I'm a Student Again!
Hey again 😊. I had meant to send a quick update a while ago but a few big challenges came my way, and I dropped most everything that wasn’t required for me to get through them. So now, 2 months later, I hope to share a bit of what happened, how God has deepened my dependence on him even more, and about something I’m excited for in the future.
In Jan 2025 I switched missions agencies from F to Pioneers, as F's sole focus is on Muslim countries ... and Japan doesn't fit with that. I went into more detail about the process God has taken me through in my first newsletter, as he has continued to stretch my dependence on him rather than on well-laid plans or previous desires for how I envisioned ministry to unreached people groups would look. Part of that new process is that even though I had full clearance to go with F, I had to start the process over again with Pioneers. They have a few more things they require from everyone to be sent out with them; the biggest difference is that Pioneers requires 6 Bible classes. Hence, me being a student again.
I Fractured my Ankle
I started a graduate certificate in May with Trinity, which are accelerated 8-week semesters, to fulfill this new requirement. Aaannnnddd… at the start of my second week of online classes with Trinity, I managed to fracture my ankle playing volleyball. This was a major challenge for me. Managing the workload of just the classes was a wild switch and a surprise, with me taking 50+ hours a week to complete the requirements. Now adding the necessary healing that was/is needed, the lack of mobility my ankle caused, and starting an internship/residency with my Church, made the past 2 months a real challenge.
I’m grateful for everyone who helped me get through the past season, as I knew quickly I was in over my head (even if I had been able to walk 😅).
Something I felt convicted to do through every doctor’s appointment, essay, pang of pain from the fracture, and exam was to invite the Holy Spirit into the little moments and simply ask for help. Because this suuuuccked, and it wasn’t the worst thing that could happen. So, trying to regularly recognize my weakness and his power at the same time helped me keep going. As I have been reflecting and able to move past the challenge, I have seen my favorite verse bring joy back into the situation. "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." (James 1:2-4) I memorized this passage in high school, and it continues to carry me through life's hard moments. These challenges and trials continue to strengthen me to withstand whatever life may bring with more joy because I remember the past experiences, and that brings me hope for what I both know, and don't know, will come with ministry in Japan.
As a quick snapshot of what's happening right now; I have just finished my first accelerated semester (2 classes) at Trinity Divinity School (sadly online), and I am walking some now! Though I have another ~2 months of PT to continue to heal.
Vision Trip to Fukuoka, Japan
The picture on the right is Nanzoin Temple, a large temple outside Fukuoka
On a more lighthearted and exciting note, I will be visiting Japan for roughly the last 3 weeks of October. Though details are still being worked out, the bulk of this trip will be during the 14th -28th. I will be mainly in the city of Fukuoka, but also in Hiroshima and a few other regions in the southern part of Japan.
I will meet the Launch Team that I will join for 2 years, as well as many of the other long-term teams I may join after my 2 years of learning Language and Culture are done. This will be a great time for me to be able to cement pieces of God's vision for me and understand some new pieces of that vision. It's also a requirement for every team before joining them, as it is a bit of an interview between the team and I (but a nice one).
When the plans for this short-term trip are finalized, I plan to share more details in a future Newsletter. So, if you have any questions about Japan and/or this vision trip, let me know in the comment area at the bottom of the page, and I'll try to answer a few of the questions. I believe it's a public forum area, so it'll be a good way to try this feature out.
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