Making Adjustments

So after being in Malaysia for a few days, there are obviously some indicators that the YAGMs are in a new corner of the world. Many of these are noticeable in that they are differences in routine. They make me grateful for what I had back home, but adjusting to differences create chances for little victories, times for learning, and times to celebrate. More importantly, these situations have surprised me in an interesting way. Instead of feeling a loss for what's different from the United States, there is a sense of gain and gratitude for what I do have. Here are just a few instances. Some are serious, some are fun, but all remind me that there's a lot of learning that will happen.

Drinking water - So in the United States, it's pretty much assumed you can turn on a faucet in the house and the water that comes out will be drinkable. Not so in Malaysia. Water usually has to be boiled or it has to come in a bottle. I realize that I've taken this for granted back home, but I'm also glad for the fairly reasonable means for getting clean water here. There are fairly easy ways to ensure that we don't get sick from just trying to quench thirst. Going through the little extra effort just reminds me of this.

Chilly Showers - So I was one of those people guilty of taking long, hot showers, but I think I've found a new love for cold showers. Hot showers mean that you don't really have a huge shock when you step in, but in a place as toasty as Malaysia, it's been fairly easy to get excited about no hot water. Frankly, it's quite refreshing.

Not having a clue what's on the menu - If I ordered a dish at home, I usually had a good idea what was on the menu and what I was going to get. Even if I went to a new restaurant and ordered something new, I could still read descriptions and have a fairly clear idea how my food would be prepared and what was in it. Thankfully, most menus have pictures, but ordering is still an adventure. However, ordering blindly has some perks. It means opening yourself up to new things and trusting the advice of your host. It's also a great way to learn about the person's tastes and start a conversation about their experiences. And in a country where towns are known for their dishes, there's quite a bit to discuss.

Not knowing the languages around you - I think I can honestly say I took for granted how much knowing the common language in the United States helped me navigate daily life. Knowledge is power, but it also means independence. Not knowing the language can put you in a vulnerable position. Many people know English, but you can't assume what level of knowledge they have not to mention that many signs are in Chinese and/or Malay. This often opens the door to connecting with other people in learning how to navigate in daily life. Fortunately, the YAGMs have lessons for learning basic Malay. We've had some humorous moments for sure and have certainly bonded over this. But I also think that I have more motivation now than any time I took a foreign language in school. Learning Malay will help to build relationships with others. It can feel like a bit of an obstacle, but the experience can be a gift.

If these situations are just seen as differences, a lot of what makes up accompaniment can be lost. Responding and reflecting can help me understand how I might have a place in my community and I look forward to seeing how this develops. But to put it simply, asking for help in a new place opens the door to a new relationship with someone.

Hello from Chicago!

Now that I've been in Chicago for five days, I figured it may be a good time to update everyone amidst orientation sessions.  It's been fantastic catching up with all the other YAGMs, picking up from where we left off at the DIP event, and deepening our relationships as we wrap our minds around what it means to be in service and be the face of the church in the world.  Admittedly, we had to have a refresher course in names at the airport (thank goodness for name tags!) and we had to remember where everyone was being sent ("Now, what are you doing again?"), but it's been amazing to become such a close-knit community of love and support.  Kinda happens when you all realize that everyone is going to be leaving the country in less than a week and be taken to an entirely new culture.  It's something great to gather over.  But it goes even deeper I think.  Over the past year, we've all been on a journey of discerning where God's calling us to serve.  We've wrestled with that call and the challenges it presents.  Even in seeing all the logistics work out, we've seen God in some crazy ways.  Now we all gather over the fact that we've come to terms with that call and we're going to see where it takes us.  And in the midst of orientation, we're gathering around even more.

We've been gathering around the idea of accompaniment.  How is it that we go out in our year of service?  In sharing our experiences in the past year, many have expressed that people often ask, "What is it that you're going to do?"  Accompaniment turns this around and challenges each person to ask themselves, "Who am I going to be?"  I think it's this mindset is one of the reasons that I was drawn to the YAGM program to begin with.  One can go to another country and spend the time in a number of ways.  But the idea the YAGMs have been gathering around is that when we go, we want to spend a year building relationships.  This building relationships means that we'll spend a year acknowledging that we ourselves are in a vulnerable place where we need help (you know, trying to navigate a whole new culture while still trying to grasp the language...it's a scary place to be).  But we're also sharing ourselves and genuine interest in those that we'll be living and working side-by-side with.  I think accompaniment gets at the root of service.  How can we step in and say what's best for someone when we haven't taken the time to get to know them and the world in which they live?  Accompaniment acknowledges that all who come to share in the walk have something equally important to offer and it makes being very powerful.  When we become a partner in the journey and share it with someone, we open ourselves up to a lot more learning than if we just went in convinced that we were the only ones who could give. 

