I was sitting here today stressed out because I am SO overdue in writing a newsletter. I've been stressed about that for weeks now. Here's the funny part - I have found that every missionary I know HATES writing newsletters. It's almost like "newsletter" has become a 4-letter word in missionary circles. I can be around other missionaries, and if they have a certain edge to their voice, or seem a bit distracted and grumpy I usually say, "In the middle of your newsletter?" And it's almost always followed by a somewhat exasperated and defeated, "Yes." So why is that?!
There is nothing more exciting to me than what I do in missions. This journey God has called me to is seriously THE BEST gig I have ever had in my life, and yet to have to sit down and creatively write about it is one of the hardest things to do! I love to talk about what God is doing, and how he has been directing my every step for the last 14+ years now. I love to tell people about his faithfulness and how I can't do a day of this without his help and guidance. I love to tell people about how it's hard work, but I wouldn't trade all I have seen, experienced, and the ways I have grown and deepened my walk with God, for anything "normal". I love to get others fired up about the God that I love, and the incredible, hands-down action packed life he's asked me to live - walking with me every step of the way. People have told me over the years how they are just in awe… amazed at how much I have "given up" to be in overseas missions. I always want to laugh at that, because honestly - I keep thinking someone is going to find out one of these days how much fun I have doing what I do, and how much I love it - and tell me I'm doing it wrong. I mean seriously - being a missionary is NOT supposed to be FUN - right?!
I knew once I agreed to be a missionary that one of the things I needed to do was go back to my home church, and hopefully one day others, and show them that giving up everything to follow Jesus is the coolest thing you could ever do! These are not the days of hair in a bun, no makeup, and isolation for years on end in the middle of a people group who would just as soon boil you for dinner, then listen to you try and communicate Jesus' love to them. The crazy thing is - the missionaries from back in that day have the stories that would make anyone want to stay home (unless, like me, you're a little crazy and think it all sounds like an amazing adventure!). It's just that for some weird reason they weren't allowed back then to tell those stories with anything other than a deadpan, expressionless face… minus any passion. It was hard. It was sacrifice. It was lonely. And anything other than that was… wrong. That was my perception growing up anyway, and the reason I felt the blood drain out of my face when all those years ago sitting on my deck in California I realized God wanted me to be in full-time overseas missions. THAT (the old missionary model) was NOT ME. Thankfully, God agreed. :)
Anyway, I thought today I would at least get something new up on my blog. It's been way too long. Even though the need for a newsletter is still stressing me out… I want you to know that God IS up to a whole lot with me here in New Zealand!! I DO have lots to tell you… but at the moment, I'm waiting for my new logo to be finished for the ministry I'm starting. As soon as that's finished, I will reveal what has been consuming my time the last few months. There's been a lot, and I'm hoping it will be worth the wait when you read all about it. Till then… you might have to endure a few more blog entries. They are so much easier in that I can just write honestly… and I'm not having to edit and put in photos and all that stuff. Ugh. Newsletters. A necessary evil I suppose - if I can say that without sounding weird.
Let me ask you something… What do you think about newsletters?? Do you like them? Are they helpful? Do they bore you to tears? Is it really worth the effort? hmm. Those are questions I ask myself regularly. Maybe you can throw in your two cents if you have a minute. Oh - but if you don't have a blog you can't answer here, but you CAN answer on FB when I post this! Or send me a personal message… whatever. It would be GREAT to hear from some of you. It'd be great to hear from ALL of you - but that's just completely unrealistic, so I thought I'd settle with some. Jump in and let me know what you think!
My bed is calling me now… so I'll come back another day and carry on with another slice of this journey. I have blog entries running in my head all the time. Maybe I need to just purpose to say something here more regularly. Whether people read it or not - !! hmm. Will work on that one.
