Transitions and Missions

It would be difficult to explain where I am going without first describing where I have been, and neither would make sense without God.

I graduated from a small, Christian, liberal-arts college in 2011.  I spent the year after graduation in a small town in Upstate New York with a group of 19 other students in a discipleship program called LIFT.  I entered the program as a secretly arrogant perfectionist intent on earning my way to grace, and I graduated with a little less pride in my own ability and a little more confidence in God's delight, love, and direction for my life.  The Lord put an end to my striving for acceptance and approval, and He let me rest in the knowledge that--greater than all of the friendships, abilities, and gifts he has given me--His love is enough.  As simple as this sounds, it has changed my life.  It has changed the way I interact with those around me and how I use the abilities He has given me, and the ongoing realization of His love has given me a beautiful freedom to explore who God has created me to be.  

During my second semester of LIFT, I applied for and was accepted to the Outdoor Leadership Masters Program at Denver Seminary.  I wanted to prepare to disciple others in the same way that I had been discipled at LIFT, and I figured a graduate degree was a good place to start.  I deferred my enrollment to spend one last year at home with my family and to start saving for tuition.  And thus began my year of waiting.  

I do not wait well, I am discovering.  I value efficiency, and I like to contribute and feel productive.  This past year has needled me in all of these areas.  In short:  I returned from Upstate New York in September; I had corrective eye surgery in November and could not function for 2-3 weeks due to extreme light sensitivity; I broke my ankle in December, but didn't realize that it was broken and required surgery until February; I was unable to walk by myself until March; and I had follow-up eye surgery in April.  The first half of my transitional year turned out to be much more sedentary than I had initially imagined.  Time and time again I found myself stymied in finding value in my ability to produce; God was gently reminding me that it's not what I do but who I am that matters the most.  Yes, what I do and how I use the things He has given me is immensely important, but it all means nothing if I lose who I am in the process.  (And don't think that this year has been all rough...a lot of really wonderful, unexpected things have been happening as well!)

In May I traveled to Utah and Colorado with a few college friends, and had the opportunity to stop by Denver Seminary's campus.  I chatted with my admissions counselor and my financial aid advisor, and I got to stop in and visit some apartments to look at signing a lease.  As I was walking around and taking it all in, envisioning myself sitting in classes in the fall, I realized that I wasn't excited about it.  I had been praying for confirmation and direction as I drove out, and I came away with more doubt and questions than answers.  I hate using the phrase "I just didn't have peace about it..." but things truly did not sit well with me.  I talked through different questions and options with mentors in my life, and I decided to apply for a position with Solid Rock Outdoor Ministries.  After an encouraging phone interview and a lengthy Skype interview, I was offered a full-time position working in the course management area for SROM!  It's difficult to convey excitement, relief, joy, etc. in writing without endless exclamation marks, but just try to imagine it with me.

And that's where I sit now.  I'm preparing for the Wilderness Ministry Professional Course, a prerequisite course for all SROM full-time staff, which starts August 21st.  If I can gather $1,200 in monthly support by then, I'll stay out in Laramie and continue on as a staff member.  The next two months are going to be full of prayer, packing, and support letters!  I will continue to update this blog with prayer requests and hopefully an entertaining anecdote or two as I figure out what this journey is that the Lord has for me.  (I promise I'll try to keep it shorter in the future.)  As for now, please join with me in praying for a support network (a prayer support network as well as a financial support network), logistics as I pack and prepare to move, and wisdom to end my time at home well.  And, as always, please pray that I rely on Christ's grace and direction more than my own heart's leading.

If you have any questions, feel free to email me!  It may take me a few days to get back to you, but I would love to connect!  

Blessings,
Olivia