I think a lot of the YAGMs are coming to terms with what it means to be rather than do.  I think there will be plenty of things that we will do.  Not all of those things will connect so obviously with the job descriptions that we've been given with our placement sites.  But I look forward to seeing what kinds of things we find out about ourselves as we learn to be partners in our communities.  It will be interesting to see where God works in those relationships. 

Departure Date Approaches

It's hard to believe that my time at Lutheridge has come to a close.  We've packed up after our last cabins and have said good-bye to those who have made up the summer staff family.  After such an amazing time of growth and support, the farewell is going to take some time to sink in.  There have been ups and downs, times that tested my patience and times that have been so amazing that I can't believe that this has been my job.  The reward for this work has been incredible.  I've been able to witness God at work in a Christ-centered community and see the faith of staff and campers alike strengthened.  Just this summer has been greatly emotional, but now I have to turn my attention to my ever nearing departure date.

I guess living in the moment at camp has held off a lot of thought concerning my feelings towards departure. I've known that it's been getting ever closer, but there's always been some camp time between now and then that has made it seem a bit farther away.  That cushion's not there anymore.  As I write this, there are less than nine days until I leave for Chicago.  There's no way around it, as excited as I am, I can't help feeling somewhat apprehensive about what lies ahead and overwhelmed with all the things that I still have to do in order to prepare for leaving. But there's still plenty of positives to focus on that will help me along the way.

As I've mentioned in a previous post, I'm so grateful for those who have shown support in various ways from helping me raise the money to be able to go to saying that they would be keeping me in their thoughts and prayers while I'm away (NEVER underestimate the power of prayer!).  Just knowing that these people will be thinking of me and praying for me is a major reminder that as I have a huge "cloud of witnesses" to rely on.  I can share with them the stories of God at work and know that I'm not alone.  At the same time, I'm excited to meet a new community to become connected with.  I'll be able to reunite with YAGMs soon enough and deepen my relationship with that Christ-centered community of support and also meet a new community in Tenom.  I don't know completely what's in store, but I think I'm ready to take a leap of faith and see what God has planned.

Placement!

Hello again! Just wanted to share that today, I found out that I have been placed at the BCCM's Women's and Handicraft Center in Tenom. I'll be working with women who are developing vocational skills in Fair Trade Hadicrafts.  There are also opportunities outside the center to work with a children and youth choir and help with conversational English (and have plenty of chances to learn Malay!).  I have to say, I'm incredibly ecstatic about my placement and the challenges and joys it presents. I feel that it will incorporate my gifts and talents and allow me to grow in new ways.  At the same time, I can't think of an assignment that pulls together so many of my interests and lets me explore and learn at the same time.  It has been truly amazing to witness how God has been at work in this process and watch the puzzle pieces fall into place. I look forward to August and getting to meet everyone at the BCCM and building relationships in the coming year.

Welcome

If you're reading this blog, you've most likely heard that starting in August, I will be spending the next year in Malaysia working with Young Adults in Global Mission, a ministry of the ELCA.  Though I'm not on the far side of the world yet, I feel like I've already embarked on a spiritual journey with lots of love, help, and prayers along the way.  Back in February, I turned in my application and began the waiting game of wondering what I would be doing after graduation (fresh out of Newberry College as of May 5!).  In mid-March, I was overjoyed to find out that I was asked to interview for placement in either Malaysia or the United Kingdom.

In April, 62 fabulous YAGMs came together in Wisconsin to discern, interview, meet, pray, worship, and learn where they would be placed.  On the last day, I found out that I would be sent to Malaysia...what a fantastic feeling!  Finally knowing where I would be for the next year, but still wondering...what kind of ministry would I be involved in?  What would I be doing?  Since then, I've been in contact with my country coordinator to think about gifts and talents and determine where God is calling me to serve.

The journey still continues as my departure date nears (August 15th to Chicago and then August 22 to Malaysia).  I'm amazed and overwhelmed by the support that friends, family and even strangers have shown to me as I prepare for this year of overseas ministry.  This blog is for you.  Feel free to check in, leave comments, and share this site with others.  I'll be posting regularly throughout my year of service and sharing pictures.  For the summer, I'm working at camp and will probably be posting on the weekends.  I'll be sure to share updates as I find out more specifics about what I'll be up to in the coming year.  Thanks so much for your prayers and support!

Peace,
Rebecca