(before i get on with this post, if you are visiting here from kelly's korner- welcome! if you are looking for our adoption story see here, here, here, here and the posts starting here. or just read the whole dang blog. what an amazing journey to lulu and an amazing life with her!)
lately we've been considering future direction for our lives. we are in college ministry and we are at an "advanced age" for such a task. we still love college students. but the age gap just continues to grow. we have wondered if there is a "shelf life" for being in direct student ministry which is one of the things that led us to a program through dallas theological seminary for leadership evaluation and development recently.
the time was significant in our lives on many different levels which i am sure i will be blogging about as i continue to process it. but one of the things that we walked away from the time with is a continued sense that, for the time being, we are right where we are supposed to be.
yes, we are old. yes, we are the age of some of the students' parents. and no, we cannot relate to college students (or more accurately, they cannot relate to us) in the same way that we used to. BUT we are still passionate about college students. and we still believe he can use us in their lives even though i'm am more acquainted with spider veins than tanning beds.
we still love what we do. and why wouldn't we? at our winter conference this year, i got to spend time with these lovelies...
lindsey and allison loved on my kids and challenged me with their passion to care for orphans (if you have adopted, they are probably stalking your blog). not only are they college students, but i knew these young women as little girls since they grew up in my home church as dear friends of my family. this is an especially sweet part of doing ministry close to my home.
we got to be a part of packing boxes of food to be sent to haiti through feeding children everywhere...
yes, i know i rock the hairnet. don't hate me because i'm beautiful. emmie also decorated each box we packed...
while at the conference, we lived in a hotel with another family whom we love. i know it sounds kind of weird, but i dig communal living. the kids creatively made it their home with playhouses in the bathtub and closet...
they may have run up and down the hall a few times too...
and had some good cuddle time...
the kids get to be a part of their own "kids conference" with other staff kids who have become a very important part of their lives, despite the distance between us...
there are hard moments for sure. and there still may be a change in our future. but, once again, the bottom line is still we love what we do. so, at least for now and despite of all of our middle aged glory, the college ministry shoe fits. so we are wearing it. with joy.
even if the shoe is orthopedic.
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13 comments:
Um, Dallas sounds nice! Were you here recently and failed to connect???
I was a part of campus crusade when I went to school in Boston. It's not the age of the staff, it's the passion and excitement.
The college-aged church group in which I participate is led by a man in his late 60s, and he is a perfect fit for the job, just as I'm sure you and Bill are a perfect fit for UNL. Despite the age gap, I'm sure you're making a tremendous impact on the students with whom you work... those students are lucky to have such wonderful people investing in them!
I continue to enjoy your blog each time I read it. Your transparency is so real and funny. Thanks for brightening my day. :)
You obviously are making an impact on the kids that you are reaching. You are an amazing child of God!
Um, our friends Mindy and Garrett? Seriously. We are in Arlington, just down the road.
Now you know. Don't make the same mistake again!!:)
I love that you love what you do. :)
The most meaningful discipleship took place for me with college staff when I was college age. And now I find myself becoming college staff in turn. It's a new venture for Todd and I so this was a timely post. We're 46. Forty Six! Let's hope we're not to old to meet them where they're at. I do love that age, so full of promise and critical turning points.
I like Allysa's idea of staying at Lincoln until you're in your 60's. And if you don't, I have three words for you: Give Me Valium!
I wish guys were at ALL the triplets different schools... ah well, I know those college kids are BLESSED!
I read this ferociously, thinking that maybe God was moving your whole adorable family closer to ME. bummer.
Oh, Missy! I just freaked out A LOT when I saw that I made it on your blog again! First of all, you guys are young, and hip, and fabulous, and I know every college student you work with agrees! You have changed more lives than you can possibly imagine. Second-"don't hate me because I'm beautiful"= hahahahahahahaha! That's my mom's favorite phrase! Have you heard the song "Pretty Girl Rock" by Keri Hilson?? It says that! Love and miss you!
Allison
Great post!! I think it's great that you were willing to re-evaluate and were affirmed in what you are doing! It is not hard to see that you love what you do, and the people you get to work with.
Also...I love communal living, too! We were in seminary for almost six years, and it was like college with kids. My husband would go to class and stuff, and the other wives and I would get together and our kids would play (read: we would play) :) It was a hard place to leave!
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