A different type of culture shock

Day 2 on the job

So, it's the end of day 2 of work and I will honestly say that I started to feel discouraged today. I have always been the type of person that is hands on and likes to get things done and be able to see progress happening but the past 2 days at work, all I find myself doing is attending meetings and more meetings. That’s not a bad thing, it’s just not what I am accustomed to when it comes to ministry since I am coming from a collegiate ministry stand point and my mind is still on the past 4 years with InterVarsity. I greatly enjoy those that I am working with and what the organization is doing but the work transition is harder than I expected and was prepared for. I was excited, ready, and looking forward to starting work but today I honestly just wanted to cry and was holding back tears.

It’s somewhat harder with my organization than some others might have it in one area which is knowledge of the US-2 program since my site has never had a US-2 so they are learning as they go just as I am. I have 2 bosses that I am working under in 2 different departments so right now it’s been hard knowing what each day has for me or which department I will be working with. Today I spent the morning with the community department for an hour, then went to a meeting with the youth department for about 4 hours, then was on my own for 4 hours, and then went to a neighborhood watch meeting with the community department. So today alone was spent in various areas yet it was today that I became discouraged and just wanted to cry. I know that as time goes on, things will become more organized and I will have more of a set schedule but for now, I don’t know much and if you know anything about me, I like to know what’s going on and have some control. However, right now I don’t know what’s going to happen day to day nor do I have control over any of it. You could definitely say that God is testing my patience and trust in Him and that’s hard.

I am in a place that I am still not familiar with and it’s still a transition but surprisingly enough the transitioning into the environment that Texas is has been easier than transitioning into the job that I have and the role that I am taking on. Do to my nature; I would rather be busy than not having things to do. I have always been the type that asks for more to do even if my plate is already full. It’s a strength but also a weakness of mine, I’m an achiever and that can sometimes get the to the worst of me.

Don’t get me wrong, I am in no way saying that I don’t like my “job” but it is different and it’s taking time to get used to and figured out. There’s some communication that could be smoothed out some but that’s expected when there’s multiple people trying to work together but in 2 different departments. Even with all the meetings, good comes from it. I am building the foundation for relationships and trust and over all understanding of the organization and what they are doing. Without the foundation then things would fall apart. I want to do the job to the best of my ability and right now that means attending meetings and just being in attendance. The meetings do bring up some questions and thoughts but I won’t go into that for now. However, for now, if you wouldn’t mind keeping me in prayer then that would be greatly appreciated and thanks for following my US-2 journey with me!

Oh and on another note: I am finding out that getting out of my housing complex is not always easy and finding how to get to I-30 from downtown Dallas at night, is NOT a fun adventure. However, after doing a few circles around the same streets, I finally made it to I-30 and back to the house!

You've just got to go with it!

Day 1 on the job!

Today was an adventurous day since it was my first day on the job and I honestly didn’t know what to expect. I didn’t know how I was going to get to the office until last night and really didn’t know fully what it was that I was going to be doing. So, I was up at 7am this morning getting ready for work (wow, that sounds so strange saying that I was leaving for work and am working most of the day when I am used to school rather than work lol). But any who, I was picked up at 8:30 and went to the office where I then left with T-Ray to go to a meeting with him. Today was more of seeing what his role is and what it is that he does since I will be helping him out half of the time with the community development aspect of things. So, I attended the meeting and listened and it was A LOT of information but it was good to get a feel of what’s going on and what I will be helping with some. We then went by one of the houses that DLF has helped with and checked in with the lady that lives there. We were going to stop by 2 other places but the people weren’t home at the time. But, it was good to see one of the neighborhoods that DLF works in and in all honesty, from being there today, these next 2 years will be stretching for me but also very a growing experience and I am very much excited to see what God has planned and will be able to do these next 2 years!

