Is that you, dear reader? Hi there! It's been so long, how have you been? We always say we will keep in touch and next thing you know almost two months have gone by. How are the kids? Is that a new haircut? I really am sorry for the lull in the updates. I'm sure all four of you readers were at a loss for what to do with those extra five minutes a week when you weren't reading a new post of mine. I hope this one makes up for some lost time and gives you a good introduction to my next exciting job opportunity! Okay, here it goes:
A lot you know that my love of writing goes back all the way to the third grade. However, for most writers a passion for reading is just as strong as their passion for writing, and my love of books goes all the way back to kindergarten when I picked out The Three Little Pigs at the library, the very first book I read all by myself. From that point on I was intoxicated with stories, and the power they held for the reader or listener. The beginnings should be gripping, the endings satisfying. I fell in love with characters as if they were real people (I know many people can relate) and my heart almost physically ached when I came to the bottom of the last page and had to say goodbye to my friends. If the story didn't end to my liking, I would crave a sequel to tie up loose ends or I would feel bothered for days about the insufficient conclusion. It was much easier to say goodbye and move on to the next book when the ending was solid and I felt satisfied with where I left the characters (best example: The Lord of the Rings. One of my favorite endings of all time).
Reading and writing stories has been such a big part of my life that I tend to process life through the same principles. I absolutely love a satisfying ending to things in my life, and it's hard to say goodbye to people and places if I'm not satisfied with the way things were left. I guess that's true for everyone, but over the years I've noticed that this is especially important to me.
Why am I telling you all this? Mostly because I'm a writer at heart and can't just spit out the main point I'm trying to say. But it's also because, as you all know, a very important story in my life has recently ended, and it was hard to say goodbye. I didn't want it to end, and I didn't want to move on to another story. If you haven't caught on by now, I'm talking about my ministry in the Dominican Republic, and the move back to the U.S. in December of last year. But I was fortunate; my ending was satisfying, the last few pages with my dear friends and loved ones a beautiful way to conclude my time there. The ending to this story was just what I hoped it could be, and after a time I was able to move on to my next story with the closure I needed. And just to be clear before moving on, I left this beloved story in the DR open for sequels-you never know what's going to happen in the future, right?
So what is my next story? Drum roll, please!
Many of you have already heard, but this story is actually kind of like a sequel itself. Remember way back in the day when I was in college and did a seven-week internship in Honduras with a ministry called Escuela El Sembrador, or School of the Sower? After I moved back from the Dominican and was praying about my options, I was offered a full-time job at that ministry, and I have accepted! To give you a quick background, El Sembrador was founded in 1954 by a missionary couple from the U.S. who felt called to provide better educational opportunities to kids in Honduras. It is associated with World Gospel Mission, a large mission organization that works in many countries doing a variety of different ministries (check them out here!). Over 60 years later, this school has flourished, growing and changing and making a big impact on the students who attend the school and on the country as a whole. The students receive a quality education in a Christian atmosphere and have countless opportunities to grow spiritually and be discipled by the amazing staff on campus. It is such a privilege for me to be joining the El Sembrador team.
My job will be working with the sponsorship program. While the school actually has a farm (with cows, pigs, corn, etc.) that provides for a sizable amount of the school's budget, their main source of funds still comes from supporters in the U.S. who believe in the work El Sembrador is doing and want to participate. Donors can sponsor a particular student to help with tuition, or they can support other areas, such as teachers, educational initiatives, and construction projects going on to expand the campus and improve the quality of education. I will also be helping with mission teams that come down to partner with the school. There have already been several teams down this year and there are six more scheduled over the summer!
This new position is very different from the work I was doing in the DR, but I am so excited to learn new things and to see God working through this amazing ministry.
One thing that is different is that I will be paid a small salary for this new position. However, I will also have a missionary account through World Gospel Mission (WGM) that people can donate to in order to help with things like health insurance, visa fees, travel expenses, and other things that my salary may not cover. It would be an honor to have you join me in this ministry with your support, whether financially or prayerfully. To have a group of people in the States praying for me and supporting me and my family while we were in the Dominican was a blessing that I will never be able to truly describe. And now, this new job in Honduras is something that is very new for me. I would really appreciate your prayers over the next few months as I get settled in.
Oh, I forgot to tell you when I'm leaving! I'm getting rusty at this update thing. May 17th is my official move date! Yeah, that is two weeks from yesterday. Holy crap. My commitment is through December, though I have a feeling I will be renewing for the next year as well, and who knows after that? If anybody in the Marylandish area wants to see me before I go, send me a message! And if anybody would like information about how or where to send donations, let me know!
It's good to be back with you guys. I promise more updates soon. Remember you can subscribe to get these updates sent to your email! Thanks for reading, friends.
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