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“When you
come to a fork in the road, take it,” says Yogi Berra, and that pretty much
sums up my life journey at the moment. Choices about future direction are
looming. I've never been in this place before, can't go back, and must move
forward. But first, let me tell you about India…
I had an
amazing month of July in Bangalore teaching hermeneutics at the South Asian
Institute for Advanced Christian Studies (SAIACS) – completely reinvigorated my
sense of call to cross-cultural theological education. It felt so good to be
back in the classroom, back in a multi-cultural setting, back in this ministry.
The students were great, and my croquet team even managed to eke out second
place in the annual tournament! (Scroll down for photos.) This was my final
assignment with SIM before my SIM membership ended on July 31st. So grateful
for this opportunity to finish well, and for the many of you who have given so
generously to SIM through the years.
But one fork
in the road ahead is whether I’ll be able to continue in theological education
or will need to move into other areas of service. As a divorced person,
cultural realities in Africa mean that previous opportunities may not remain
open to me. I’m grieving over that. But I’ve asked the Lord to show me where
new open doors might be. The surprise answer – at least in the short run – is:
teaching English in China! In 2012 I started an MA in Teaching English for
Academic Purposes (the higher ed specialization within ESL) with the idea of
helping our PhD students in Kenya. It seems God knew some things about this
that I didn’t, because (1) tutoring English in Charlottesville is helping me
get by financially this year, and (2) there are huge opportunities for someone
like me to be involved in teaching English overseas.
I feel led to
explore this further, so I’ve applied and been accepted to spend six weeks next
summer (23 Jun-2 Aug 2015) teaching in China with English Language
Institute/China (ELIC, elic.org), a non-profit
organization that sends Christians to teach in Asia for short- and long-term
programs. I’m excited for this ‘vision trip’, asking whether God might be
leading me to Asia for the longer term. More details to come in the next
update!
Another fork
in the road is my future denominational affiliation. Unhappy with the direction
the Presbyterian Church (USA) has moved, in September I attended the
Mid-Atlantic Presbytery meeting of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC). I
felt warmly welcomed – in spite of the fact that there aren’t yet any ordained
women pastors in our region. (Do I really want to be the first?!) In November
I’m planning to attend a similar presbytery meeting of the Covenant Order of
Evangelical Presbyterians (ECO). Meanwhile I’m doing some supply preaching at a
lovely small Presbyterian (USA) church nearby, so at this point I still feel
quite ‘Presby-menical’(!). Some of you Presbyterians out there may be on
similar journeys. Any advice from further up the trail?
And, I have
one last project to finish in Kenya, so I’m leaving next week to spend October
15-30 in Nairobi and western Kenya leading an accreditation team for the
Association for Christian Theological Education in Africa (ACTEA), reprising my
former role as ACTEA Accreditation Officer.
Then back to
Charlottesville, VA, to continue my ‘year of recovery’ before next summer’s
vision trip to China. While I'm here I teach a bit of English, preach &
speak occasionally, and volunteer with Chinese international students at the
University of Virginia. In November I’ll go to Colorado for a re-entry workshop
for Christian workers returning from overseas. In the spring I’ll teach a
course for Fuller Seminary, mostly online. Day by day, step by step, I’m
trusting God to make the way forward clearer.
Thank you so
much for the words of encouragement I’ve received from many of you, for the
gifts of your friendship, and some thoughtful and creative financial help. At a
difficult point on the path, I feel the blessings of God through you.
A
few scenes from SAIACS
A fantastic group of MA
students in my hermeneutics class at the South Asian Institute for Advanced
Christian Studies (SAIACS)
In class on a Monday morning. I have no idea why I was flailing my arms around here.
These people take their
croquet very seriously. But I'm proud to announce our team came from dead last
to take second place in the tournament!
A privilege to help these
lovely South Asian women of God find their voices in theological education
Beautiful SAIACS
