While this transition time of marriage and fund raising is temporary and sometimes rather nerve-wracking, Kristy and I have discussed some of the benefits recently. While we're looking forward to settling down in Ireland, where we'll be able to make long-term commitments to church/ministry and friends, this time is providing opportunity for things that won't come as easy once we get there.
For example, it's been nice to check out a few of the beautiful parks here in The Springs. Just spending the time outdoors together has been refreshing.
We've also been able to tackle some extra reading. Kristy is currently finishing up "Angela's Ashes" and learning a bit about Irish Catholic culture and I'm slowly digesting "Foolishness to the Greeks."
It's also been such a blessing to spend extra time in scripture and prayer each morning. Once we get into a busy ministry schedule/routine in Ireland, it will be much more difficult to spend as much concentrated time in such spiritual discipline, but it will at least be that much more habitual.
Kristy has also volunteered in a local school district's tutoring program and we both are in a fairly regular habit of exercise at a local gym.
The search for opportunities to serve have been a little less successful. Due to the temporary nature of our time here and the sporadic road trips for family and fund-raising purposes, it just hasn't been easy to be around consistently enough to plug in to anything (though we're still trying.)
Aside from those things, it's been a lot of e-mailing, calling, and waiting. Oh! the waiting. Waiting to hear back from churches. Or potential financial partners. Or from the GEM finance people regarding our account and what percentage of our support requirement we're at and how much we still have to raise. The "waiting." It's just something that goes with the territory.
It's certainly not your typical career/job, this "missionary" stuff. But as I said before, it's providing some great opportunity to launch our marriage in a healthy way and to be intentional about nurturing our souls.
Categories: life
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About Me
- Brandon
- I'm Brandon, husband of Kristy, father of Caitlyn, coffee freak, music fan, and hypocritical film buff. Originally from Washington State, now living in South Dublin. This blog will be a place to write about various facets of Irish culture that I experience and learn about.
3 comments:
Brandon,
Your RSS feed works great now. Good stuff!
It's so funny to read your blog today. Mostly because we're in a similar transitional phase where we don't feel the freedom to jump into any ministry (since we'll be heading back to the PacNW next spring). But then I also think how funny it is because of the cities we are both in - Colorado Springs, CO and Wheaton, IL! Hilarious... Probably the 2 most "evangelical" cities in America. If there were any places in the US that don't need us to serve (not that there are!), these cities would rank high on the list!
Maybe it is best to just strengthen your family! We're doing the same!
Hey there, Darren! Re: the RSS feed, I just sort of stumbled upon the answer to the issues I was having via trial and error (which pretty much explains my entire experience on the blogosphere!)
Glad you could relate with me on the post. I don't think I would want to live here (COS) long term, mainly because of how many churches and ministries are here. Like you said though, it's not that there's no need. I just want to be in the places of greatest need - the PacNW definitely being one of those places!
Thanks for asking, Knowles. I guess I'm not real sure why you would be "alarmed." I think a lot of people are finding new interest in the relational networking side of the web (also known as "Web 2.0" - Google it and see what you get). I think the reasons that people have for blogging are extremely varied.
For me, I blog because writing helps me process what I'm learning and how I'm growing. When others post comments and offer interaction, it makes the process all the more enjoyable.
I also blog in the hope of sharing resources and inspiration with friends, family, ministry partners, etc.
I know of other missionaries who use blogs merely for the ease of use in sharing with financial partners, friends, and family about what's going on in their ministries.
I definitely do NOT blog expecting to recruit new financial partners.
Those are some of my thoughts. Surf through the growing list of other bloggers in the left-hand margin to find out about why others blog. Sometimes it's pretty evident without even having to ask.
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