After the meeting, we went to get tacos (so there is a joke in the office that the “T” in T-Ray stands for Taco since that’s his favorite food.) Oh and I need to get used to spicy/hot foods since that’s everywhere down here in Texas and I don’t usually do those types of food. But any who, that’s off of the subject… We then went back to the office where I was given more information about some of the management aspect of the job and a book to read that will give me a better idea of where T-Ray is coming from and for some of what the organization is about. It’s called “Toxic Charity” and I can already tell without even reading it what it’s about and that it will open my eyes to something that I have done in the past with volunteering but never really stepped back to observe and realize what I was doing so as I read that book, I will try to blog some about that as well as about how work is going and what it is that I am doing.

So, that’s really all I did today so it was a slow day and tomorrow will be meeting more people but with the other department that I will be working under as well as helping with an equipment loan that DLF does.

So, why does the title say, “You’ve just got to go with it”? That’s because of a few things. 1 is that I didn’t know much of what I would be doing today until I got there and 2 is because I now have a vehicle to use down here. I am from Indiana and I thought rush hour was bad in Indiana but man was I wrong!!! Traffic is SOOOO much worse owt here and Texas people are crazy drivers. They like to race you and I am not that type of person but when in Texas, you have got to drive like those in Texas lol. So, you just have to go with it and not be afraid of those around you. Yeah, be cautious of your surrounding but don’t let that stop you and don’t let the unknown stop you. As many of you know, I am someone that likes to have control but since being here, I have slowly started to realize and learn that I have very little control and I don’t usually know what the next day holds for me and strangely enough, I am becoming okay with that. Also, I am finding myself trying to get out there more and talking with people (it’s hard but slowly, I am making progress… I hope) so that’s my adventures for today and will be heading out at 7:30 tomorrow morning to hopefully get to the office by 8:30 (but I have been told that traffic will be bad... oh yay, but that’s for another blog tomorrow so come and check back tomorrow to see how day #2 goes on the job as well as driving!)

In the end, today was a good 1^st day of work and I really do like those that I am working with and the organization that I am working with. It’s a great organization with a great vision that I am honored to be able to help with these next 2 years and it’s all thanks to God and His planning that has brought be to where I am! So, just go with the flow and trust God with the rest! I’m in for an adventure of a lifetime, and probably will change my life, and that’s exactly what these 2 years are meant to do!

Blessings,

Hayley Terrell

2 churches but 1 body of Christ

Today was my first Sunday sin Texas and since I don’t have a vehicle to get around, I was fortunate enough to have been able to attend church this morning with the lady that I am living with. She attends a Bible church and this was my first experience ever attending a Bible church since I have mostly always attended a Methodist church but I have attended a few other denominations as well. So, her service started at 9am and this is also the church that one of my supervisors attends. The service was good and I really enjoyed and liked that the service was straight from scripture and tied into the last song that we sung. The song was “beautiful things” and I used to not be the biggest fan of that song but after attending service this morning, the service gave me a new perspective of it and how God has created us.

The pastor had 2 old and random pieces of wood and related that back to how God created us and views us. These 2 pieces of wood were nothing special and they were dead. (The pastor even yelled for the wood to come to him but of course the wood didn’t since it’s dead). But even though the wood is dead and both pieces came from different places, they came together and at the same time that service was going on, the pastor had a friend build a small house outside with the wood that they had. You see, the wood wasn’t anything special, it was dead, etc but it was put together and became something. That’s how God created us, we may have been dead in our sin but God created us for something special and He is able to bring us into a place that we never thought we would be or put us with a group of people we never saw ourselves with. God makes beautiful things out of the dust. For me, this message resonated with me since I left Indiana and never thought that I would be in Texas but God has placed me in Texas to do amazing things through the Dallas Leadership Foundation and to work along side those in Dallas. I am a random person but when I am placed together with the Dallas Leadership Foundation, the General Board of Global Ministries, my supporters, God, etc then I am made into something. God took me from dust and have made me to be someone that matters and that can make a difference. This may not have gone the way that I planned but it has gone the way that God has planned.

