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| Myself and An, my fellow intern, with children in Soweto. |
After much deliberation and prayer, An and I arrived in
Johannesburg, South Africa, almost a year ago, for the One Year Challenge. We
were both wide-eyed and excited, but also clueless as to what to expect both
from a new country and the full time ministry. After a year of lessons and
adventures, we are now just weeks away from heading back to the States, and
have just a few insights for those of you considering or heading off to a do a
one year challenge.
1.
It’s a year. – As the title implies, the One
Year challenge is a YEAR. Not a spring break, not a summer internship. Really
think through if you are ready and willing to commit to a new country/city, a
new campus, a new church for a year – to give your heart and build family.
2.
Be ready to get out of your comfort zone. –
Especially if you are doing your year in another country, things will be
DIFFERENT. That doesn’t mean bad, just different. Be flexible. Be ready to try
new things, talk to new people, and adapt to where you (especially to your campus).
3.
Be humble. – As Christians, this is an on-going
lesson. But if you are going to move somewhere new to serve God and be trained
for a year, be humble. Let God and the people he puts in your life teach you
and mold you. The one year challenge will change you and your life if you let
it.
4.
Make friends. – This may seem like a stupid
point, but when you don’t know anyone and you’re driving on the other side of
the road and eating foods you’ve never seen, you may be tempted to crawl into a
cave and hide for a little bit. Don’t! Force yourself to make friends and give
your heart. Jesus tells us in Mark 10 that “no one who has left home or
brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields” for him and the
gospel, “will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age
(homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields)” and in the one to
come. So, don’t hold yourself back.
5.
Find a hobby. – You’re somewhere for a year.
That’s enough time to really make a life for yourself. An and I quickly learned
that we needed something fun that we each enjoyed doing, to help us feel like
we had our own lives in our new country. For An, this has been rugby; for me,
joining the gym. Both of us have loved having something that we do each week,
and it’s a great opportunity to reach out to more people.
6.
This isn’t your campus ministry. – No matter
where you went to school, or how big or small your ministry is/was, you are no
longer on the same campus. Do not expect things to work the same, especially in another country. An and I have had to be willing to learn from
trial and error, as well as, adapt to the culture here. Again, come humble and
ready to learn.
7.
It’s an adventure, so embrace the details. – You’re in a new place – enjoy it! Whether
it’s a whole new country or just a new city, there are things to explore, foods
to try, languages to learn, and places to see. Love it! An and I both learned
how to drive on the left side of the road; we’ve eaten ox jaw; we’ve swum in
the Indian Ocean; and we’ve held lion cubs. And it has been a blast! God is not
only blessing you with the opportunity to serve him, but the opportunity to see
his creation in a new way and go on an adventure.
8.
Pray, pray, pray. – Both in making the decision
to do the one year challenge, and while you’re there. Prayer is arguably one of
the most important things we can do to keep ourselves faithful, as well as,
those who we’re helping get to heaven. Don’t underestimate the power of it and
how often you can do it. Especially in new life experiences, like the one year
challenge, you’ll need prayer like never before.
9.
It’s only a year. – I know we said this before,
but there’s another way to look at this. It is JUST one year. It really is a
blink of an eye. It will go by so quickly, especially if you just let God use
you in whatever ways he has planned. If you are worried about finding a “real”
job and starting a career or finding mister or missus right, and are afraid
that this one year will put a dent in that, don’t worry – God is far greater
than one year. He has amazing plans and who knows what doors He will open
through your year of service.
10.
You’re doing it to serve GOD. – No matter what
happens in your year – whether you love it or…not so much; whether you get to
go on incredible adventures or just stay in your town - it is all for the glory
of God. And whether you think you “know enough” or not, or if you wonder if God
can even use you – God will use you. That is why An and I made the decision to
move to South Africa. Don’t lose sight that you are wherever you are, to serve
God and help spread the incredible news of salvation!
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| One part of the adventure. |
