speak to someone about why I was there - and the other person would become quickly uncomfortable.  It's important to know that many other church teams are coming (all summer) to the same place - to do the same thing - hopefully touching base with some of the same people. While it's important to use WORDS when sharing the Gospel -- sometimes the right timing doesn't quite come for that full on presentation. It seemed odd to people that we would come all the way from Louisville just to serve - and rightly so. Hopefully other groups & Renaissance Church members will get the opportunity to present the Gospel to these people - and we should pray that they do. Evangelism & Missions largely consists of living life with people -- and this was one of those times. I just sort of wish I could see it through - but God's got it - as He always does.

Friday, June 10 Today we just got up and headed to the airport. I'm on the plane now - and should be in Louisville in about an hour. No plane conversations. Sort of heavy hearted returning home - knowing I have to dive back into the "nitty-gritty" of things. Although I'm looking forward to visiting Niger in September. Further Reflections - I'm so very thankful for the community we had in our team - and at Bethany. It really is like family. I love that we can reflect on things back at home and on Scripture together.  I was very surprised at how a team - to the same place - can be so very different from the same trip the year before.  - I'm also always amazed at the things my teammates reflect on - that I don't often think about - or things that I wouldn't be surprised by but others are. - Sometimes ministry can be comfortable. I'm used to doing the more extreme end of things -- but a bed (or cot - in my case this time) with a room with A/C - doesn't kill the ministry. Ministry in Montreal - or even where we live - is just as important as it is in Niger or Brazil - or anywhere else. People are going to hell - to a Christ-less eternity every day. We're all in need of just as much grace - no matter where we are geographically located. (However - this is not to say that we shouldn't go to the extreme places - which I honestly tend to prefer. We should be willing to sacrifice everything for God's call on our lives.) - Even the most comfortable ministries come with sacrifices. We sacrificed our time, possibly part or all of a paycheck (for me at least) and some comfort. As with every mission trip I got a bit banged up physically as well - although it's all worth it in the end anyway. ;) And finally - again in reminded of how we - as Christians - should be doing some of the same things we do on mission trips in our own contexts. Montreal is really not that different than Louisville. It has a French flare - but it is very much a modern city. We should seek to speak the Gospel to & love on people in our own cities on a consistent basis. Remember the Great Commission isn't an elective... It's a command. ;) Please continue praying for Montreal - and more specifically Renaissance Church and the long term team there.  Nothing happens in Montreal without prayer -- large walls exist between most people & the church due to the history there. Pray for boldness for those who are to witness - and for God to speak to hearts who do not believe. Until next time, Emily