Every year I have been in the mission field teaches me something different, and this year has been no exception. It's a gift to be in a line of work that never feels stagnant, that always has something new for me, and that encourages me to continue to go further up and further in as I walk with the Lord.
Since I've moved to Florida, the learning curves of life on mission have felt steeper than ever. But the fact that the Lord is never done teaching me new things has always been a source of consolation, and not despair. The fact that I have not "made it" just yet can be frustrating at times, but it mostly gives me hope. What a gift to know that the Lord is going to stay by our side, no matter what, and that He's never going to abandon us because we've learned enough or done enough! I've always been a fan of St. Therese of Lisieux (my middle name is Therese, after all). Lately, I've been reconnecting with her in a new way. Our women's retreat right before Thanksgiving Break was based on two chapters of the book, I Believe in Love, which was written by a French priest about Therese's spirituality. The book is re-teaching me about Therese's Little Way of love that I grew so fond of when I was discovering my faith for the first time in high school. If you're unfamiliar, the basic premise of the Little Way is a loving commitment to all of the tasks and people we encounter on a daily basis. It is the recognition that these tasks and interactions, however insignificant or frustrating they may seem, are opportunities to manifest God's merciful love on earth. My day-to-day life as an operations missionary consists almost exclusively of tasks that don't seem to have much of an impact on the college campus just across the street from my desk. However, the Lord has shown me the tremendous opportunities that I have to love in these little ways (*wink*). When I approach my workload as simply a list of things to get done, it's all too easy to miss these opportunities. But when I approach my workload with a heart disposed to St. Therese's Little Way, a budget planning meeting becomes a chance to advocate for future Missionaries to have the resources they need to do their job well. An hour of sending emails to students about turning in paperwork becomes a way to serve and ensure that their process of moving into or out of Household is as smooth and painless as possible. Approving expense reports becomes a chance to help Missionaries grow in integrity and stewardship. Making sure every Household has a fire extinguisher and knows how to use it becomes a chance to protect people that I love and ensure they're prepared in case of an emergency. There have been several occasions where the Lord has just completely floored me with how necessary love is in this job! He's really given me His eyes and heart for these little tasks, and for the people that I serve in completing them well. This has been the most unexpected source of beauty in my life this semester, and I am so grateful. It's been a real gift to serve the mission in this unique way, while still being a part of the life on-campus with CSU. The work that the Lord is about here in Tallahassee is pretty incredible. He is bringing freedom, breaking chains, and drawing all so many college students closer & closer to His heart. Living life in community can be challenging at times, but these students are rising up to this challenge of love...in the big ways, and the little ways. Enjoy this small collection of memories on mission from this semester! The joy is real! I'm praying for you! God bless!
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WELCOME!My name is Rebecca. This blog is a documentation of my life as a missionary with Saint Paul's Outreach - in Minnesota, Florida, and everywhere in-between. Thanks for stopping by! Categories
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