When I DIP, you DIP, we DIP!
To be quite honest, I was excited for the Young Adults in Global Mission Discernment, Interview and Placement retreat, not only because I would learn where I would be living for the next year, but more importantly because I was flying to Chicago and then spending the extended weekend in Wisconsin, which means only one thing: CHEESE! Even if they decided to not place me for whatever reason, I would at least be able to say that I had been to Wisconsin (and Illinois), two new places for my bucket list map.
I would recap all the reasons I'm participating in YAGM, and why I'm excited for Palestine (Jerusalem/West Bank; whatever you prefer), but I feel that is covered fairly well in the page entitled, "Meet Courtney" at the top of this page. I have many expectations: many good, exciting ones, but also some anxious hesitations. All I really know is that I'm going to be challenged, and I will grow. Honestly, who knows where I'll be in a year? Hint: Not me!!
What I really wanted to post was the story of how I was placed, or at least, my end of the story. I went to the DIP event having a slight preference for the UK program, but a secret fascination in going to Palestine. After the presentations on each program I had absolutely *no* idea which country I would prefer. I knew my parents would be less stressed if I went to the UK, but each program sounded amazing.
Then I had my 45 minute interviews with the country coordinators and a Global Missions representative. My first interview was that Friday evening, with Julie for the Jerusalem/West Bank program. Unlike what I was hearing from a lot of people, I was not even slightly nervous. They had said it was informal and I was trusting the Holy Spirit to be guiding the process, so why be nervous? I just had to talk about my experiences! After talking with Julie and Robert, the Director for Mission in the Middle East, I felt like the West Bank program had been designed for me! Sure, there were going to be some real challenges, but some of the opportunities I might be able to participate in were perfect. I could possible be doing work with oral history and advocacy, which was exactly what I wanted to do. It was so amazing I called Cait right after to gush about how God-sent it seemed the experience was. I couldn't, and still can't believe it. It seemed like Palestine was where my heart was being led. It could not get any better. Or so I thought.
Then I had my interview with Crissie and Sunitha for the UK program and it had a different feel than the West Bank interview, but it went really well. Spectacularly, in fact. Again, there were opportunities that seemed tailor made, where I could direct a multicultural and interfaith community center of a church. That is absolutely something I'm interested in pursuing long-term, and hearing that such a position actually exists has been very exciting for me. Wow, how could I choose?!
As part of the process, each participant was able to voice if they felt particularly called to a certain placement or if they had a strong preference for one place over another. We could write such opinions on an index card and it would be taken into account during the deliberations. We weren't guaranteed of our first choice, but it could help in the decision making process. This was it. I could, potentially, influence where I would spend the next year. I could preference Palestine, knowing that it would stress my parents out, but challenge me in so many great ways. Or, I could preference the UK, with the hope that I'd get a multicultural or multifaith position that could really help me discern that aspect of my life, but with less of a built-in challenge (seeing as I have studied there before). So, really, how could I choose?!
Actually, I couldn't. And I didn't. I submitted my card acknowledging I had some reservations about the stress on my family if I was placed in Palestine, but that I was willing to encounter the challenge to the best of my ability. Then I left them with the following words, with which I shall end this post. It has honestly been one of the most helpful and calming things I've heard, that really helps me when I get stressed out (shout out to Pastor Chuck and Pastor Jim!) and so it seemed only fitting that I offer it up as my only desire for my year of global mission service:
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(Thank you to all my sisters and brothers in Christ who inspire me each and every day).
What I really wanted to post was the story of how I was placed, or at least, my end of the story. I went to the DIP event having a slight preference for the UK program, but a secret fascination in going to Palestine. After the presentations on each program I had absolutely *no* idea which country I would prefer. I knew my parents would be less stressed if I went to the UK, but each program sounded amazing.
Then I had my 45 minute interviews with the country coordinators and a Global Missions representative. My first interview was that Friday evening, with Julie for the Jerusalem/West Bank program. Unlike what I was hearing from a lot of people, I was not even slightly nervous. They had said it was informal and I was trusting the Holy Spirit to be guiding the process, so why be nervous? I just had to talk about my experiences! After talking with Julie and Robert, the Director for Mission in the Middle East, I felt like the West Bank program had been designed for me! Sure, there were going to be some real challenges, but some of the opportunities I might be able to participate in were perfect. I could possible be doing work with oral history and advocacy, which was exactly what I wanted to do. It was so amazing I called Cait right after to gush about how God-sent it seemed the experience was. I couldn't, and still can't believe it. It seemed like Palestine was where my heart was being led. It could not get any better. Or so I thought.
Then I had my interview with Crissie and Sunitha for the UK program and it had a different feel than the West Bank interview, but it went really well. Spectacularly, in fact. Again, there were opportunities that seemed tailor made, where I could direct a multicultural and interfaith community center of a church. That is absolutely something I'm interested in pursuing long-term, and hearing that such a position actually exists has been very exciting for me. Wow, how could I choose?!
As part of the process, each participant was able to voice if they felt particularly called to a certain placement or if they had a strong preference for one place over another. We could write such opinions on an index card and it would be taken into account during the deliberations. We weren't guaranteed of our first choice, but it could help in the decision making process. This was it. I could, potentially, influence where I would spend the next year. I could preference Palestine, knowing that it would stress my parents out, but challenge me in so many great ways. Or, I could preference the UK, with the hope that I'd get a multicultural or multifaith position that could really help me discern that aspect of my life, but with less of a built-in challenge (seeing as I have studied there before). So, really, how could I choose?!
Actually, I couldn't. And I didn't. I submitted my card acknowledging I had some reservations about the stress on my family if I was placed in Palestine, but that I was willing to encounter the challenge to the best of my ability. Then I left them with the following words, with which I shall end this post. It has honestly been one of the most helpful and calming things I've heard, that really helps me when I get stressed out (shout out to Pastor Chuck and Pastor Jim!) and so it seemed only fitting that I offer it up as my only desire for my year of global mission service:
In the words of a wise pastor:
Ooh, ongawah, Father's got the power
Sayin' shing-a-ling, Jesus do your thing
Ooh, ahh...Spirit light my fire.
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(Thank you to all my sisters and brothers in Christ who inspire me each and every day).
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