missionaryMAC

One component of a traditional home service is a "Reconnect" at the LCMS International Center, or IC. There are only 12 St. Louis-based individuals responsible for recruiting, deploying, training, supporting, and caring for 300+ missionaries and families living internationally. During the span of one full day in the building, the support staff gets to demonstrate hospitality toward the visiting missionaries and learn about their work, and the missionaries get to thank the support staff, vent concerns, and ask questions. My Reconnect was Thursday, September 16.  My first appointment wasn't until 9:15 am, but I came in early to be part of a conversation about requesting in-person short-term teams at 7 am. Missionaries from around the world joined by Zoom, but I was at the same table as Erin and Anne, my two right hand colleagues from the Short-term unit.  Schedule for the day.  I could have used my sunglasses during chapel! Anyone in the building is invited to missionaries...

My presentation at my home congregation came midway through two solid weeks in St. Louis between road trips. During those two weeks, I led three  school chapels. I will have led eight by the time all is said and done, which begs the question: what is the point of talking to kids who aren't old enough to have checkbooks?  Even babies & toddlers have hands that can be folded, eyes that can be closed, and heads that can be bowed in prayer. Network building is as much or more about raising up an army of prayer warriors as it is about garnering financial support.  It's never too early to begin learning about stewardship of time, talents, and treasure in the Kingdom. Young people can give of their own allowance, birthday, or babysitting money, however modest their gifts may be. They can also participate in school or churchwide fundraising campaigns, and they belong to families who may have a greater capacity to partner with a missionary and churches that may consider...

I got to go to my home church, St. Paul's in Des Peres, MO, twice during home service - once just because, and once, last weekend, to be involved in every aspect of weekend worship.  My presentation, held in the newly christened Bender Music Room, was one of several Sunday morning Bible class options available to parishioners. I think this might have been the first time I presented in such a fashion about my work, either as a GEO from 2009-2011 or since I became a Career missionary in 2018?! Additionally, I gave not one, not two, not three, and not four, but FIVE Mission Minutes. Er, Mission Two and a Half Minutes ;) Mission Minutes are a chance for a representative from the Mission of the Month or another ministry or organization to share a timely update after the announcements and before the opening hymn. I knew I wanted to include a Bible passage, and the only one that kept coming to mind was Colossians 4:14-15:  Luke the beloved physician greets you, as does Demas. Give my...

Yesterday was a packed, but wonderful day. But, to pull a couple terms from theater lingo, I could have used a dresser  to help with some quick changes - someone to help me pull off rapid costume switches between distinct events that called for wildly different attire.  At 6 am, I changed out of my PJs and into athletic shorts, a lightweight tee, and running shoes for a 4 mi. run. Training started this week for the November 28 half marathon I signed up for! Costume change!  I needed to look nice for taking these lovelies, three of the four Warren ladies, to tea at the London Tea Room.  We didn't just  drink tea and eat delectable pastries; we held Poetry Teatime , a beloved homeschool tradition from the Warrens' time in the DR, in style.  Costume change!  I convened as many of my high school friends as I could for a casual afternoon at Des Peres Park.  Between spouses and kids, the group has grown significantly. While the kids played on the playg...

When I called him from US 71N, I told Fairlawn Lutheran Church's Pastor Gau that I like to make a dramatic entrance!  An accident not only ate up my 25 minutes of lead time, but pushed my ETA for the 4 pm Saturday service back to 4:13. Multiple waiting elders greeted me as I rushed in the door. First order of business: bathroom break! A pit stop by the sound booth for a mic and I took my seat next to Pastor Gau, joined in the last few verses of the hymn right before where my presentation fell in the order of service, and got up to speak.  In contrast to that near fiasco, and to my whirlwind  15-hour visit to Fairlawn during my pre-deployment network building, the rest of my time in the suburb of Akron was far more relaxed. Although the pastor through whom I initially had ties to the church has since taken a call, I felt unbelievably embraced by the saints there.  On Sunday morning, I gave the children's message, presented again, and greeted members over cookies afte...

I recently wrapped up my longest road trip: a full week bookended by Sunday morning presentations in Ohio. My friend Sarah, a fellow former CPHer, graciously hosted me in Dayton (Xenia) nearly the entire time; I radiated out from there to...  Concordia Lutheran Church, Oakwood Concordia was a congregation I hadn't previously visited, and I'm so glad I did! Pastor Sobocinski had me introduce myself to the congregation during worship and invite everyone to my presentation, which followed the service. I spoke as everyone enjoyed a luncheon spread of individually wrapped goodies because #COVID, down to the pickle spears.  Immanuel Lutheran Church and School, Hamilton Sunday night, I drove almost exactly an hour to Hamilton for dinner catered from a local Italian place and my 2nd presentation of the day. Immanuel helped send me into the field three years ago, so it was wonderful to be back among Pastor Jud and the saints there. The next morning, I retraced my steps to lead chapel f...

Last week, while gearing up for the longest of my road trips, I made 2 quick jaunts across the Mississippi to St. John's Lutheran Church in Chester, IL. One of the pastors at St. John's did his vicarage in the DR, and the congregation has remained supportive of the Dominican Republic Lutheran Mission in the years since. Chester is known as the home of Popeye; the cartoonist was born there and based the muscular, spinach-loving sailor and friends on people he knew in town.  Monday evening, I was the featured speaker at the LWML's August meeting. I really need to up my purple game for LWML events! One of the ladies, Alice (front row, 2nd from left), was kind enough to take me out for Mexican beforehand. Alice participated in the DR online mission education "trip" Courtney & I put on in November and hopes to volunteer in-person in 2022. Her mission heart is contagious.  I had to be back in Chester Wednesday morning to lead chapel for the grade school kids, but g...

I pause from chronicling the adventures of network building - while listening to Cardinals baseball and sitting on my friend Sarah's back deck on a lovely evening in Xenia, OH - to tackle the title question, both for everyone who's been asking and because I want to document the best answer I've come up with to-date.  No. No, it's not weird being back. I slid seamlessly back into many of my old roles, like that of auntie to my favorite nephew, and into frequenting my favorite St. Louis haunts.  "Meet me at the Muny, the Muny in Forest Park!" I saw Seven Brides for Seven Brothers  and On Your Feet .  I bought Cardinals tickets on my phone while in line for the free seats at the Muny - living my best St. Louis life. If only I'd been eating Ted Drewes, too. The game was terrible, but the company was decent.  But also yes.  Yes, it's weird being back.  In some ways.  At my first host home, I instinctually started washing dishes after dinner without it...