Wow! I haven't looked at this blog since last May. Today is Tuesday, June 6, 2017 and I'm in count down mode preparing to depart Sunday, June 11th at 2 p.m. from Tampa headed to Amsterdam for a new missionary assignment.
I just finished reading my last entry and SO much has happened since then and now. First off, I'm laughing at myself from my last post stating that I hadn't experienced any culture shock. Bahahah!!! Oh Missy, you're too funny! And the whole time I was thinking it was some kind of prayer covering that was responsible for the giddy feeling I had the entire time I was in Greece. Well, most of it was, but I DEFINITELY was experiencing some culture shock. After attending the UMC missionary training last January in Nashville and reading the books and training journals, I learned about what culture shock really is. Silly girl!! One does not know they are experiencing culture shock until AFTER it's over and they're home. Or in this girl's case, when I'm sitting in the missionary training class and all of the sudden it all comes together and I realise what I really experienced in Greece.
I went to Greece last year totally led by the Lord. Everything fell into place and I just sort of walked through and it was an amazing journey. But even after I returned, I continued to learn from my experience. It seemed to culminate at the UMC missionary training where we studied the importance of being culturally sensitive. Cross Culture Servanthood was the name of the main book. Light bulb after light bulb kept going off for me of what I'd experienced in Greece. Oh how I wished I'd been able to read that book first, but then again, it's something that you don't really understand until you experience it. So I'm not sure which should come first. Who am I to question God. He wanted me to experience Greece first, then learn about being a cross culture servant.
Okay, so back to today. Well, I suppose some context is important. Last October I sat on my parents sofa and emailed some ministries, sending them my resume and a recent photo. I asked them if they had need of my skills. Two got back with me immediately and said yes. I went forward and applied to both, was accepted and proceeded to meet them both. I did the training with the UMC but they had no position for my skills.
But the second, which I had a feeling from the beginning, had a definite need. That one is Trans World Radio, headquartered in Cary, N.C. but operating in 160 different countries and 230 different languages. TWR is a global NGO (Non-Government Organisation). They're operating on four major continents spreading the Word to the ends of the earth. They're bringing the voice of hope through the airwaves in the middle of the night when so many are without hope in poor and destitute countries. You can't keep them out with a wall. Radio waves are God's creation and an incredible resource for sharing hope to the hopeless.
I went and met the Finance staff in February, knew it was the right place for me and officially signed on, then began preparing my timing to join the Europe Finance Team sometime in May for three months. I went back to Cary for training in May and returned home only to fall to the flu. Fall hard!
My original planned departure date of May 25th was postponed to now June 11th. I was hit hard. Two weeks I spent alone in my place, just me and God. I call it my Isolation. Every morning I asked the Lord how we were going to spend the day. Only to go to sleep and get up and do the same thing over. One can't rush the flu. You wait it out. Thank God for girlfriends who drop groceries & water at your doorstep, even though they do run...I would too! But two weeks with the Lord are an incredible thing, especially if you're willing to let Him work. Absolutely nothing was wasted. Not one tear. Every one was a cleansing and necessary. All necessary to truly prepare me for a new work.
Sunday I leave at 2:00 p.m. from Tampa and will arrive in Amsterdam at 7:15 a.m Monday morning. I'll spend two days adjusting to the time change in Barneveld where the European Finance Team is headquartered, then join them for three days in their office. The Netherlands (for those of you who don't know, Holland is not a country; the country is the Netherlands; Holland is just one section) does not allow tourists to work, not even volunteer. Thus I will be working from the Vienna office. After I'm finished working in the Barneveld office, I'll have two days in Amsterdam before departing for Vienna. I want to see the Anne Frank museum and the Van Gogh museum. I arrive in Vienna on Monday, June 19th and there I will stay until I return home in September.
So last time I was talking about how I finally returned home (after I really didn't want to come home) and now I'm talking about my new adventure as I prepare to leave for Vienna working with Trans World Radio. One thing I especially love about TWR is that after I've completed the three months in Vienna, I will continue working with them remotely, do special projects, and sometimes visit up to headquarters in Cary, NC to work. I know that I know that I'm in with TWR for the long haul and I'm absolutely thrilled to be so honoured to work with such an incredible ministry. I love what I do, why I do it and who I work with. It's absolutely fulfilling and I feel such joy when I'm serving in this capacity.
That's it for tonight. I still have a list to complete before departure on Sunday.
God bless,
Missy (Michelle)
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