I've been back in the States now for almost a month. I am living in Colorado with my parents and I find myself in yet another season of transition. While I am happy to be near my family and to spend quality time with my niece and nephew, there are many things that are hard. Again, I find myself without a close community, without a job, without a rhythm. There are so many unknowns and so little structure, that I struggle to make the most of each day. But once again I am called to be patient, rely on the Lord for my strength, and trust in his provision and timing. Another thing that makes this transition difficult is the fact that I will most likely only be here for about a year!
After much prayer and processing, I have decided to apply to be on staff with the Word Made Flesh team in Bolivia! While no ministry is perfect, I am encouraged that Word Made Flesh seems to be a good fit - both community-wise and mission-wise. I love their heart for the poor. I love their commitment to simplicity and incarnation. I love their posture of learning with and from the locals. And I love their heart for the Lord and their continual posture of prayer.
So, I hope to work part time, get plugged into my church in Denver, and spend quality time with my family during this year. But most of all, I hope to prepare for a long term commitment to ministry in Bolivia. I still feel like I'm in transition... but soon I will begin the process of returning to Bolivia. What does this process look like? Well, I will fill out an application. Then I will interview with WMF staff in Bolivia and the States. Then I may take a trip to Omaha, NE to get commissioned. And then, I will work on raising funds for my ministry. I don't really know how long all of this will take, but I am estimating that it might be about 10 months to a year until head back to Bolivia.
I hope to keep you updated throughout the application, fundraising, and preparation process right here on this blog. I would really treasure your prayers during this time! Thank you for the commitment you have made to journey with me through this process! I am so grateful.
