Missions-minded

What do you think of when you think of missionaries? Growing up as a Christian kid in church, I often thought missionaries were people who traveled to exotic places to spread the word of Jesus by BEING His hands & feet. I never really thought of myself as a missionary doing work within the United States- I mean, seriously? I wasn't exactly eating weird food (minus tons of pb&j on the work site!) or sleeping under the stars or needing shots before I left on my missions trips with Christian Endeavor. Because that's what we automatically assume MISSIONS means, right?

While that was kinda sarcastic, that IS what I used to think. The role of missions in my mind has changed from the stereotypical 'travel the globe' to an understanding that YES, I can be doing missions in my own backyard- if I'm getting up to witness and help and jump out of my comfort zone just a little? Then I'm doing what God wants me to be doing. He might not ask me to be a globe-trotter (not the basketball team!) but he IS asking me to give up some part of my life--like a Saturday when I COULD be sleeping or cleaning or relaxing--and help out some new friends in Allentown. Or perhaps he wants me to give up my cup-a-day coffee habit and sponser a Compassion child. OR MAYBE he just wants me to tell my friends I'm praying for them, and then ACTUALLY do it. Missions no longer means leaving the country- what do you think?

But for some people, God has called them to leave the country. I've decided to devote today's 'Website Wednesday' to my dear friend Karen, who is preparing to travel to Japan for about 3 months to be a missionary. Now, Karen is probably one of the most interesting friends I have. A graduate of Messiah College in 07', I often think of Karen as a wandering spirit. Upon graduation, Karen decided that God was calling her to the missions field- and she prepared to travel to Honduras with a small group. She spent a couple months training in Harrisburg--learning what she would be doing & about the customs of Honduras--and then went to Honduras for about nine months. She has since made two trips back--once to lead a missions group on her own, and once to meet her boyfriend, Mike, whom she met on her first trip down--and now is making the treck to Japan, where she spent a semester abroad in college.

Karen's trip to Japan will not be as much of a structured missionary like as in Honduras- she will be teaching English to Japanese students, and has recently been taking classes on HOW to teach. I'm linking Karen's blog today because I KNOW I am excited to hear what she will be doing in Japan, and I want YOU to be excited about it too! It's important that as Christians, we support our friends in their endeavors- and if you've ever attended a Christian Endeavor event, I'm sure you've met Karen, or her sister Beth. (They're just fabulous people- but I AM slightly biased!)

Not only that, but Karen writes extremely detailed emails, which she will now be doing on the blog, so I encourage you to check it out often. When she was in Honduras, I learned SO MUCH about the culture, the people she was helping, etc- I know this time will be just as informative! So check out Karen's blog--it will be on the list that's on the right hand side of this blog, where I post all the blogs & websites I recommend each Wednesday--and let's learn about her trips together, okay?

I've got a few other blogs I'd like to recommend to you today, but I forgot my list next to my personal computer at home. I'll link them later on tonight, hopefully. While you're waiting, I'd like to hear your recommendations. What site to you automatically turn every day? I know I check Facebook every morning, sometimes before I check the weather or do my devos. (Shameful, I know. But I'm all about honestly, people!) What abouut you?

Leave me a comment & let me know. :)