So, that was the first church service that I attended. And then I wanted to attend a United Methodist church since that’s what I grew up as, the ministry that I am a missionary with is United Methodist, and we are supposed to connect with the Methodist church so, I was fortunate enough to have Elisabeth pick me up and attend one of the churches that she goes to. This church was The First United Methodist Church of Richardson. It was a later service, starting at 5pm since it was the contemporary service and with it being Labor Day weekend, many people were gone but there was still probably an attendance of about 80 people. So, once I walked into the church, I was greeted with open arms (“open hearts, open minds, open doors”) and I felt very welcomed into this congregation. The service was also good and it also resonated with me since as a missionary there may be times that I have to do things that may scare me but God calls us to that and is with us. Yeah, it was definitely hard to leave everything that I have known and come to Texas and become a missionary when in all honesty, I probably could be making more money and have more control as to what it is that I am doing.

However, God has called me here and even though it’s scary, I am going by faith in God that this is where I am meant to be and that He has the next 2 years already mapped out for me. I am not sure what my job entails yet even though I have talked with my supervisors and have read the job description but I haven’t actually started work yet. I am excited to start work but at the same time, I may be a little anxious, just because I don’t know the outcome of what it is that I will be doing or what specifically and in detailed it is that I will be doing. So, I attended 2 services today but in all reality, I was still apart of 1 body of Christ no matter where it was that I was, God was still the center of the service and I was worshiping 1 God. That’s the true church and that’s the joy of the body of Christ! Now, I don’t know if I will end up calling the First United Methodist Church my “home” for the next 2 years but no matter where I end up, I know God’s already there and He knows where I will end up and I hope to get settled into a church soon so that I can get more connected and invest in that community for the next 2 years!

Prayer requests: I find the church that I feel I am meant to be at within a month, that I continue to transition well from Indiana to Texas, and that my first week on the job will be fruitful and not overwhelming!

Thanks and please leave comments and ways that I can be praying for you!

Here's a song that goes well with the next stage of the 2 years journey that I am... "Always" by Kristian Stanfill

Give Thanks-Giving

Today I was fortunate enough to have been able to spend some of the day with a college friend that studied Spanish with me, Kelsey, and it was good to see a familiar face! We ended up going downtown Dallas, Texas and 1^st of all; I want to say that I am NOT looking forward to driving in Dallas since the traffic is horrible (definitely worse than Indiana). Traveling in Texas is different than Indiana for a few reasons, which are…

1 is the traffic…

2 is that they have a lane separated from the other lanes that’s for people with more than 1 person and is a lot faster…

3 is that many stoplights in downtown Dallas are on poles rather than in front and ahead of you…

4 is the over paths that can be stacks of 4 or more…

5 is that they have actual U-turn lanes…

Now to get off of the driving part of Texas, I want to talk about the adventure that Kelsey and I had in downtown Dallas. We didn’t have an agenda but to just get out and hang out so we ended up walking around Dallas. We finally ended up at the Thanks-Giving Square, which was a good reminder that we need to give thanks for what we have been given. Too often we take things for granted and forget to give thanks for what we have. So, what are you thankful for? I know I am thankful for this ministry opportunity, for the chance to partner with 2 amazing organizations (General Board of Global Ministries and The Dallas Leadership Foundation). From what it seems like right now, everyone I will be working with are great people and truly know what being servant leaders look like.

We are meant to live simply for the next 2 years and when I think about living simply, I think about living in Costa Rica and how they lived since they literally had little but were very happy with what they did have. They had family and they had their faith and that’s what truly matters. As I am living in the house that I am right now, I feel like I have so much and on a normal basis I wouldn’t even think about it but with this ministry opportunity, I am thinking about it and I am thankful for what I have right now since there are people in this world that may never had the chance to have what I have. I mean, have you ever really stopped and thought about what it is that you have and how privileged you are? There are so many people in this world that can only think about themselves and they don’t see the others in this world, they can only think about what they “need” but really it’s a want, they want the next newest thing, and so forth. Are you one of those people?

