EPrayer Update

15 May 2007

The End.

There are some stories that, when I finish them, I feel as if I’m coming up for air after a long trip into the rarefied atmosphere of fantasyland. Those two words, "The End", mark the beginning of this life again, with my view changed by the story I’ve just experienced.

In some ways, that is how this ending feels.

This week is a strange week of finishing, packing, goodbyes, and preparing for a future that is somewhat unknown. I just received confirmation of my acceptance to Arcadia University, so one piece has fallen into place, but there is much more that is still in darkness – job, living situation, timing, etc.

So I step out into this next step with excitement and nervousness, knowing that in this ending is a beginning.

Thank you for your involvement in my life through prayer over these past two years. I know that many of you want to keep in touch, and so do I. I have enjoyed hearing back from you through your own prayer updates, your email responses to my thoughts, and your encouraging notes. I don’t know how often I will write, but I do want to continue to send out updates to those who want to hear from me. So I’m going to set up a list on my personal email account so that I can continue to keep you all up to date. If you want to get my updates, please jot me a note.  Thanks again.

EPrayer Update

01 May 2007

Dear Praying Friends –

It’s May. I’m looking at the date and that is all that goes through my mind. Encompassed in that thought are the boxes that are beginning to fill up in my apartment, the video and PowerPoint I still need to complete, the travel plans that I’ve put in place, but barely thought about since, and the students that are struggling through the final weeks of school. It’s May.

I am continually asked what I’m doing next. And I answer with the same thing each time, "Here are my plans, but nothing is set in stone yet." Right now life is going just one day at a time, packing, working, connecting. I still have students stopping by my office just to hang out when they need a study break. I still have piles of paper on my desk and a long "To Do" list at the office. I still am training my replacement and connecting with the various people that are going to take on things that I’ve done to be sure that they know where to find the files, etc.

And yet, even as I finish all the many details here and make nebulous plans for the future, what keeps me going is one thought: I will have time to listen. As I have reviewed interviews that I did with the graduates in order to put together a video, I’ve found a theme repeated over and over: "God taught me to listen." "He brought me here so that I could get away from the busyness and just focus on Him." "I’ve learned to always listen." Last week in chapel, a SEND missionary spoke on what he called, "The Story of Four Ears" – Eli and Samuel. And he pointed out how busy Eli was doing the Lord’s work, and how surprised he was when he suddenly saw God work. And then there was Samuel, a boy, who listened.

My time at ABC has been good. I have enjoyed it; I’ve had experience in so many different areas. God has taught me much about myself and my relationship with Him. But I’ve been so busy - doing the things that need to be done, covering a role where there’s no one else to do the job, wearing six different hats because I am capable in various areas – that I have not had much time to listen to God. I look back at the past two years and find that the high points came when I had a day alone with the Lord, or when I was only focused on one task, or when I consistently spent time quietly with Him. And the low points came when my plate was full and my calendar was packed and I had five tops spinning at once…

Whatever I do, I want to do it well. I want to serve God through writing and through the other gifts He’s given me, but I can only do that when I’m focused on Him, rather than on the service. So, whatever I do, and whenever I do it, I will make time to listen. For me, unlike the grads I spoke with, I may need to leave the great beauty and quiet of Alaska in order to find quietude in the busy cities of the world.

Thank you for your prayers,

Praise:

Prayer:

EPrayer Update

17 April 2007

Dear Praying Friends,

I had asked the chaplain at the beginning of the semester if I might have a chance to share where I’m headed from here. But I wanted it to be later in the semester. Later, I thought, later I’ll know what I’m doing and can wax eloquent. I wanted to be able to tell people exactly the path I plan to take, where I’ll be going to school and what job I’ll have, how I’ll be serving God and how I’ve seen precisely the path God has laid out for me. But none of those things have fallen neatly into place, and though I have more direction than I had in January, there are still many blank spots in my future.

However, on Good Friday afternoon I got an email from the chaplain asking me if I had any ideas for someone to speak in Chapel on Thursday, April 12. A speaker had cancelled last minute and that chapel was right in the middle of College Daze, when students would be visiting campus. I looked at the email and knew I was going to share. Even with all the blank spots and the question marks. I called up the chaplain and said, "I was going to ask you if there would be a time that I could share, and so, even though next week will be crazy—I’m running College Daze, after all—I was wondering if you would like me to share. I wouldn’t take the whole time, we could spend some time in prayer and praise, too." And as quickly as that, it was settled. I was speaking in chapel on Thursday.

I knew that as soon as I got into the week my mind would be wrapped up in the final preparations for College Daze and the actual running of things. So Friday night, after a wonderful day of focusing on my Savior’s sacrifice for me, I sat down to see if I could tell my story. I opened my computer and began to type out what I wanted to say…I’ve never had the words flow out so quickly. The story began with my childhood, and moved on to my college years then to today. Each step was a testimony to God’s leading, even when the road is out of focus ahead. What I really wanted to communicate to the people in that chapel service was my passion for communicating God’s truth through stories. So after setting up those thoughts, the only step to take was to tell a story. I chose a short story I wrote about a character named Smuggins who is a messenger for the King. Smuggins has had a few adventures that have come to my mind so far, and I hope that he continues to learn God’s truth through my pen.

On Thursday morning I stood in chapel and began to speak the words that had flowed so quickly when I prepared them. And when I had finished telling the story of my own journey, I began to read Smuggins’ tale. It is frightening to share a story I’ve written. What I think may be a clear point, or a powerful concept, or a great truth could be misconstrued. I fear that my words will not stand scrutiny under the harsh light of day. But I knew I needed to read the story, and I did. When I finished reading, I sat down and the chaplain rose to lead the rest of the service. The hush in the room reminded me of the silence of a stone chapel early in the morning, when I’ve entered to pray alone. After a moment, the chaplain continued the service, and a few minutes later asked for testimonies from others to "make God famous". One by one people spoke up, telling bits of their own story, and many said that Smuggins story had spoken to them. Even as we closed in prayer I was thinking, They heard. They heard God’s truth that I hoped they would hear.

Afterward, one friend came to me and told me how much the story had challenged and convicted him. "When did you write that?" he asked. "Were you thinking about me? About what I’ve been through this year?"

No, I had not thought of that friend when I wrote the story. But throughout the year I’ve prayed for him and asked God to challenge and convict him in the situations he’s been dealing with. I never thought of Smuggins’ tale as relating to my friend’s experience, but for my friend, the story hit exactly where it needed to.

And as I sat there, listening to him with tears in my eyes, I thought, This is why I want to write. This is the power of stories. Thank you, Lord, for helping me keep my mouth shut and let Your truth speak for itself.

Thank you for your prayers,

Praise:

Prayer:

QuickPrayer Update

10 April 2007

Hello All!

I don’t have time to write much, but here are a few things to be in prayer about this week:

Thanks for your prayers!