Just Right

I am often reminding myself that the time that I was able to spend in Kosovo was not cut short, though that is how it feels to me. Rather, my time there was just right as designed in the perfect plans of our all-knowing Heavenly Father.

As many of you already know and some are wondering, I have returned to the United States and have joined many of you under the "stay at home" mandate with my family in Xenia, Ohio.

Whirlwind

As I sat in my kitchen writing a blog post two weeks ago, I did not imagine that five days later I would be back in America. On Wednesday, March 18th, the US Embassy in Kosovo delivered an email message urging Americans to highly consider departing the country the next morning on the last flight out of the country for the unforeseeable future. After consulting with Nadine and my parents, and considering the risk of missing the weddings that I am committed to this summer, it was decided that it would be best for me to leave the next day as it is impossible to know when I would be able to leave otherwise. With tear-filled eyes, I looked out the window to see this wonderful country and its people that I have been growing to love and I thought to myself "My time isn't finished here yet! It just doesn't feel right."

Though, whether I felt my time here was complete or not, I couldn't take time to sit and let it sink in. (And I admit, sitting down to write this blog and revisit this whirlwind of events and emotions has been something I have been avoiding.) Over the next 11 hours, I scurried to pack up my things, gather items from my classroom, and say goodbye to as many people as I could. It was not nearly the way that I had envisioned myself leaving. As I have felt the days closing in on my time remaining in Kosovo, I began to imagine how I would say goodbye to my students, the people on our team, and my new friends with heartfelt letters of thanks and enjoying recollecting on memories that we shared. Pain filled my eyes because of the number of tears I shed considering the abrupt ending to a journey that I thought had a month and a half left to go. (Though, I was excited to get to see family and friends in the US sooner than I originally anticipated.) I praise God for showering me in love with the many hugs and precious prayers from my dear friends who were only strangers to me 2.5 months ago. After 25 hours of pleasantly uneventful travel and 36 hours since hearing that I'd need to fly out Thursday morning, I arrived back on US soil on Thursday night.

Thank you

I would like to thank you for praying for me from the beginning and throughout this journey. Thank you for walking with me through the challenges and joys that this experience brought. Thank you for checking in on me and offering words of encouragement at just the right time. It was an honor to partner with you in the ministry that the Lord provided with the people of Kosovo and the people on my team.

Thank you for lifting up the various requests of myself and my team while we were there.

Please continue to pray for the country of Kosovo and the city of Mitrovicë.

• Unfortunately, due to a string of events that I don't quite comprehend, Kosovo is now operating without a Prime Minister and there could be potential for civil unrest. Pray that decision-making would be handled appropriately and that there would be no outbreak of civil unrest.

• From what I have heard from my team about Kosovo and reports given out by the government and media, they acknowledge being under resourced in supplies and medical professionals as many flee for more affluent, less corrupt regions of Western Europe. Pray that they would be wise with the resources they do have and be able to treat patients in the ways that they need cared for.

Borderless

While it is clear that my physical ministry in Kosovo has come to an abrupt end, I am so thankful for the virtual world that allows us to stay connected.

Since being in America, I have needed to continually remind myself that my call and your call given to us by God to go and make disciples of all nations has not changed. The call remains the same regardless of where we are located. I have found that it can be tempting to lack a daily missional mindset to look for opportunities to share the truth of the gospel in America and not directly on the "mission field." Being launched back into a very comfortable, well-known setting with a seemingly less-defined purpose than I had in Kosovo has been a challenge. The Lord has been gently reminding me that ministry in the US and within my own home are equally as important and necessary as ministry in various avenues overseas in Kosovo. We are called to live on mission for the Lord each day. I believe this, but this belief is being tested as patience can run short with family members, bitter thoughts of wishing I was still "where I was supposed to be" stir, and pondering the concrete purpose I have for ministry inside the four walls of my home.

Ministry knows no borders. The message of grace belongs in every place.

Please pray with me for myself and for you that we will seek to represent Christ on mission today, wherever God has placed us.

What's Next

Great question.

The Lord knows the answer to that.

This summer, I look forward to attending, singing in, and being a bridesmaid in several close friends' weddings! Potential living and employment situations for this summer are uncertain (as they always are), yet we are made more aware of the fact that we are not in control because COVID-19. To continue refining my skills and developing as a teacher in a traditional environment, I anticipate teaching (preferably middle school) math in Indiana this upcoming school year if the Lord wills. I would love to return to Kosovo someday with more educational expertise, whether that be for a visit or for longterm service.

It is comforting to know that the Lord holds the maps of our lives in His hand and we need not worry about where it leads or with who, but by the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit, we can simply follow His direction and obey His will for us one step at a time.

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Thank you, again, for following along with and supporting me on this journey of trusting the Lord.

I pray that you will be encouraged to live with a missional mindset for the Lord right now where He has placed you, with eyes, ears, hearts, hands, feet, and lips ready to seize opportunities to show and share the love and grace of God, demonstrated through His Son, Jesus.