The bigger "church"

What is “the church? Is it a building we meet in on Sundays but may forget about once we leave? Is it just something that we do once a week? I would say no and no! I would say that “the church” is bigger than both of those and something that isn’t forgotten about and pushed aside after Sundays. The church is you and I and any Christian. It is the global church and we are being watched and have a responsibility to be the church. We should be there for one another and show Christ’s love in our every day actions.

Earlier today I posted that I was feeling lonely at my new place in Dallas Texas (or rather Garland, Texas) but it was thanks to a few people that I have been able to see Christ at work and provide. I have seen a small glimpse of the bigger church and how Christians come together. I got in contact with the current US-2 in Dallas and we had never met and we really didn’t know each other but she was still willing to drive out to Garland to meet with me and hang out. That’s true hospitality there and it came at a time when I needed it so thanks Elisabeth for your hospitality and living out Christ’s love and being a part of the “church”.

I am also meeting with one of the mission interns from my class tomorrow to hang out with her and attend the Wesleyan Foundation that she had attended. So God is providing me things to do even if I am at the house most of the day. I have also been contacted by one of my supervisors twice today just to check in on me to see how things were going and if I am getting settled in and rested. (As well as to see if I had contacted my family to let them know that I am doing well… He’s a parent so he understands where my parents are coming from… Actually, both of my supervisors understand) He has also called me to see if I had dinner plans (which I did with Elisabeth) since he didn’t want me to get cabin fever and was going to have me for dinner. Since I had plans for tonight, we are probably going to do something sometime this week.

My placement site is there for me and even though I wish I were working already, it is good to have some down time to just rest, get adjusted to the new time zone and the area, and to get some emails and logistical things taken care of. I look forward to starting my work next week and meeting the president of the organization. Once I start work then things will become more official and my blog posts will become more interesting and job focused but for now this is what’s going on. Thanks so much for all the prayers this morning and for the transition. It’s not always easy, but God’s my strength when I am weak and I am glad to have a current US-2 in the area that is willing to hang out and help me in the transitional process since she was where I am now last year. And thanks for all of the comments that have been left on my posts so far, they have been encouraging and I like reading them and responding to you all!

Peace and blessings,

Hayley Terrell

"Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you." 1 Peter 5:7