Thoughts on the past and future

Over the last few weeks, people have asked me what my plans are for after graduation. I get different reactions from different people when I say that I’m planning to go back to Romania to be a volunteer missionary for 3-5 years. There are some who figured that’s what I’d say because it’s all I seem to talk about for the last 7 years. Then there are others who seem almost appalled that I am not moving on to other things. And still others who are glad that God has put the desire in my heart for the Romanian people.

In those moments I have to ask myself what my motivation is to return to Romania. Is it the country or the people or the culture that I’ve fallen in love with? Or is it a desire to serve God wherever he sends me.

Over the past 4 years, God has expanded my vision of Him and of His work around the world.

I have grown in my understanding of mission. Mission isn’t simply another word for cross-cultural ministries. At its most fundamental level, mission is what propels all that we do as God’s people. I can carry out God’s mission here in the United States. And that’s exciting. When I hear missionary speakers tell of how God is working in their part of the world, I get excited and want to go there, wherever there is.

I’ve come to appreciate the wisdom of the Church, and not just my own judgment. There is a process to be ordained and a process to become a missionary. At first, it seemed like a lot of hoops to jump through. But after I started jumping, I realized that those steps are character-building and spiritually formative. I wouldn’t want to be ordained or to become a missionary without these steps in place.

I have also come to love Romania and the Romanian people. I was there just long enough in the past to start to master the language and culture, so I have that foundation upon which to build. There is so much I don’t know about the country. Romania might not be where I end up for the rest of my life. But that’s OK with me because the place I want to be more than Romania is to be in the center of God’s will.

This really isn’t meant to be aimless wandering. I do have a purpose to this post. I have a reason for wanting to return to Romania, but I’m definitely relying first and foremost on the guidance of the Holy Spirit. While I don’t believe that God has one pre-defined ‘next step’ for my life after graduating from seminary, meaning any number of things are pleasing to him, at this point, I feel God is keeping the door open for me to return to Romania.