Time for a tune-up

Last Thursday Matt and I met with Dr. Steve Allison to go over some psychological testing that we did a few months ago. Psychological testing is a normal phase of training through Halbert (so don't worry, we weren't the only ones!) There are two different tests that couples have to take, the first primarily looks at personality type, stress responses, working styles, etc. The second is a marriage test for couples, woohoo! Matt and I did premarital counseling before we got married, so we thought a test two and a half years later would be kind of like a tune up for our marriage!
No need to fear, we don't have any issues that are out of the ordinary...seriously though the tests were really helpful. The first brought to light things about our personalities that I've never really thought of before (and trust me, Matt and I have done our fair share of personality testing). I've tried to store the things I learned away in my mind for whenever I look and Matt and think "what in the world is going on inside your head?" Not that he doesn't do the same to me...so it's okay!
The marriage part of the test was interesting as well. There's nothing like talking to a total stranger about your communication style, budget, and sex life! But hey, if you try to hide who you are as an individual and as a couple then you'll never really grow into who God wants you to be. Too many people miss out on a joyous marriage because they're not willing to see things that they might need to look at differently or change about themselves. Overall it made me appreciate Matt even more.
On a totally unrelated note I'd like to thank my aunt-in-law Angela in Australia for being a follower of my blog. I'm really inept when it comes to blogging so I don't even really know what that means...but I'm sure I'll learn!

Getting back together

Our team got back together for the first time after the school break this past Sunday. Getting back together after long breaks always makes me a little anxious, because that first conversation could have any number of surprises contained within it. However, we had a blast hanging out on Sunday! Gregory and Jenica both seemed to have a really good holiday with their family . We got to tell funny stories, tell embarrassing stories, talk about how our families are starting to open up and ask more questions about what we're doing, and many other things. Jenica's in the process of looking for a job, so we got to talk about that. As usual Gregory took on more hours at work than he should have, so we also got to give him a hard time about that! Everyone was really pumped about getting ready to get a lot done this year, which was awesome. It seems like only yesterday....
One year ago we had our first module after "signing on the dotted line" as we liked to call it. January 2008 was the deadline we set for the people showing an interest in going to Australia to say yes or no to joining the team. When it was all said and done and the dust settled, Jenica and Gregory were standing there ready to jump into this adventure. I remember how freaked out I was that first module (weekend long training session, we have them every couple of months), it was a weekend spent talking about personalities, spiritual gifts, and other very deep things. I'm sure we were all in shock at what was going on, but pretended like it didn't phase us. We've come a long way, and I'm excited about where we will continue to go.

A Great Day at Work

I had the most wonderful day at work this week. I work with a woman who is a pillar of strength in hard times, in the year and a half that I've worked at my job, she has had more hard times than I can count on both hands. Her burdens are a constant burden on my heart. We get along well, but we're not very close on a personal level. There are so many things I want to tell her about the redemption that God offers, but to just walk up and say "Hey, God can bring you peace and healing" when one thing after another goes wrong in her life doesn't seem to fit. I want sharing the Gospel with her to be part of a natural conversation, not just something I spew out at her as I'm walking past her desk. I had been praying that God would give me a chance to just sit and talk with her.
The other day she, another co-worker, and I started chatting about teeth of all things. You know, dentures, braces, the usual. Somehow the conversation switched to just she and I talking about television shows, and then to books. Then she started talking about the Left Behind book series and asked if I had read it. She talked about how she believed in God and that Jesus died on the cross for her, but that she did not believe much more of the Bible. She said there's just so much to it and it's hard to know what has been lost in translation. I got to talk about the church Matt and I are part of, it's in a home with about fifteen other people. I said what we like about it is that with such a small group we all get to talk about what we like, new things we're learning, or don't understand in the Bible. After a little more talking she said that she hopes her believing in Jesus is enough, because she's kind of a loner. I got to share that God did not create us to wander through this life alone, but that we need each other to learn from, help, and depend on. I got to invite her to our church gathering, and it all started with a conversation about teeth!
I share this story for many reasons, the first being that God is totally awesome. I am a pusher, when I get an idea in my head that someone needs my help (whether they do or not) I will force my "helpful opinion" on them whether the timing is right or not. I have been praying for this woman for a long time, because I wanted God to present the opportunity for conversation instead of me attempting to construct it on no foundation. I think she was ready and open to the conversation, and that's why God allowed it. I also share this story because it really pumped me up. God knows that we are creatures who need tangible landmarks, if we go too long without seeing some living sign that He's working, we get in a rut (at least I do). God allowed me the opportunity to share some of His words of truth, and I believe that He is going to grow them in my co-workers heart.

