Walk on Water

The Delmarva Peninsula is taking every precaution against Hurricane Sandy. But admittedly, when my pastor had the congregation pray against the storm this morning in church, I wasn't exactly agreeing in faith because I want the storm to come! There is something about hearing that rain beat against the roof and watching through the window as leaves and debris swirl around that excites me. It's almost 10 pm, and there's not a bit of wind yet. Grrr. Bring on some action!

I made it home from Indianapolis just in time for the storm. Last week was spent at the Global Partners (GP) headquarters, learning all about being a missionary with GP. My head was crammed full of information and strategies and names and all the stuff I have to do! But what an incredibly encouraging time it was to hang out with some other people who are doing the same thing and learn together. I had to face some fears, and this next year is going to be a mountain of them. It's much like knowing there's a storm brewing, and I have to face it. But will I prepare myself? I wish I could face the metaphorical storm with as much drive and motivation as I face a hurricane headed toward Delaware.

Happy Monday

This afternoon I sit at Davelli's, one of the only cafes in my little hometown. I drove my mom in town today for a medical procedure and decided to find someplace to be other than the nearly-silent waiting area at the medical center. It's a nice atmosphere to chill with my Mac and free Wi-Fi. I feel much more energized here, with the calm buzz of a few voices and Christian music playing in the background. While I generally have no problem soaking in the quieter, slower pace, sometimes I get to the point where I need to be around some activity for motivation.

On Sunday I will fly to Indianapolis for a week-long missionary orientation at Global Partners, something I have been looking forward to for months. The time has brought me through this weird transition phase as I wait for the moment when I can begin my next task of support-raising for the ministry in Albania. I have been telling lots of people about my plans, sort of prepping people for what I will be doing but not being able to actually do it yet. Which is starting to bug me. I am ready to get on with this!

It's Official

It is time for changing leaves, pumpkins, and sweaters. At the Spicer household it's cool enough to turn off the AC and open the windows until we need the heater again. But having the windows open means fruit flies get through the screens, and we have them like the plague! I ate my lunch at work today and my dinner tonight at home swatting them away from my food. I am sure I've eaten several without knowing it, but as Mom would say, "They are extra protein!" Eating bugs it fairly normal in many other cultures, right? Pretty soon the cooler weather will chase them into hibernation or wherever they go during the winter.

Here is a bit of news: on Friday the Global Partners leadership board discussed the new missionary candidates, and the director signed me in on Monday morning.

I am now officially a missionary to Albania!

Post With a Boring Title :)

Home is the sweetest place on earth. As soon as I walked off my plane in Baltimore a week ago, I felt the sweetness in the chilly fall air and damp from a recent rain. I-97 was wide open in the early morning, and even though it was 9:00 by the time mom and I reached the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, I have never felt like we had so much room on the road! And oh, that Chesapeake Bay! The water was as choppy as a stormy sea and the sky dark from rain clouds. Rather than a dreary grey, the sky was a deep, dark blue that highlighted the rich colors of the recently-rained on land, land that soaked up the water like a sponge and bloomed like a flower after a long, dry summer. The sight of that bay catches my breath every single time I see it after a long hiatus from home, and as soon as I am over the bridge, I am home on Delmarva again!

Life has slowed down significantly in pace, something I am very thankful for. To have my own room and a quiet house when I am alone is a blessing. That's not to say I haven't had plenty of things to do. In fact, I started working part-time at a daycare just two days after arriving home, with multiple other offers for side jobs. After struggling for a month to find adequate work, it is a relief to know there are plenty of opportunities for me to make enough to pay my bills. The thing to watch now is guarding my time so that I don't try to do too much. (I am thankful that I have a very concerned mother who knows my weaknesses and pushes me to keep focused in this way!)

Colorful

One more night at Door of Hope and one more day living in California! With my flight out of LAX leaving tomorrow night at nine, I have reached the end of a short journey through urban ministry and am about to begin an entirely new type of journey that takes me back to my roots for a while. I am ready to go!

My weekend was spent mostly with church people this weekend. I became very involved this year in a little church in Pasadena called Agape Christian Church. It is small in numbers but big in love, hence the name "agape" (a Greek word for "love" which describes the way God loves us completely and unconditionally, in spite of our rebellion against Him). I found a number of dear kindred spirits here this year: brothers and sisters, young and aged, people from various walks of life. How beautiful is the Body of Christ, so diverse in its components! Yet we are all one Body working together to see God's kingdom come, His one bride, and we serve one Savior. People from all over the world are represented at this church... I love learning from so many different kinds of people!