Spiritual Testimony

As you may have already discovered, I love writing about my faith in God.  I wanted to share a bit about my background so that it may be more clear why I write the way I do.  I grew up in a mainline denomination church, but I didn't become a Christian until college.  I went to college with a goal: let's figure out the whole "God-thing".  I visited a number of campus ministries and churches in the area.  It was not until I joined a small group on the book of Galatians where I discovered what I was looking for.

A recent Georgia Tech grad led the study about a letter written nearly 2000 years ago.  The broad subject of this letter is that faith in Jesus Christ alone can free you from sin.  The first recipients of this letter had been taught by religious authorities that they needed to complete a number of religious rituals in addition to their faith to be saved.  This was a revelation to me~ my impression from all my years in church was that there was a formula on how to behave in order to be good enough to know God.  I wasn't even sure I wanted to know God because religion seemed boring or was an unappealing set of rules.  Either way, I was falling way below the church's standards.

Campus Ministry~ First time visitors are introduced and receive free cookies.  What won't a college kid do for something free?

Shortly after the study, I was invited to commit to a number of Christian service projects.  It was then that I knew I had to make a decision; I accepted Jesus Christ to be my spiritual liberator.  Excited to apply my new faith in Jesus, I eagerly took on every service group.  In this new season of life, I experienced what a gift it is to give and serve.  I spent time cleaning dishes and vacuuming floors at my campus ministry.  On Friday nights I would head to the state penitentiary for women to pray with criminals.  Saturday mornings I was at a community center for the visually impaired learning how to teach and care for a a precious boy who was born with serious nervous system impairments causing his blindness.  I share this not to boast of "how good I am", but rather to describe how these activities did great good in me.  I got a glimpse at how God loves by trying to be like him.

Habitat for Humanity build with some friends

By the end of my college career, I had been on several mission trips domestically and abroad.  It had created a desire to explore the possibility of international missions particularly on college campuses.  It seemed a good fit.  The fall after graduation, my boyfriend (now my husband) and I researched and developed a plan to plant a campus ministry in France.  We spent every spare moment discussing logistics and culture; we couldn't have been more enthusiastic about our vision.  After presenting our plan to our would-be sending agency, we discovered our vision was in stark contrast to theirs.  I started to grapple with what God's plan for my life was. 

In Salamanca, Spain~ free coffee and muffins for students at the library during finals

I would like to comment that my college years didn't revolve solely on my growing Christian faith.  I studied international affairs; my curriculum addressed topics spanning from political ideologies, history, great power relations, economics and globalization, empiricism, science, comparative politics, technology, and language.  I double majored in French and minored in Spanish, and I relished the fact that I could communicate with any native North American.  It was easy and perhaps only natural for me to determine that my career or future would involve both my undergraduate studies and my zeal for God.

All dressed packed up and nowhere to go

Well, my God loves to teach his children.  The lesson I learned during that time was invaluable.  While I had my heart set on mission work, I was interning at the ministry where I found saving faith.  Part of the program involved free courses at a local Bible college.  I discovered that my passion for campus ministry waned as my excitement for studying the word of God waxed.  God taught me that while my own self-interest and preferences led me to desire doing mission work, His purpose for me would not be predictable and certainly would ground me in humility.

Humility indeed.  My internship year ended poorly.  My team of interns, a group of 13, suffered seriously from dysfunction and personality clashes.  I admit I was a source for a good portion of it.  I went on to search for full-time employment anywhere, but months went by where I had few interviews and fewer responses to the dozens of cover letters and resumes I sent out.  As if by divine appointment, part-time jobs started to come my way.  The first job was with a retail store that is based in missions.  Go Fish works with artisans and craftsmen all over the world in developing countries to bring their products to a first world market.  Their purpose is to share the message of the gospel through business both in the stores with customers and with the artists who create the products.

My second job sprung from the first.  As a sales associate, I had ample opportunities to meet and talk with the Go Fish shoppers.  I shared the story of our company with a young family.  As we talked more, I discovered they were looking for a babysitter to watch their daughter while they attended a church small group.  Not only our shared faith, but my background in childcare landed me the position.  It may have been small, but I really delighted in the opportunity to care for their sweet girl.

