FPO

Some of the people I met at the IMB candidate interview conference in February started their 8 week Field Personnel Orientation in Virginia this week. Please pray for them as they prepare to serve on mission fields around the world, including places where a mission presence is not welcome.

Mountain Grove FBC

Sunday morning I visited the First Baptist Church in Mountain Grove and spoke for a couple of minutes in each service about heading to the mission field. I was able to visit with several people after each service, and they were all very kind and encouraging. Many people made a written commitment to join me through prayer. I am grateful that even people who just met me that morning were willing to become involved, and I am excited to see how God will work through and bless this partnership.

FBLA State Leadership Conference

The other business teacher/FBLA adviser and I are driving 2 school vans to take a group of 11 kids to the FBLA State Leadership Conference. We leave Sunday afternoon and will return Tuesday afternoon. These students have earned the right to compete at the state level by winning a competition in our FBLA District. It should be a great trip, but I would appreciate your prayers for safety, energy, and wisdom.

Rock & Worship Roadshow

Saturday night a friend and I had the opportunity to attend a great concert! It's called the Rock & Worship Roadshow and features Mercy Me and Jeremy Camp along with Tenth Avenue North and Hawk Nelson. The unique thing about this tour is that it was born out of a desire to provide affordable Christian entertainment. They didn't sell any tickets in advance, and the cost was just $10 at the door. JQH Arena holds 11,000 people, and they had to turn some people away at the door once it filled. If you enjoy corporate worship, just imagine 11,000 people in one room singing praise at the same time.

I've changed my playlist to reflect the music of the concert.

Church Visits

Just as I recently invited member of my Dad's church in LaPlata to join me as prayer partners, I am making plans to visit some other churches where I have ties to extend the same invitation. This week I met with the pastor of First Baptist Church here in Mountain Grove and made plans to share briefly with the church during their services on April 19. Several people I know here, including several of my students, are members. I am really looking forward to the opportunity to worship with them and to form prayer partnerships with many of them. Even though I will only speak for a few minutes, it makes me a little nervous. Please pray for me as I prepare for this. Please also pray that God will lead people to respond and that He will stir their hearts for missions as well.

Safety

Throughout the past few weeks I've been telling the people in my life about my intentions to become involved in missions in Mexico. The first time someone responded by asking if I was worried about my safety, it absolutely caught me off guard. The person had heard stories of a rise in kidnappings and violence in Mexico and imagined I might become the next victim. I've heard similar reactions enough times that it no longer catches me off guard, but it still surprises me. My personal safety is one of the last things on my mind. Not that I intend to be foolish or careless in any way, but it wouldn't make sense to me to trust God to send me yet not trust Him to protect me. If I am in His hands, it is His concern what happens to me. I have no need to fear. I often remind these concerned friends that something can happen to me just as easily in my own home here in Missouri, so hiding there out of fear offers no true protection anyway. I am far better off to act in obedience to the Lord who has called me to this journey.

Many of the people who have shared this concern are not Christians. so perhaps my responses to their concerns can be a witness that God can use to speak to them.

Easter Playlist

Easter is my favorite holiday. Not just Easter Sunday, but the entire season. Several years ago at church we did a presentation of the Easter story called "A Week Called Holy." It lasted 5 nights with a different piece of the story being portrayed each night. It really captured the quick turn of events from the triumphal entry to the cross, and then the resurrection. There are so many aspects of this story of the Father's love and Jesus' sacrifice that never cease to amaze me. I know a lot of people who would say Christmas is their favorite holiday. For me it is Easter because without His death and resurrection, His birth would have been far less significant. His birth alone would not have brought salvation.

In honor of this Easter season, I have changed the playlist attached to this blog to include songs that celebrate Easter or in some way remind me of the price He paid on the cross.

Replacement

The teacher I replaced is now replacing me. She had left the classroom to go work in our district's central office. Now, four years later, she misses working with students and is excited for the opportunity to return to the classroom. The two of us talked the other day about how perfectly God's timing has woven our paths together. We are starting to talk quite a bit, sharing ideas, etc. to ensure the smoothest transition possible. Sometime this week she'll probably come to one or two of my classes to meet some kids who will be in her advanced classes next year. A couple of my advanced students were pretty upset that I was leaving. As I've talked to them more about what I will be doing and assured them that I have a good replacement here, I've seen a big difference in their outlook. Friday the one who was initially most concerned told the others that the people in Mexico need me more than they do.

LaPlata FBC

Yesterday I visited FBC of LaPlata, MO where my dad is pastor Several members of the church committed to partnering with me in prayer. I am going to try to visit a few churches where I have ties to ask people to join me through prayer. I will also encourage these churches to pray about the possibility of forming a team to participate in Operation GO.

Question, Part III

For those who aren't familiar with Operation GO (Operation Gospel Outreach), here is a brief description:

Operation GO is a Gospel saturation effort to reach millions of homes in the Middle America and Caribbean Region. Volunteers, missionaries and national believers distribute Gospels of John or Luke in print or audio formats. Operation GO is a practical way to get involved in church planting.
(from http://www.macregion.org/)

As teams of volunteers from US churches make the decision to come to Mexico, my role will essentially include communicating with them throughout the planning stages for their trip, preparing for their arrival, and facilitating their time in country.

Questions, Continued

Along with the timeline, many have been curious about the time commitment I have made. I have committed to serve for 3 years. Those 3 years officially begin the first day of orientation in Virginia; July 27. That day also marks the beginning of my benefits and pay from the board.

Questions

I know that there are a couple of questions that people typically want answered after I tell them that I have been approved to serve through the IMB, so I will try to answer some of those questions through the next couple of posts.

One question is about the timeline. I will finish teaching this school year. While it is possible to break a contract, I don't feel like that is the way Christ wants me to represent Him. So, I will fulfill my contract and teach until school ends. If I didn't have this commitment, I would be able to start IMB orientation in late April. Instead I am waiting for the next orientation, which runs from July 27 until September 24 in Virginia. After orientation, I might have a week or two in the states, or I might leave immediately. The next step is language school in Costa Rica for about 6 months. After language school, I will finally move to whatever city in Mexico they decide. I believe I will then spend 3 months working alongside someone else doing the same job as me before I am "on my own." It is weird to think that it will still be a full year from now before I actually make it to Mexico, but I am grateful for all of the training (especially language!) opportunities the IMB provides.

On a different note, I submitted my letter of resignation to my building administrator and to my superintendent this morning and am starting to tell students today. It is kind of an emotional thing for me to do because I have loved teaching for 12 years and will genuinely miss working with some great students. The assurance that I am following God's leading doesn't change that fact.