I was reminded today through a simple area of land that I need to look at my life and be thankful of it rather than look at the things that I have given up. Leaving for ministry is hard but there are people in the world, including the United States, that don’t have family, they don’t have the same opportunity as I do to do ministry or share about something that I am passionate about, they don’t have amazing people to work with and be around, they don’t have networks so that where ever they are they have someone to talk to, and so forth. My life truly is good and there is so much that I need to be reminded about to be thankful for and the reminder came from a short trip in downtown Dallas with a college friend! So my challenge for you is to look at the good in your life rather than the bad and start to be thankful of what you have and where you are rather than thinking about what could be or could have been.

So, when it comes to driving, at least I am able to drive and have a driver’s license. At least I will have transportation. And at least I will be able to maneuver and get around to different places to do the ministry that I will be doing since there are people that are stuck where they are. They have no way to get around and they have never driven a vehicle or had a license. So, I will be thankful for driving in Texas and try to remember that when traffic gets bad and not fun to drive!

Here's some pictures from today's adventure in downtown Dallas!

Me going through the Thanks-Giving ring

Be joyful in the Lord, all the earth! Worship the Lord with gladness; come into His presence with singing!

Thanks-Giving Square

One of the many plaques on the wall at the Square

Come into His courts with praise! Psalm 100

We are his people, and the sheep of his pasture

Always remember to pray!

First Baptist Church

Do unto others as you would have them do unto you

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts will praise

"I'm not happy unless______"

Yesterday I posted about how leaving home wasn’t a good bye but rather just a see you later and I’ll miss you till I see you again. So, last night I was able to spend some time with a mission intern from my class, Michelle, since she lives in Dallas Texas at the moment. It was good to get out and hang out with her and attend SMU’s Wesley Foundation meeting. I have never been to a Wesley Foundation since my campus didn’t have one but it was a great way to spiritually feed myself with the worship and fellowship that took place. It’s a great feeling to see older staff that is passionate about the work that they are doing and reaching college students (yeah, I still have a passion to do collegiate ministry and I feel like that will always be apart of who I am.) But, seeing the students from SMU that attended this meeting and their interaction with one another and the staff’s welcoming spirit reminded me of God’s hospitality and how we as Christians are meant to live our lives. I’m not a student and never was a student at SMU but because of my Methodist connection and even bigger yet, my Christian connection with this group, they were welcoming and there to show God’s love and service.

The message that was spoken on was Hosea 1:1-3, even though it’s a short passage what was spoken about was good and got you to thinking. One of the questions that was asked was “what are your ideals?” and if you need help answering that question then complete this sentence, “I’m not happy unless_________” so whatever you complete that sentence with will give you the answers as to what you are putting ahead of God and worshipping. This is honestly a harder question to answer for me since I don’t know how to complete that sentence since I feel like I have given up so much of my life, time, energy, money, etc to do the ministry work that I am doing that I hope that I am worshiping God above anything else. But, how do you complete that phrase? Is it that you are not happy unless you get good grades, have a secure job, have friends, are busy all the time, know what tomorrow has in store for you, have control of what’s going on, etc? Yeah, there are many answers to that question and honestly for me, I guess it’s that I have control over situations since it’s hard to not know what tomorrow hold, or where you will be living, or what it is that you will be doing but God already knows all of that so shouldn’t we trust in God’s guidance, power, love, prompting, etc rather than rely on ourselves and those things that complete the above phrase? I think the answer is yes!

