Hi, all!
It's funny...it seems like even when Bryan and I are in the States, we're still always traveling (!). Since Christmas, we've been able to take my car for an east-side tour of the U.S.: Atlanta to see friends for New Years, Blacksburg to visit Virginia Tech, Charlottesville to do our wedding reception tasting at Keswick Hall (how exciting is that?!), Pennsylvania to visit Bryan's family, Florida to go to a conference, Knoxville to see Bryan's former youth pastor's family, Nashville to see my Baby Lyres all grown up and about to graduate, and finally back home to Houston. Sterling, my little Honda, is a trooper.
For the next few months, Bryan will be working for a non-profit while I, hopefully, will go on another medium-term mission trip with the United Methodist Church's Volunteers in Missions. I'm still waiting to hear back about my placement, but a few amazing opportunities are on the horizon and I'm tickled pink about every single one of them. I've been able to see God working through - and despite - the church in various ways so far, but hopefully, this spring will prove to be different still. In Zambia, I was with a highly-coordinated small group for two weeks and then stayed as an intern with a semi-defined role for the next few months. Peru, however, was 180 degrees different. The four of us made our own travel arrangements, our "work" was mostly spontaneous (the jungle doesn't do the whole plan-a-month-in-advance thing), relationship-based, and our schedule was incredibly fluid (part of that, obviously, was because we were on Peruvian time). This spring should be, yet again, a wholly unique experience. I'll likely be working with one to a few full-time missionaries doing a specific task, traveling on my own, setting my own pace while I'm there, and dictating my own schedule. I naturally tend to gravitate toward groups - I feel safer that way. More secure. So, if this works out, I anticipate I'll be stretched more than I've ever been before...which is exactly what I'm craving for. Well, we'll see!
In the meantime? Man. Much to do, much to do. Who knew that weddings were so complicated? Fortunately, my parents have been indispensable - they've taken care of picking out a florist, photographer, the tablecloths, everything! I have the easiest and most delightful job in the world: I just choose among two or three options, not ten thousand, and watch everything come together as though it were effortless. Even with planning helpers, though, 6 months is going to go by quick! It's a countdown. :)
So, even though I'm so excited to work with UM VIM this spring and hear back from seminaries, I'm veeery much looking forward to settling into one place beginning this fall. In one apartment. Where I can actually make my own food. Without living out of my backpack. And with one church. That I can go to. Every week. Ah, stability - what a concept.
Finally, this may appear random, but this next little clip from a book I've been reading knocked me off my feet - and I just have to share it. Hope you enjoy!
"Recently I saw my friend Josh, who teaches fifth and sixth graders. He was preparing the lesson for that day and had his supplies with him: a large glass bowl, a can of beef, fatty tissue, sauerkraut, a jar of olives, some anchovies, and a hundred-dollar bill. I know - I was curious too. So I did exactly what you would have done. I asked him what his lesson was about. He replied, 'I put all of the ingredients in a bowl, including the money, and then I mix it together. Then when it doesn't taste good, I pretend I'm going to throw it away. At this point the kids go crazy, telling me not to. I ask them why I shouldn't, and they say, "Because it's valuable." And then I counter with, "But it smells and it's disgusting." At which point they rush to the front, volunteering to reach into the bowl and pull out the hundred-dollar bill. Actually, I may have to start using a twenty for this lesson, because the last time I used a hundred, they trampled each other to get to the front. I then read to them from Genesis chapter one about how every single human being bears the image of God and how no matter what else is mixed in there, a person still has limitless worth in God's eyes."
- Appendix (no. 13), Sex God
A very, very merry rest of January and many blessings! :)
Stephanie
