"Missionary School"

Most of us are acquainted with terms such as "orientation" and "cross-cultural training", but the children I worked with could never understand what these terms meant, so we have chosen to use the plain old term, "Missionary School" where we find ourselves right now.  One might ask, "What is Missionary School anyway?" and we would respond, "A place where we learn all the ins and outs of becoming a missionary."  After waiting around for months for this time to come we find ourselves rising every day at 6:00 am to get to breakfast at 7 and class at 8.  We finish at 3:00 when we get in our 30-60 minutes of exercise and a little quiet time with the Lord before dinner at 5 pm.  Then it's "free time" to get our homework done - assignments such as scavenger hunts, medical form updates and reading assignments.  We learn how to bravely prepare for numerous immunizations and become part of a team with jobs such as mail room volunteers, administration assistants, facilities set up (a good job for future church planters) and prayer coordinators.  We are living "in community" with other "units" which are comprised of singles, young marrieds, old marrieds (us) and marrieds with kids.

We are supposed to be watching our weight, exercising regularly and getting plenty of rest.  It looks more like - 3 huge meals each day, sitting in class for 7 hours each day and fitting in sleep when possible.  Yesterday we learned we have to run the mile!  Are you kidding!  I couldn't run the mile when I was 12, let alone 52!  We were given a hint that we should make sure we don't run too fast for this mile run because we will have to run again at the end to see our improvement!  She mentioned that progress is difficult because of all the food and sitting!  Really, I say all of this in fun - even though it is true.  We shall overcome and endure to the end!  We are two days in and only...hmmm...50 days to go!

I plan on staying up to date as "journaling" is also one of our assignments.  I figured this could pass for journaling.

What has God taught me so far?  A little patience.  He is still refining me.  "The job of the sent one is to proclaim salvation to the lost who have not heard."   A new vision for evangelism...I can't wait to share my story with you next week.

To close - "Then He appointed twelve of them and called them his apostles. They were to accompany him, and he would send them out to preach"  Mark 3:14 NLT  

I love you all!