At the Spain Midyear conference held in Malaga January 18-25, I collapsed into bed at the end of each fourteen hour day exhausted but smiling.
It was my first international trip in over a year. Simply being overseas brings me so much joy! Navigating airports and unfamiliar places, stumbling through social interactions in my broken Spanish, trying new food… so much fun! But being surrounded by friends and not-yet-friends who speak the shared language of missionaries and exchange knowing nods and worship with an intensity that only those whose worship has been restricted by hostile governments can worship… even better!
I wore many hats at Midyear this year. As a People and Culture representative, I discussed Human Resources issues with STINTers as they considered options for what they will do after this one year internship. In this capacity, I got to meet with most of the STINTers from my area of the US. Some of them will be joining staff with us full-time - some to serve in the US and others to return to the international location that has stolen their hearts this year. Others will be returning for a second year of STINT to continue the ministry they began this year. Still others are moving on to marketplace ministry, reaching people in their field of study, equipped with a year of ministry experience and excellent training. Wherever their journey leads them, please pray with me that they will finish this year well and walk with Jesus where He leads.
I also cared for International Staff, spending a lot of time listening to, laughing and crying with, and praying over some of the single gals serving in hard places. They are my kindred spirits, and even though the Lord has led me to serve stateside for now and marry Adam, I understand extended singleness and the special issues single women face in ministry to my very core. I will forever advocate for them. I was actually with these incredible single women the moment we got word that Adam’s petition had been approved and his case moved on to the next stage of the immigration process! Shouts of praise erupted from our table in the dining room.
And I helped with the “STINT to Staff” elements of the conference, connecting with STINTers who plan to join staff this fall to provide answers and resources for the process.
For the first time since taking the International Staff Coordinator role last May, I felt like I was fully living out of my strengths and engaging fully in all of the aspects of this role. And I loved it!
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