What is the image of God?

I was thinking over the weekend about sharing the Gospel with teens, thinking about what would really relate to them. I thought about how Jesus is like that one kid in school who seems to see the good in everyone, he befriends all the students and doesn't put up with bullies. Don't ask me how, but thinking about this led my mind to wandering and wondering about the image of God.

I look at people all around me and see nothing but differences: race, sex, size, you name it. However, we're all made in the image of God. He said it himself when he made us. So then what's this image look like? You can't say it's a body part, a color, or an intelligence level. I'm sure there's some good exegetical answer, but I don't really have one. I have my own ideas, but I guess this is just more of a question than an Bible lesson.
Okay, back to Jesus being that one kid in school who accepts everyone. When Jesus came to the earth he lived to remind (mainly teach) us that we are all made in the image of God. He showed people that they were all welcome in the presence of God. Just look at Mark 14, who was he eating with? It's truly amazing how Jesus found it easy to include so many, but all we manage to do is draw barriers that people find it impossible to cross.

I have had every intention of writing on my blog more often, and yet have managed to go an entire month without making an entry. I'll really try to do better! It has been a wonderful month though. The week before Thanksgiving my friends Tony, Sarah, and their little bundle of joy Connor came to visit and stay with us. The cool thing is that they're from New Zealand, they manage to make a trip every couple of years and visit all their friends in the U.S. It was the first time for us to have a baby in the house, which was fun. I didn't get as stressed out as I am capable of, which was nice! One night of their visit two other people came over who have done internships at the same church I did when I was in New Zealand, and we had a great night of telling stories and sharing pictures. It was really exciting to me, because my internship in New Zealand was kind of where it all began. When I felt God's call for me to go to another country and share His good news, I decided to go to the South Pacific because I met a man who shared with me the great need of the people in New Zealand in Australia. That internship was an amazing first start. Even though Matt and I will be going to Australia instead, I feel like God sent me there so that my life and the lives of the people around me would be changed forever.
Thanksgiving came quickly after that visit. Matt and I got to go see my grandmother in Iowa (it was his first time to go), it was really exciting showing him a place where I have some very fond memories. My grandfather who lived there until he passed away in '99 was very influential in showing me who Jesus is. Matt and I both had a blast, and have started the new tradition of trying new barbeque restaurants in the towns we drive through on trips. It's a tasty tradition to say the least. Matt and I are trying to visit family that we have not seen much since getting married, because we realize that we will be gone for quite a few years when we move. I am praying that God helps me truly savor the times we have with family, which is really helping me to be grateful for the awesome loved ones that we have.
Many other things have happened, but I think life will go on without me talking about them. This week is Christmas, so I'm sure I will have plenty to talk about after we get back from the holidays. Merry Christmas, may celebrating the birth of Jesus bring awe and excitement to your life.

What a week!

