If I ever doubted that I was called to this ministry with Imagine No Malaria, all of that was erased as we finished training this afternoon and closed a devotion and scripture and prayer. We started with the calling of Samuel – and the voice of God calling him out by name. We moved to the call of Jacob and a night of wrestling where God names him anew.
As we listened, my heart leaped in my chest. Both of those scriptures have been the ones I have turned to when I explain the call of God in my life. I heard Bishop Carcano tell the story of Samuel’s call when I was a college student and realized for the first time that God had been calling me through the voice of important people in my life. I have always had a push/shove/pull relationship with God and the idea of wrestling and asking questions and coming through on the other side different and more faithful has been a predominant narrative of my faith journey.
To hear each of those stories once again as the capstone of four days of training for a different direction in my life was powerful. It was an affirmation that for some reason I am called to be here and to do this new position.
I have had some fears and hesitations about the gifts needed and the travel required n the position, but I am learning that how we live out this campaign in Iowa is going to be different than in other places. I have tried very hard to practice good boundaries and healthy self-care habits around my schedule and my family and I was worried that this position would demand something that I couldn’t offer. But I’m figuring out that in this position, I will actually learn a better way of delegating, empowering, and supporting those I work with so that we can all do amazing things without killing ourselves in the process.
God has called me by name. Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.
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