I had about one full week of fun after I stopped teaching at North, the week I spoke about in my last post. After that very full, but awesome, week, I was ready to rest. Finally the long awaited rest which I so desired all semester had come and....Sickness. "So predictable," as Moriarty from Sherlock would say. Even if it is predictable, I am still sad about it. Today marks my 6th day of being sick (since it is currently 3 in the morning), and I must say...not my favorite. I have a combo of sinus infection, feminine time, strep throat, and general bleh-ness. I know: Attractive. In fact, if you want to talk attractive, I might mention that most home remedies for sinuses and ear aches include lots of onions and garlic. Let's just say I wouldn't blame Isaiah if he never kissed me at all during this sick phase. I wouldn't even kiss me right now.
Isaiah and I had an in-person TEAM (The Evangelical Alliance Mission) interview earlier today in Greenville, SC. We drove down to meet with Tyson (our representative) and his boss, Justin, who needed to meet with us and approve us before we go to the next step. Our applications are complete, and this was called the HUB interview, a final marker before we head into a time of waiting and then training in May, where we are assigned a missionary mentor who will help us through the process of training, researching, and fund raising. So, this meeting = big deal. To add even more weight to that, we missed our first scheduled HUB interview due to a mix up, so making this meeting was important.
I trusted God would give my sick-self the strength to head to the interview with Isaiah and be able to listen and speak when I got there, even though the day before I couldn't even talk. I saved up as many words as possible during the car ride, hardly speaking to my husband during the trek, praying that God would help me talk and function when we got there, and HE DID! Isaiah and I were able to talk with Justin and Tyson very candidly about missions, marriage, what we've learned, what we've yet to learn, and to discuss any concerns we had about TEAM thus far.
I still couldn't really taste my food (which is a shame since we met at Panera) and didn't necessarily love swallowing all of the throat infection that I did during the meeting, but, in general, things went very well. The concerns and second-thoughts Isaiah and I were having about the organization were all stilled. TEAM is all about flexibility, listening to the Spirit and the Word, and using the people they have to minister rather that making sure someone fits a certain pre-made missions mold. It was super encouraging to hear these things, especially after taking the Psych. Eval, which seemed to want to peg us (make sure we were a certain type of Christian). Tyson, Justin, and us had a really open discussion about expectations, if there were any doctrinal issues not mentioned, etc. Every single thing I was worried about, I no longer have concern about. Isaiah said it helped him a lot too. I really believe God lead us to the right organization, which is so funny because it's honestly just the first one that popped up when we typed in Japan missions. It's just so like God to do it this way. I keep thinking that over and over.
Part of the flexibility and Spirit-leading happens once we've been trained, fund-raised, and then go to language school in Japan for a two year stint. During language school, we will already be ministering where we are in some capacity (there are a lot of different options!), and, in addition, will be praying about what God wants for us in Japan long-term. You see, we have been looking at the Takamatsu Mission through TEAM because of the street-evangelism there, but we are not in some kind of contract with this particular sector. We simply go to language school, meet the missionaries that come through, visit some of the missionaries around the area (perhaps including those in Takamatsu) and then, go where God is leading. It's all much more organic, Spirit-lead, and chill that I thought. And that is very good!
Anyway, a very good meeting. It could not have gone better. Even though I wasn't as full of energy as I usually am, even that worked out since I was surrounded by 3 very chill men. Seriously, Isaiah, Tyson, and Justin: 3 of the most chilled-out dudes at a missions meeting ever! How are people even that calm? God simply didn't include that code in my spitfire DNA.
Isaiah and I are very pleased and excited with what God is doing in reference to Japan, and I can't wait to be in more prayer about all of this. As far as the other option for entering Japan (I've mentioned it in some of my other blogs), that's still on the table. Isaiah and I are just continuing with TEAM, in full confidence now, and if that opportunity opens up, we will pray about it and talk to TEAM about how we can incorporate it into our mission there. If God opens that door, I have confidence He will make it work out with TEAM and that, or will show us a new way to do things, or will simply help me make a decision. And if He does not open the door, the answer has already been made. It's simple really. Wait for things to unfold. Pray. God will lead.
Wait for things to unfold. Pray. God will lead.
I can't believe how much we humans can complicate things! It's ridiculous.
Anyway, we are in a very good place with Japan right now. I am honestly more excited than ever. I have still yet to get my books in the mail for my classes, but that's okay because I'm sick anyway, so I can't start right now. Please pray that I will recover, so that I can fully pour myself into this time of rest, healing, and Bible reading (I just finished the Law! Torah is complete. #IwillmissprotagonistMoses). And pray that Isaiah will not get what I had right when he is looking for work.
Until Next Time,
The Englishes
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