Last week was very intense for our team...so intense that I have not had a chance to catch up and write about it until now! It started with Monday night, Matt and I spent the evening with Gregory, the other male on our team. We got together to go over a fundraising presentation that the team would present on Tuesday to the church we all attend. Tuesday morning we got together with Jenica, the other female on our team, and did the same with her. Much of the rest of the day was spent printing and binding packets with information about our team and Ipswich for the people we would share our presentation with. Tuesday evening went great, the group of people that makes up the missions committee at our church (Southern Hills Church of Christ) was very encouraging. After our presentation we decided to have a little chill time as a team, so we went back to Jenica's house and played darts and drank tea. This was Jenica's first time to play darts (even though she owns the board!), and she was a tough competitor. It was a fun day, but tiring.
Wednesday night was spent making mini pavlovas. If you've never had the privilege of eating pavlova, you're missing out. It's like a really fluffy meringue that has whipping cream and fruit on it. We piped and baked over seventy-five pavlovas Wednesday night. No it wasn't just for the fun of it, we needed them for Thursday night. Thursday night we attended what Abilene Christian University calls "TeamQuest". It's a night where the current mission teams that are training through the Halbert Institute for Missions get together and have booths where they serve food from their country of interest and get to know students who are interested in doing mission work but need some direction and/or encouragement. The evening was spent dishing out pavlova, vegemite on crackers (another treat if you've never had vegemite) and getting to know students. One thing it taught me is that even though we are the ones in training, the ones who need money, the ones who will be making many life changes, this mission is not about us. It's about God. Even though we're in this vulnerable place, He still wants to use us to share our stories and encourage others to join in God's mission around the world. Once again, a good evening but a tiring one.
Saturday night we had the honor of meeting Gregory's mother, father, and sister. They came from out of town to visit him, and we got to introduce ourselves to them. It's not easy meeting each other's parents, because we know the reason we're meeting is because we will be traveling half way around the world with these people's children. That's partly what this blog is supposed to do, give parents and other family members a chance to get a glimpse of how we're preparing, what we're nervous about, what we're excited about, etc. I hope it helps a bit.
I just got back tonight from a meeting that was hosted by our team's mentor. Gary works at ACU training and mentoring mission teams that will be going to Central and South America and the South Pacific (did I mention he's also a professor at ACU?). He is a great mentor who is passionate about sending people where God wants them to go. The purpose of this meeting was to connect those of us who are training to do mission work overseas with people who know they want to do the same thing in some form or fashion but don't really know where to start. I might sound like a broken record, but once again it was an encouraging yet tiring evening. I think it's time for bed!

What I did this weekend

I watched a powerful movie on Friday night, Born Into Brothels. It is about a female photographer who moves to Calcutta, India for a few years and teaches about seven or eight children of the red light district photography. Her hope is to give them a better future than the bleak one of poverty and prostitution that is staring them in the face. After watching it my mind was spinning, I experienced so many emotions as the movie played. I've thought about the movie everyday since I watched it, I would highly recommed it to anyone who likes to learn about other cultures. Here are a few things I've thought about since watching it:

The children in the documentary were so wise. They showed an awareness of their culture, acknowledging that they were surrounded by a darkness and poverty that most people in the world could never dream of. They ranged from about eight to twelve at the time of the movie, and most of them were taking care of siblings, parents, and grandparents themselves. I can't imagine many children their age in the states caring about much more than their video games or going to the mall. Kind of disgusting to be honest.

It also made me ask again why God has put me in this place in life, and them in theirs. For me going to college was a no brainer, and I got to decide my major. I then changed my major without consulting anyone, I didn't tell my family until after it was pretty much a done deal. My husband and I will never be able to tell our children that we were poor, we've been blessed to always have enough to pay our bills on time, and we eat a full meal three times a day. Why do I have so much when these kids have nothing?

This is a tough question, a timeless question. I guess I want to revert back to what a lot of upper middle class (because whether I want to admit it or not, like most Americans who want to say we're middle class, I'm really upper-middle class) Christians say, God has given to me so that I can give to other people. It really makes sense, because if everyone was poor then who would help us out? My question to God is, why is there not a little bit more balance? Why do people gather and gather and gather, but never give? My own selfishness disgusts me, and I like to think of myself as a pretty giving person. I think part of the reason God gives so much to some people is that He created human beings to live to our full potential, and part of that is living a life of sacrifice and abundant giving. As to why He did that, I don't know. As to why little babies are sold by their parents to get money for drugs, I don't know. As to why thousands of girls are standing on the side of the road being taken advantage of by strangers because it's the only way they can make money for their family, I don't know. It frustrates and hurts me.

So what am I going to do about it? The preacher where I go to church is a firm believer in the things that Compassion International does for impoverished children around the world. About a month ago I found a girl that I want to sponsor, she is about fifteen and is from India. Perhaps God was reminding me through the movie Friday night that it's time to stop thinking about doing good, and put my money where my mouth is. Here's the website if you want to check it out: http://www.compassion.com/. There are so many ways to give if this is not for you, so my encouragement is to think of what you in your wealth can do for someone else in need today.