Joy in Serving? Running on Empty?

Did you know that April 15-21 is "National Volunteer Week?"

For those who strive to serve others on a daily basis, setting aside a week to help others is kind of like Valentine's Day - designating a specific period of time to do something that we should be doing all the time anyways. (I mean seriously, folks, shouldn't we be telling and showing those we love that we do everyday and not just on February 14?)

That said, it is really easy to get caught up in the craziness of daily life and sometimes we need a mark on the calendar to help us refocus. Not only refocus on the act, but on the attitude with which we are performing the act. Are we serving with a joyful heart? Or are we serving out of obligation?

Are we serving others so that we can check off the box on our to-do list? Or is it because we are told to go and serve others and out of our abundance we want to be a blessing to others?

And what about when the serving that we're doing isn't really how we want to be serving? What then? 

Into the Field exists to "serve the servants around the corner and around the world.". 

In my head, that means a good balance between walking alongside and helping other small, grassroots Christian ministries in a variety of ways AND getting out in the field and serving others face-to-face and in a hands-on fashion.  I am a very interactive person and while I have gifts of administration, my batteries get charged when I'm hugging on the kids and seeing cautious smiles broaden.

But what happens when your plans and the reality that God has put before you conflict?

To be very transparent, I have been grumbling, and then suffering from major feelings of guilt over my grumbling.  I have been running on empty and feeling like I have no more to pour out.  Let me explain.

My precious friend and ministry partner, Nicolle, tragically lost her husband at the beginning of February as a result of gun shots inflicted on him while serving in Haiti.  The incredible faith and forgiveness which she has demonstrated - and which she is the first to proclaims comes only from Jesus - is nothing short of inspiring.  And the support with which people around the world have exhibited is overwhelming.  In a good way.  Really.  I do believe it.   It has been truly incredible!

This is where my grumbling (and resulting guilt for the grumbling and lack of joy) kicked in.  Into the Field serves as the fiscal sponsor for Nicolle's ministry.  This means that all of the fundraising and financial support given to their work flows through my computer, through Into the Field, into my accounting package, and out to her.  (This fiscal sponsorship allows ministries like Nicolle's which haven't yet gone through the IRS' process to leverage Into the Field's 501c3 status to receive tax deductible gifts.)  Nearly $100,000 has been raised since David was shot on January 25.  Much of that in $50 and $100 increments.  Each gift requires the generation and sending of a tax receipt and one (sometimes 2) entries into the accounting system.  Needless to say, my time has been pretty much consumed with administration and data entry, and very little interacting with people or serving anyone else.  From early in the morning until late at night I pound on the keyboard and try to ignore the surging of my blood pressure with the (then but now past) growing publicity and fear that the little fundraising site I put up at 4a in the morning would crash.

My grumbling has made me struggle with immense guilt.  Nicolle lost the love of her life; her best friend and partner.  Mack and Daniella lost their dad.  Widows and orphans around the world lost and advocate and servant.  And I'm going to grumble about data entry?  Really?  When people from (at my last count) 5 different countries have shared their gifts and resources as a demonstration of support and encouragement.  Grumble?  Really?  What kind of person am I to grumble when others have their world crumbling?  What kind of friend, partner, Christian, am I?

I think that through all of this God has been working on my heart.  He has been reminding me that 1) I am human and that while my reality and the things I struggle with may be small in comparison to what others are going through, it is still real to me and deserves to be acknowledged (but not dwelt upon) and addressed; 2) in fact I am doing EXACTLY what Into the Field says it does - serve the servants; 3) in the Bible He doesn't say, "Go and serve only in ways that you enjoy or feel passionate about", we're just told in simple terms, "Go" and "Serve"; and 4) when we're serving, we're to do so with a joyful heart and a song of praise on our lips.

I still am not passionate about data entry.  I still would like to be spending more time out from behind my desk (I'm working on that!).  But instead of grumbling, I work (I'm far from perfect) to say prayers of thanksgiving over each receipt sent, ask for protection and guidance for Nicolle as she continues to serve a living and loving God and those He puts in her path, and have a joyful appreciation for the impact that the life of David had on so many.

"Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth! 

Serve the LORD with gladness!  Come into his presence with singing!"

Psalm 100:1-2

Merry Christmas 2011!

Partnering to Increase Kingdom Impact

There are a lot of great people - and ministries - doing a lot of great work.  But to me, it is so exciting when they're able to link arms to serve together - in planned and unplanned ways.  When that happens, I believe that our impact not only increases, but God smiles because He sees His people working and serving together.

The terms "partner", "partnering", and "partnership" are thrown around in many different contexts and usually are thought of as being something formal and requiring of agreements, documents, and/or contracts.  But it doesn't have to be that way at all.  Really these are all different ways of saying that people are coming together.  And while many times formality is required, more times than not, it isn't.

I'd like to share one such example, and one which brings a smile to my heart and which so perfectly illustrates some of what motivates me and Into the Field.

My family is involved with a great ministry on Ohio State's campus - International Friendships - which serves the thousands of international students which come to study each year.  Our student this fall, wasn't actually supposed to be ours, but rather that of our friends who had a conflict and asked if we could help.  We have "adopted" Fei into our family.  She joins us each Sunday, asks lots of great questions, comes along with us to local ministry and service opportunities, and is experiencing many new things and family traditions (in the photo she is making mashed potatoes at Thanksgiving).

Understandably many of our conversations have revolved around the work that I do in China.  We have spent many hours looking at pictures from my trips and talking about the impact that can be made when people reach out to serve others.  I recently took her to the airport so that she could fly home to Beijing for part of her winter break.  With her went a big box of sweaters and blankets which had been knitted and made by people with a heart for orphans.  As God would have it, in all of China, she lives only 20 minutes from my dear friend, David, who works and serves with me and others through chinaconnect. 

On Tuesday, David and his daughter (who will be coming to study next year in the US), picked Fei up and together the three of them delivered the box of treasures to two special needs foster home/orphanages with which I serve and partner - Agape and Shepherd's Field Children's Village.  As you can see from the smiles on their faces, it was a meaningful time.  David's daughter has already emailed me several times with updates on their activities and thanked me for bringing Fei into their lives.

In addition to the sweaters and blankets, Fei was able to take some small gifts of US treats which David is helping to deliver to other friends who are living and serving in China.

David's daughter volunteers with an organization (which happens to be just a couple of minutes from Fei's home...are you surprised?  I'm not.).  This organization serves children of migrant workers.  On Wednesday, the two new friends went to volunteer some time there.  I look forward to hearing back their report.   

None of the above was scripted or planned out in advance by us.  But look at what has happened when those who seek to serve come together!  Seeds of love and service that get planted and nurtured grow and more lives than we will ever have the opportunity to know are impacted.

Oh...Fei has also announced to her family that when she returns to Beijing in June, she won't be with them the first week...she'll be with me...serving others...God is good...

In the Moment with Grady

One of the things that I love about Chinese Christians is their beautiful faith.  I love to worship with them.  Unlike many of us in the United States, when they sing, their focus is on who they are singing TO, not who they are singing WITH.

As you listen to Grady's rendition of "Our God is an Awesome God", pay attention to the passion in his voice.  He is in the moment and so is his Father.

Click here to read more about Grady and the stories of some of his friends.

I just learned the very exciting news that the $45,000 that was needed for his spine surgery (all options were searched...in the US it would have been in excess of $1,000,000) has been raised!  God is Good!  Please pray for the surgeon and those who will use their expertise to care for him, that a bed will open in the hospital for him, that the surgery goes smoothly, that he stays clear of infection, and his 5-7 weeks in the hospital are uneventful.  I can't wait to see the way that God is going to use this great kid!

I am thankful for the blessing of Grady in the lives of all who have the privilege of meeting him!

If you would like to learn more about Grady or travel with Into the Field to China (June 14-26, 2012!) where we will be serving him and others, send us an email!  We would love to have you join us!