Transitions through ministry

Every time I have tried to blog, the words just never seemed to come. It’s hard to believe that my 2-year assignment is coming to an end on Friday and that I have less than a week left in my current ministry assignment. While every day may not have been the greatest, I do believe that it’s been through my experience with the Dallas Leadership Foundation that I gained a better understanding of what ministry looks like and the need for people to do ministry in our own backyards and in the United States.

While I know what’s next, there are still both fear and a lot of unknown. However, I know that with each next step that is taken, God is directing me to where I am ultimately meant to be. Therefore, if you were not already aware, I will be attending Perkins School of Theology in the fall and have begin the first steps in the discernment process of becoming an ordained deacon in the Methodist Church. I will also be continuing to work part time with my current placement site but in a different role.

Now, I am in the midst of transitions and having to overcome some hardships that come with the transitions… I'm trying to figure out how follow where my passions are and where things are taking me next. While I am staying in Dallas, I still need to figure out how to "leave well" since things will be different yet I know that with 1 week left, I need to figure out how to help make the transition the easiest for everyone yet I feel like I have not currently done this well…

With that being said, prayers are appreciated in the transition and for everyone that will be making transitions and changes as well...

Through my ministry journey these past 2 years, here are some take aways…

1. Ministry looks different day to day; there is no “one size fit all”….

2. I was able to find peace in leaving teaching behind. While there are aspects of teaching and my education classes that I took in undergrad, I am thankful that God called me out of teaching and into ministry. Through these past 2 years, I realized that teaching isn’t my passion.

3. I have a new mind set in regards to doing ministry with others and the importance of giving “hand-up’s” rather than “hand-out’s”

4. I found a passion to work in the neighborhoods and just be present and walk along side the leaders and residents

5. Seminary is the next step for me with a desire to become a chaplain

6. I still have a desire and longing to return to Costa Rica and use my Spanish and know that there will always be questions of “what if” if I don’t return at some point even for a few weeks

7. I am good in administration which I have always been told but I have also learned and realized that I will become burned out if that’s all I do

8. With a top strength being “accomplisher” I realize why I was told by others when I started to look into ministry that I would become burned out and become ineffective in ministry if I keep going at the speed that I am… I give everything 110% but sometimes, you just have to pull back and walk away from something rather than finishing and sometimes, you just need to get completely away to become renewed.

9. Ministry isn’t easy and you can’t fix everything. This has been possibly one of my harder lessons to learn since I like to fix things and help everyone so it breaks me when there is nothing I can do to help but pray.

10. Even through the hardships, ministry is still my passion and each next step is leading me to what ministry looks like for me and I’m learning how to bring my passions/ experiences/ etc together for God’s glory and to accomplish His calling on my life.

11. One more just for fun… I’ve learned to be flexible and learned to survive lots and lots of meetings ;)