jumps

For those of you who know me well, you know that my mind jumps all around the place so it is hard for me to focus on just one theme as I write on this blog. I have two things I want to write about and when ever I sit down to write I start thinking of other things too. Forgive me and just try to follow my mind. ( No comments from the family!!)

Our new positions as Regional Liaisons is really different from what we were doing before. Before we were very involved in the day to day activities of the Church here and with the people. Now we work with the bigger picture of the Church and not so much going to the office on a daily basis. I miss the daily interaction with people and getting to know them on a deeper level. We still see people, just not as regularly. Now we see people to talk about their vision for the Church or School or whatever and then we try to help them write a proposal or request for funds. Before we were helping to implement programs now we help with getting funds and explaining reporting. So, yes, we still are involved with people, it is just in a different way. Part of me likes this way but there is a huge responsibility that comes with it.

We have new co-workers here, a couple that has experience in Africa but this is their first time in South Sudan. I watch as they learn Arabic ( yes, I am jealous of their ability to learn it!), make friends with people on the street and get to know the people they will be working with. They will be working closely with people the way we had been and I think of the relationships they will build and I am happy for them. I realize that my role now is to be able to help these co-worker do their work and to be a sounding board for them. I admit to being a little envious of the relationships that they will be building but then I realize that I have my own relationships with some of the same people and that it is not better or worse, just different. Much of it comes down to how much effort I am willing to put into re-shaping some of these relationships. I am thankful for these new co-workers and the insight they bring and they way they challenge me.

Now my mind jumps to something else :)

Many people think that missionaries are strong, confident, spiritual people to be held up as something special. I have heard my parents generation of missionaries referred to as the "Saints" of missions. How my parents would have disliked that!! Most missionaries are just really stubborn people! Not me, of course! HA. When we were in Rwanda for the gathering of all Africa missionaries there were quite a few who were wondering about their roles, if they are reflecting God's love, being the best they could be. I found this very encouraging! To know that, while we all felt we were Where God wanted us to be, we still knew that we had a long way to go to be better people. We are challenged each day with what it means to be a Christian - not just in a different culture but all the time and everywhere. Scripture is not about culture it is about a new life in Christ that should not change because of culture.

Jumping again.

I am going back to Ethiopia by myself in a few weeks. I am excited and a little nervous. I am looking forward to seeing places I have not seen in 40 years and some places I have never seen. Confident?? humm.....stubborn? YUP. I will be fine and I will learn and grow. Many of you who know me think I am an extrovert but really I am an introvert that God is pushing out of her comfort zone.

Wow, I had no idea I would write all of that.