First Steps of a Missionary

We met J and E August 2023. As missionaries, J and E visited our church during missionary month. E being an educator was a natural draw for me to engage in a conversation. That conversation has become a catalyst of positive change, refined focus, and increased “listening.” For a few years now, I have had this inkling of an idea that God was directing our family towards ministry, but I didn’t really know what. A few years ago, I was researching on www.volunteerhq.org for different possibilities, I talked about it with a few other families that I know…but nothing was jumping out saying THIS IS IT. GOD IS CALLING YOU HERE. Until that August day, standing in the church foyer having a connection with E. I shared with her the little snippet of “knowingness” that God had laid on my heart, and confessed that I didn’t really have any idea what to do about it. She started speaking about SHARE Education Services and how education can be a mission. She explained a bit more about her work with Third Culture Kids. She described a network of educators trying to support global servants across the world through Family Educational Conferences. In that conversation I could hear and feel God’s Guidance. She suggested that meeting some of these families serving in different ways might be a way to see the path God was trying to lay for us.

Then God’s work started clicking and I could begin to see the ways God had been preparing us for this step already. The fact that I could lend my expertise in presenting and coaching around mathematics instruction during this conference was just the first click.

My wonderful husband has been on his own journey as well. A few years ago he began his graduate studies in Seminary, working towards a Master of Divinty. He also decided he should learn Greek, and started daily study and practice on DuoLingo, along with several graduate level classes on Greek. Who does that? There is a reason the old adage “It’s Greek to me” is said. When E slipped in, “There’s a conference in Greece next year”….I knew that was another sign from God.

Fastforward to today….We listened to God….and now I have 4 half filled suitcases in the hallway, 3 mathematical presentations ready to go in my Google Drive, an itinerary filled with travel logistics, flights, hotels, rental cars, a few destinations planned, buckets of excitement and a few worries. I’ve been trying to put myself in the shoes of these missionary families we are hoping to meet and support. It’s been rather challenging and stressful to prepare for this trip. Not really knowing what to expect, trying to prepare young children for international travel, trying to ensure we’ve done all the “things” from evacuation insurance, to US Embassy, to simply making sure there’s enough socks and underwear clean. I think about how much more difficult this would be if we were leaving the country long-term like others have. I think about how that is a sacrifice as much as a blessing. Leaving home, uprooting children from their schools and friends, saying goodbye to family and pets….not knowing exactly what is on the horizon, but knowing you have to go…..can you imagine? I am already humbled and inspired by these servants of God and I haven’t even met them yet.

We don’t know exactly if God’s calling to us is as simple as supporting this Educational Conference, meeting missionaries, and praying for them, or if God has more in store for us over time. This past year of preparation has me “listening” hard. I don’t hear a voice in my head when God speaks to me (I’m not sure if others do per se). Through this experience I am starting to recognize when God is talking to me. I get this sense of understanding. It also comes with a peace that even though I don’t know the HOW….it will still be. It’s a certainty in my gut.

If God was my dance partner, he’d be pushing my shoulder when he wants me to turn. That’s what I feel. A push. When Chris and I first started dancing together he would have to be a really strong lead for me to know what direction he was going. Over time dancing together has gotten easier, and he can be more subtle and I will still feel the guidance in the dance. My hope is that I’m learning how to read God’s lead, and that eventually he won’t have to push my shoulder so hard to get me know what he’s saying!