And as I like to say, "No time like when I should have done it, a while ago!"
Anyway, I'm home - in Oklahoma. Right now, I'm in Duncan. In my old house, with all its same smells, and in my room, with its same bed and blankets and pillows. I've missed it, truly.
The plans are as follows: I'm going up to Shawnee to continue my AIM time. Yes, that's right - I will be doing mission work in Shawnee, Oklahoma! I know, it's hard to really imagine. Most people define mission work (even if just subconsciously) as something that must be done on foreign soil. SO not true!
God's people - every single person He created - need God. We also need each other: to help, to listen, to babysit, to call, to text, to teach kids' Bible school class, to volunteer, to drink coffee with, to serve soup, to see at church, to laugh with, to call crying, to do office work, to answer the phones, to answer questions, to talk to, to hear us, to help us figure out life, to help us understand, to read with us, to help us find the right path and understand God's character more. I am a firm believer that God created us to be in relationship with Him, and with one another - and that relationship that we have with one another takes a lot of different shapes and sizes. You can teach someone a lot about what God is like by how you act, and how you serve, and how you live, and what you say. We are here to help each other.
And so I am going to help whoever I can help in Shawnee, Oklahoma.
I had the same goal when I went to South Africa. I wanted to listen, watch, hear, observe, learn, teach, serve, help. And I do think that I did those things. But I was also profoundly affected - I was listened to, watched, heard, observed, taught, served, helped...by both the people there and my team. I'm sure the same thing will happen in Shawnee. It's a give and take. You have an impact on who you are around, and in return - you are impacted. What a beautiful circle.
So that's the update. I seriously, truly, honestly am going to try more to write in this. Agh, why do I find it so hard to stay consistent with this? I will keep trying.
If you have any questions, please, please, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE don't hesitate to ask me. Post it on here. Email me. Call me. Facebook me. Send me smoke signals, a carrier pidgeon, Morse code. Anything! Just don't be afraid to ask, and don't take the long road and ask someone else. I'm here. As one of my favorite teachers once said, "There are no stupid questions - just stupid people afraid to ask." :)
Love,
Tara.
Whatever you are, be a good one. (Abraham Lincoln)
