authentic community

We don't know what we're doing
We do it again
We're just amateur lovers
With amateur friends
~switchfoot

this is the current lesson of my life.

a year and a half ago, as i was finishing boot camp and deciding where to go, john and jamie said that for me, who i'm with (what team i'm on) is more important than where i go. i just needed to find the right team, and go with them wherever they were going.
so, community is more important than location.

i went to a "missions dinner" sort of thing last night hosted by some friends of mine. there were 3 married couples and 3 single girls, and it was funny how many "small world" moments we had. i have no plans to join with the agency that hosted the evening, but it was invaluable that i was there and heard about this group and their teams and how they work. it was amazing to hear about how all the members of this organization come from very drastically different backgrounds, yet all love each other and are working toward common goals. they have open dialogs, where communication and understanding are key, but they can also agree to disagree. and how the basis of all their interactions with each other is grace for one another. the woman hosting the evening said she's never been in an environment where conflict is handled so well with such good outcomes.

when i was in oklahoma a few weeks ago, i was able to verbally process with everyone, which was ridiculously amazing for me. as i talked about my "girls" here, i realized that we act as the body of Christ together. all of us have input the others need, and we take turns being the "needy one" and the "encouraging one". and we all add a little bit to the mix that makes more opportunities for God to move and work in us. we are all able to minister to one another and receive from one another. none of us has it all figured out, and none of us can say for certain exactly what the other needs, but we can share our own experiences and what we have learned. we're all on a journey, together, figuring out life as we go. we're all just one beggar, telling another beggar where to find bread.

we're just amateur lovers
with amateur friends.

so here i am, in VA, not in portland, and not overseas on a team. i think this time is vital for my future success overseas. this is a chance for me to practice this authentic community stuff and learn how to do it, and how to encourage others in it. this is my chance to be poured into so that i may pour out in the future. if i had moved, i would have cut short these lessons. if i were overseas, i would be learning them the hard way or failing miserably, or both. so for now, community is more important than location.

We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us. ~1 Thess. 2:8

By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. ~John 13:35