My third job developed in the most interesting way.  During my season of unemployment, I started to volunteer at a ministry, Good Samaritan, which provided health and dental services to the uninsured.  I would make spreadsheets, answer phones, and pray for patients.  I loved it so much that I started going on days they hadn't even requested me to come.  A few months later a position opened up in the front office.  Thanks to my Spanish language skills (albeit European Spanish), God opened another door and filled my schedule with good work.

God's provisions satisfied me.  I craved to have a career with a Christian organization in an international setting while earning a bit of money.  Now I had jobs in three Christian workplaces with one focused on missions and another where I spoke Spanish as much as I spoke English on any given day.  I laugh now reflecting on any grief I felt at the time over God's answering my "missionary" prayer.

In the midst of that busy season, God was already laying the groundwork for the next chapter.  My boyfriend had become my fiance, and we were planning a wedding.  This is where many of you who have read the blog know what happens next.  We wed in May 2009 and a few short months later we moved to France.  As if God's fulfillment of my desires couldn't get more absurd, we ended up moving into a dorm on a college campus.  We had envisioned ourselves in campus ministry in France just a few short years beforehand.  Yet instead of being professional missionaries, my husband arrived as a student taking courses at two different universities, and I became a teacher in two elementary schools.  We said we wanted to share our faith with students, and God gave us students in spades.

France, we love you!

Now I don't need to summarize that year for you; it's already been written in earlier posts.  Since our return, I've commented regularly on finding my purpose.  It seems as though God has provided us with a quiet period in life after many transitional days; that is, as quiet as a season can be with a baby.  In any case, I am soaking up this time with my family and with God to prepare for the days and adventures to come. 

The LORD's lovingkindnesses indeed never cease,

For His compassions never fail.

They are new every morning;

Great is Your faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:22-23

The Music Man

Back in the summer of 2004 I studied abroad in Lyon, France.  I opted to do a homestay with a lovely lady named Marie-France.  On the evening of my arrival, she treated me to a very wonderful night out.  We took the metro to another part of town where we attended a performance of Verdi's Requiem at La Halle Tony Garnier (formerly an abattoir~ woah!).  Jetlagged as I was, I still had a remarkable time.  It was my first outing in a foreign country, and it was a magical night.  Verdi's Requiem is wonderful, and many of you would probably recognize the Dies irae. 

Faure's Requiem is also quite brilliant.  I love the Pie Jesu because my little sister performed it.  I always hear her voice singing it.  Holst's Planets is quite special to me.  We performed a medley of these songs in my handbell choir in high school (yes, giggle if you must.  I was in a handbell choir~ but Zooey Deschannel seems to be making it cool on New Girl...).  Jupiter in particular conjures up an image of my big sister walking down the aisle on her wedding day. 

Of course no music library is complete without Gershwin.  If you were amused by my handbell background, you'll be tickled to know that some of my first exposure to Gershwin was in high school marching band (yikes!).  We performed four movements of songs from Porgy & Bess.  I hope I will earn some of your esteem back by sharing that most of my Gershwin experiences are linked to my love of Fred Astaire movies.  Ole Fred & George were great friends (perhaps there friendship inspired J.K. Rowling when naming the Weasley twins... probably not...). 

All this is to say that music is a very unique thing.  That certain sounds can define past experiences and memories is really wonderful.  Thanks to the invention of iPods, I can only imagine the Plaza Mayor in Salamanca, Spain when I hear the Strokes album First Impressions of Earth (more like Primeras Impresiones del Mundo).  I always envision myself strolling on my way home from the elementary school in Metz when I hear Fleet Foxes.  It occurred to me that I should start imparting this love of music to little B.  Not only do I want him to grow up with good music, rumor has it classical music can make a kid smarter.  It can only enhance his Kyle-given genes.

So Bennett's music education has begun.  Are there any composers or works you suggest?  So far we have Handel, Mozart, Tchaikovsky (for the holidays), Faure, Verdi, and Beethoven in the mix.  Any additions would be good.

B's growing so quickly.  He's starting to look like a little boy:

Dreaming happy dreams in his birthday suit & bib.