Driving through Iowa is more fun than most people realize. There's a great deal of sky that you don't see when you live in a river valley, and if you drive over half the state in one day, you get to see the sky a variety of colors. I passed an Amish event (the farmyard looked like a sale lot for carriages), I got stuck behind the slowest Missouri driver I've ever seen, and I saw a set of crosses with an empty, open tomb below; a statue of Jesus standing in front of it with his hands raised to heaven. This was in southern Iowa, arguably the top of the Bible belt.
I feel blessed to drive through Iowa on my way to and from Missouri this week, and not just for the beautiful sunlight and scenery. I got to visit my grandmother on the way down, and she seems to be doing well, despite the health difficulties and chemotherapy treatments. My grandfather I didn't get to see. He's back in the hospital and I don't know if he'll be out for Thanksgiving. It's starting to hit home for me that their days on earth are not long, and what they have left is going to be difficult for them and all the family around them. I cried much of the way to headquarters after that visit, which means that (yay for pale skin!) my eyelids are STILL puffy and darkly circular three days later.
Admittedly, it wasn't the best way to start my week at missionary candidate school, but the first official day was still excellent. I met a couple of my fellow candidates at breakfast, and we got to chat during prayer card photos. I've seen our former state director at meals (she now works at headquarters), and a couple of friends who are working here now have stopped to talk with me in the halls.
A couple of women who have worked in missions for many years have told me stories over dinner that blew my mind! Who knew God would use a girl from a broken family to lead an ex-mafia member to Christ, or a woman who spoke no German to do His work in the middle of Europe?
I've already learned how to write newsletters and support letters, how to fill out various forms, and who it was in the Bible who "washed his path with butter." Today I'll get some more official CEF stuff, like handouts and a new email address. Tomorrow will be more about support-raising and the vision for the ministry. I'm looking forward to sharing this with my CYIA teens at home, because I think of lot of it will help them get excited about God's work (not the form-filling... though I guess God can use anything). I'll have a lot to think about on my 10-hour drive home.
I feel blessed to drive through Iowa on my way to and from Missouri this week, and not just for the beautiful sunlight and scenery. I got to visit my grandmother on the way down, and she seems to be doing well, despite the health difficulties and chemotherapy treatments. My grandfather I didn't get to see. He's back in the hospital and I don't know if he'll be out for Thanksgiving. It's starting to hit home for me that their days on earth are not long, and what they have left is going to be difficult for them and all the family around them. I cried much of the way to headquarters after that visit, which means that (yay for pale skin!) my eyelids are STILL puffy and darkly circular three days later.
Admittedly, it wasn't the best way to start my week at missionary candidate school, but the first official day was still excellent. I met a couple of my fellow candidates at breakfast, and we got to chat during prayer card photos. I've seen our former state director at meals (she now works at headquarters), and a couple of friends who are working here now have stopped to talk with me in the halls.
A couple of women who have worked in missions for many years have told me stories over dinner that blew my mind! Who knew God would use a girl from a broken family to lead an ex-mafia member to Christ, or a woman who spoke no German to do His work in the middle of Europe?
It's been an interesting week so far.
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| (Edited to include a sleepy Bethel pic from a stopover at Grandma's) |
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