So, I went to the Dallas World Aquarium today and now looking back on it, it was an experience that I should have been practicing putting control in God’s hands but I failed at doing so but everything turned out fine and it was a good day. You see, I do like control, I like knowing what’s going to happen, and I like being on time and all of those were things that I dealt with today yet I had no control over the situation. Spending time away from the house was a great experience and meeting the President of the Dallas Leadership Foundation was good (yeah, I will honestly say that I was a little intimidated about meeting him at first but after meeting him in person today, I don’t know what the worry was.) You see, God’s had this entire situation under control and He has known what was going to happen from the first day of completing the young adult missionary application and He knew where I would be assigned. Yet, I still want control and I still worry. Why is that? Yeah, I know I am human and that’s what humans do but wouldn’t things be so much better if I trusted God every step of the way rather than worry about the time, worry about meeting people for the first time, or worry about anything? I think so, so this is my prayer that during these next 2 years, I learn to put complete trust in God and worship God to the fullest. That I would end up not being able to complete the above phrase since God will be the center of my worship and my life! So what about you? What completes the above phrase and how do you plan on adjusting it so that God is the center of your life and worship and He will be the thing that causes you to be happy since you know that His way is always better than our way and that he has our best in mind? Just something to think about since God’s our rock so He’s not about to break or fall apart but we might if we continue worshiping other things (and honestly, we might not even realize that we are worshiping other things or putting other things before God) but it’s about time that we put complete trust in God and see where things take us.

May God bless you and the work you are doing as I pray that He blesses me and allows these next 2 years to be growing experiences and fruitful!

Here's a few pics from the Dallas World Aquarium trip today...

Dallas World Aquarium (frog on flower) 8-29-13

Me by the penguins

Manatee

Tiger

Scuba Diver feeding the fish and manatee

Baby seahorse

Sloth (reminded me of Costa Rica!)

This is not goodbye

The following song is one that has been on mind since I left Indiana on Monday but was also on my mind before leaving. It's a song that says a lot int regards to the transition that I am in with leaving my family and friends and moving to Texas for 2 years! It's a good reminder that as Christians we are not saying goodbye bur rather it's just a "I'll miss you, until we meet again"

I do miss everyone back home but I am excited about this 2 year journey that God has placed me on. This has been something that I have had to do for a few years now and finally surrendered my career over to God my senior year and said yes to His calling me into ministry and gave up my goal of being a teacher. The time truly has come that I leave and do ministry since this is who I am made to be and I can't ignore that. Leaving is never easy but God's by my side and is my strength and He will direct my path these next 2 years!

Everyone back home is in my heart and will always be there. The following words speak a lot of truth right now...

"The stirring in your soul has left you wondering. 

Should you stay or turn around
. 

Well, just remember that your dreams they are a promise
. 

That you were made to change the world. 

So don’t let fear stop you now."

Fear is a real thing and when transitioning to a new place, it is natural that fear will come up at some point since transitionings are not easy. It would be easy to block yourself from everything that is going on around you but God's strength is stronger than any fear that shows up and He's always there. My passion is in ministry and I dream of changing the world one step at a time and one adventure at a time. So, fear and the unknown is not going to stop me from this 2 year journey! I have to follow who I am and who God made me to be and at the moment, that person is a missionary and doing ministry for the Kingdom of God! 

This is not goodbye: Sidewalk Prophet

I can see it in your eyes that you are restless


The time has come for you to leave


It’s so hard to let you go but in this life I know 


You have to be who you were made to be

As you step out on the road I’ll say a prayer


So that in my heart you always will be there

  

Chorus
:  

This is not goodbye


I know we’ll meet again


So let your life begin


‘Cause this is not goodbye


It’s just “I love you” to take with you 


Until you’re home again

The stirring in your soul has left you wondering 


Should you stay or turn around


Well, just remember that your dreams they are a promise


That you were made to change the world 


So don’t let fear stop you now ‘cause

Chorus

  

I know the brightest star above


Was created by the One who loved 


More than we’ll ever know


To guide you when you’re lost

What started as a still, small voice 


Is raging now and your only choice

 
Is to follow who you are


So follow who you are ‘cause

This is not goodbye


I know we’ll meet again


Oh

Chorus

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