A Little Update

I got a job.

If you haven’t heard, I have officially joined the City of Refuge team here in Columbia, Missouri. In a role, in an organization, and supporting a cause that I am growing more and more passionate about (especially the more that I learn about it).

It happened rather quickly- but even in the rush, the timing felt sort of “perfect”. It wasn’t a job that I was exactly looking for. In fact, I had told myself that if I ever went back to working full-time, it would have to be a role, an organization, a cause that I could be passionate about.

We work hands-on with refugees in a multitude of ways from a multitude of countries. In my month and a half on the job, I have already met so many kinds souls – from the staff, to the refugees, to the many who donate, to the board of directors, to the volunteers. People from all over, from all different backgrounds – giving of themselves for the sake of others. People giving their time, their resources, their dollars, their skills.

It is a beautiful thing. A truly inspiring thing.

I didn’t hear about the job and immediately apply. It took a lot of praying. A lot of prodding (from my husband and a few others). Honestly, it took courage – having to deliberately ignore my fear of failure and rejection. It meant stepping into the unknown, embracing yet another identity shift… and, probably most challenging: it meant figuring out childcare.

I do believe that it truly it could not/would not have happened without the Lord intervening/moving/preparing our family and me in ways I probably won’t ever know about.

A Great Multitude

One night, while I was praying about this particular job in this particular organization, Revelation 7 came to mind. …A great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages…

This, I felt from Deep Within.

This is an image of Kingdom of God. This is what I try to pray with my daughter every day – Your Kingdom come, Your will be done… on earth as it is in heaven. A gathering of people from various nations, tribes, tongues here in central Missouri. A multitude of people – who look different, sound different, have vastly different experiences, traditions and cultures – people who have as much to teach me (and probably more) than I have to teach them.

This is it. The cause, the purpose, the reason to rejoin the workforce. Perhaps the beginnings of a foggy reflection of the Kingdom of heaven – here on earth.

I don’t know much yet, but I’m excited to learn and grow into this position. I’m excited to work with the staff, the volunteers, and the refugees. I’m eager to put my past experiences and my skillset to good use as we dream about possibilities and meet the real, tangible needs of our neighbors.

What do you all actually do?

Already, in my short time on staff, I have grown alarmingly aware of how much I take for granted. My compassion has grown as I awkwardly fumble through gestures that hopefully span the language gap in order to communicate to the woman across from me that the medicine she is holding shouldn’t be used on small children.

When I remember what it’s like to be in a foreign country, where nothing looks, feels, sounds, smells familiar… or when I haven’t been able to speak the language to ask a simple question to address my most basic needs. And then to imagine being in that circumstance, not because I want to be, but because I have to be (did you know that the very definition of a ‘refugee’ means to have been forced to leave their country in order to escape war, persecution, or natural disaster?). To be in this new country permanently, away from the culture, the traditions, the food, the people that I love…

Can you imagine?

Can you imagine relying on your 6-year-old child to translate for you because they picked up the language faster? Or having your car break down and not knowing who to call or what to do (let alone learning how to drive in America, in the first place). Can you imagine getting a piece of mail that says “IMPORTANT: MUST READ” and not knowing that you can actually throw it away? Imagine going to the doctor for any reason when you don’t speak English.

This is the reality so many of these beautiful humans are living. Pile on the amount of trauma that occurs as a person works through whatever tragedy brought them here. Imagine the isolation you might feel, the lack of connection with other people.

And then imagine what it might be like if someone reached out in true kindness. If someone helped you navigate the language barrier. If someone spent time in your home to teach you English. If someone took you to your doctor’s appointment, showed up at your car crash, enrolled your child in the complicated school system, gave you clothes to wear and food to eat.

This is what our team is actively doing in our community. Building relationships. Meeting needs. Living radically and selflessly. They rock.

I’m sure you’ll hear more from me as we continue embark on this next adventure. Maybe you’ll consider partnering with us – even if you live nowhere close to mid-Missouri!

Baby K Update

And because many of you are probably wondering, we still have K. She just turned 2 and makes us laugh constantly. She’s smart, beautiful, and a joy to live life with. We haven’t been able to officially adopt yet, but we hope it will be soon….

As far as childcare goes- since Kel has been rockin’ the real estate world, he has been afforded the time and flexibility to be on full-time dad duty as we navigate our family transition. It has been a really sweet time for dad and daughter to have these days to bond. She also just started 2 mornings at a local pre-school and is going to spend another morning each week with her Aunt and two cousins – we are so so grateful!

And as always, we covet your prayers! For transitions, new beginnings, adoptions… whatever else that comes to mind.