| Monday, September 24, 2007 |
| Direction |
 I've made contact with a spiritual director. Left a message and waiting for her to call back.
First steps... |
posted by Calia77 @ 9:27 pm  |
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| Wednesday, September 12, 2007 |
| Please God, don't send me to Africa! |
I've always had this fear of overseas mission. It's three-fold, really.
Firstly, I've never thought I have the skills people would need, or live the life (ironically I typed 'lie' then, not life!) that would be good enough to be someone who does mission.
Secondly, I've often thought there's enough to do here, why do I go there?
Thirdly, I don't like creepy crawlies, I'm not great with flying, my stomach doesn't cope with hot food, I can't cope with toilets that don't let me sit, I get migraines and sick when I dehydrate, I get sunstroke and burn really easily. So, I'm probably not the ideal candidate to go to Africa on mission.
I've always avoided mission agencies at Christian festivals. I've had this fear that if I talk to them or sign anything, I'd wake up in 3 days time in Africa.
But this Greenbelt was different. This year I sought them out. I talked to them. Shared my idea that is germinating. Can they help?
It kicked off, I think, when I went to India last year. I should never have gone. And wouldn't have, if my ex hadn't dumped me. We were supposed to spend a week in Poland, and suddenly I had a free week of holiday. And a nagging feeling that God wanted me to go, confirmed when my housemate informed me that God had been telling her He wanted me to go.
But India! I love curry, but curry doesn't love me. See point 3: creepy crawlies, heat, hot food, toilet issues. How on earth was I going to survive?
But I did. There was no dehydration or migraines. The creepy crawlies that seemed to swarm the bedrooms of others didn't appear in mine. I don't count a small caterpillar on my pillow when I woke to travel back to the airport an real issue. I survived not eating and drinking during the day.
And since then, there's been this nagging feeling in the back of my mind. If I'm honest, it's been since before then. Since Greenbelt 2006, when I deliberately ignored the mission agency for Eastern Europe. And now have no idea who they were. 'Cos for years I've had this urge to drive a lorry to Romania and help build an orphanage. Though, if you know me and my past, it's probably more to do with the driving the lorry bit than anything (though this was before I reached my liking lorry drivers stage of life).
Anyway, back to the point. India and Eastern Europe (I guess I mean the 'old' Eastern Europe) are areas that are key in my mind. Trafficking of women and children for sex is an issue that's played on my mind for a few years.
So those are the options. There, they're out there now. I can't duck them. What can I do? Do I wait to hear from the agencies? I do I look for contacts myself? Actually, if anyone knows of anyone working in this area in these countries, put me in touch! I'm leaving this to God to start opening putting the signs in place so I can see the right doors.
I you do, please pray for me and this exploratory stage. Life can get a bit bumpy when you start thinking about these things. I hope to go somewhere next year for 2-3 weeks. And then... Who knows? Maybe that will be it. Maybe that will be the start of it. I think of Jackie Pullinger - and that's scary! She just hopped on a boat, landed in Hong Kong, and 30+ years later is still doing that thing. David Wilkerson saw kids in the news and spent the rest of his life (still is) working with teens.
What might I be starting here?
Oliver, sorry, doesn't look like I'll be coming over to Jo'burg after all! |
| posted by Calia77 @ 12:57 am |
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