missionaryMAC

I was going  to do a series of thermometer-style "Green Light Gauge" posts, tracking my progress toward the funding target required for deployment (75% of the average of FY1 & FY2). The problem with that is I've already been green lighted! It's estimated that Career Missionaries will take 6-9 months to reach the mark. By the grace of God, it took me just 3 1/2 months. So. Lutheran question. What does this mean? 1. I can apply for my visa. Thankfully, I had the foresight to bring all of the necessary documentation with me on my current trip, so it'll go out around 5 pm tonight from Williamsburg, VA, and arrive at the Dominican Consulate in Chicago by 3 pm tomorrow. 2. I can buy a plane ticket. What does this NOT mean? 1. I HAVE a plane ticket. I'm still targeting late July or early August (in time for the LAC regional retreat, beginning August 6), but I do not yet have a deployment date. 2. I'm going to stop support raising. If you tak...

I'm supposed to be on a 13 hour road trip right now. So why is this my view? Simply put, For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. (Isaiah 55:8) I'm presenting at King of Glory Lutheran Church in Williamsburg, VA, tomorrow - home to my friend Marie, her husband Philip, and my 1-year old godson. My beautiful plan was to hitch a ride home with them today (they're from MO and have been visiting family for most of June), do my thing tomorrow, and spend a few days soaking up some early American history. Enter those thoughts and ways that aren't ours. Marie's grandpa is, it appears, close to being called home by his Heavenly Father, so they're not going anywhere for the time being. One last minute plane ticket later, here I sit in the Atlanta airport en route to Richmond where an equally last minute rental car awaits. I'm still staying at Marie and Philip's apartment, but it's unlikely that I'...

In addition to piling, purging, and packing , I could add a 4th "P" to what I've been up to in these few weeks without really being on the road: planning. Although I have a trip starting this weekend that will take me to Williamsburg, VA, and Cullman, AL, most of my energies have been focused on the loop in the Google Maps screenshot below. It all starts July 7 and involves three one-way flights and a rental car that I'm picking up at the airport in Cleveland and returning in Denver. (Speaking of which, has anyone else never heard of "drop fees"?!?) It seemed a little bit scattered initially but eventually came together like I knew it would; I'm just waiting to hear back on some lodging inquiries for the IA/NE legs. Two items of note: Ignore the bubble that says "67 h" since air travel will cut down on that significantly! The 4,468 mile part should be more or less accurate, although... I had to fudge my actual  itinerary when Google told ...

I made a repeat trip to Perry County today! I was at Trinity Lutheran Church in Altenburg, MO, in April, but this time it was Concordia Lutheran Church in Frohna, MO, that had extended me an invitation to be the speaker for their Joint Mission Festival. It was "Joint" because Trinity did not hold services this morning; members were encouraged to attend Concordia. The reverse takes place in the fall. I left around 6 am and arrived in plenty of time for 8 am Bible Class, which was held in the sanctuary, built in 1874 and featuring the original altar furnishings. Worship followed at 9 am. The fact that I'm a woman created a ~ unique ~ situation. Had the speaker been a missionary pastor, he would have preached the sermon. Unable to involve me in that way, the pastor prepared a beautiful service replete with Scripture readings, prayers, and hymns from the "MISSION AND WITNESS" portion of LSB* and then gave me 15-20 min to speak after  the Benediction. I used that ...

I finally made it home from Columbia, MO, a little big ago, after a two hour drive turned into an almost three hour drive; an accident meant bumper-to-bumper traffic for 5 miles or so. That's the first real incident I've encountered in all my driving, though, so this is me quitting my whining and praying that all involved are OK! I was there to present at Campus Lutheran Church, another that I got to know during my Ysleta years. We bonded while knee-deep in concrete in March 2011! I was going to customize my PowerPoint with some photos from their week until I realized this one has been included from the get-go on the slide where I talk about past professional experience; three of the four kids with me belong to the pastor! I could have easily left early this morning, but I seized the opportunity to spend last night with "Grandma T." She actually belongs to my best friend, but we adopted each other my freshman year of college when she and her late husband...

My June newsletter is out! Please read, enjoy, post, & share.  Click on the image below to access a PDF.  OR Click  here  for the web version. Click "Subscribe" (upper left) to be added to my email distribution list. Until next time, blessings!

I'm in the middle of a few weeks of "calm before the storm," aka almost a month on the road starting the last week in June. The life of a pre-deployed missionary is never boring, though, and these days I don't even have to leave my house to keep busy piling, purging, and packing. I've been mentally triage-ing my belongings - sell, bring, and store - for months, but have begun in earnest now. Here's a glimpse into my system. This pile grows a little bit everyday; anything I'm not emotionally attached to is getting sold. I'll be moving in with my parents the last week of July and setting my house up for a giant moving sale. Watch for more details in mid-July if you're in the St. Louis area.  I've been focusing on drawers, closets, etc. one at a time so as not to overwhelm myself. This is the result of emptying my shredder 3x while cleaning out my desk. Needless to say, my trash and recycle bins have been fuller than normal lately.  ...