February letter

February 2011

I sit here (like I do most months) with thoughts spinning around in my head, unsure of where to start. With the fullness of Christmas celebrations, sickness in our community, visitors and other transitions, I couldn't quite manage to get a letter together before the deadline for January. So now, here I am, wondering how to summarize the past TWO months (it's hard enough with one!) and how to continue to invite you into this journey.

Christmas was a double edged sword this year – from the joy and excitement that I felt when I woke up extra early on "Sari Bari Christmas day" (Dec 23), to the deep sadness I felt when I talked with my family on Christmas eve – I have felt the full range of emotions these past weeks.

Sari Bari Christmas was beautiful. To see my friends dressed up to celebrate – to see the pride in their eyes as they introduced their husbands and children to me, to sing praise songs together, to watch the Jesus movie, to hear the Christmas story, to give gifts, and share a great meal – the day was full. I woke up thinking, "I've waited for years for this" – and the day was everything I hoped it would be.

It was hard to be away from home for Christmas – but it was also a great privilege to celebrate Christmas with my community here. Many times it felt like my heart was a pendulum wildly swinging between tears and deep joy and satisfaction. I am thankful for the many ways we celebrated during Christmas – Sari Bari Christmas, WMF Christmas, "family Christmas" (as I've dubbed it in my head, when the North American staff celebrated together), and an open party on Christmas night for any of our other foreign friends who cared to come. Christmas was beautiful.

On Dec 26 we left for Thailand, for a few days of vacation – and then a regional WMF meeting. I definitely enjoyed the "western" treats that Thailand has to offer - 7-Eleven stores always close, Starbucks, Burger King (with beef!), amazing street food, quite streets, and then we took a trip to a beach. It was so wonderful to spend time with our WMF Thailand "cousins." I loved getting to know Tim and Amy, and their 2 daughters more.

Word Made Flesh gives its new staff the gift of a "formation year" as our first year on staff. I can hardly believe it – but my first year with WMF is finished. I am so thankful for the space I have been given to focus on language, formational reading, and adjusting to living in a culture that is very different from my own! It's a little surreal to look back and see that a whole year has passed. In some ways it seems like it went so fast. And in other ways I can see how my relationships here are beginning to change – to deepen, the way that only happens when you stick around one place for awhile!

Mid-January marked quite a few transitions in our community. Brooke Taylor joined us (she's currently in Bangladesh at language school). An intern, Adam joined us for 2 months, and Sheila and I began our transition out of "formation" and into responsibility. I will continue to study Bangla (although not as intensely), and will continue to read books off the WMF reading list (really, I love it!).

Here are some of the new roles I’m stepping into in 2011:

· Shipping coordinator for Sari Bari

· Visits into the red light area (we call it "The Gatch") once a week to build relationships with ladies there – I’m really excited for this. I know it doesn't make sense, but there is something very life-giving to me about visiting women in the red-light area. To meet them in the darkest of places, and be privileged to know them, and to speak hope and life and truth.

· "Aftercare" at Sari Bari (this is the most extensive part of my job). I'll be coordinating training for the new employees at SB, editing current curriculum, and writing some new stuff. I'll also be the "party planning committee" (which is pretty much awesome!). At SB we celebrate when each employee completes her 6 months of training, and we also celebrate the anniversary of her first day of employment with us. I'd describe this role as a "bridge" into Sari Bari – it will be my responsibility to make sure that women transition well, to check in on their training, and walk with them into our community. As I read the responsibilities of this position I just kept thinking, "oh, I'd love to do that" or, "yeah, that sounds exactly like me." Later on, Sarah and Beth told me that they wrote this particular job description with me in mind – and they did a great job of it!

· Short term programs - I’m both excited (and incredibly nervous) that I've committed to leading a servant team from Aug-Dec 2011. (A servant team is a 4 month internship and discipleship program that WMF runs – in many ways it's the "gateway" to joining WMF staff. I did a servant team in 2007, which was, obviously, very influential in my decision to move back here). In addition to this (and in some ways, in preparation) - I'll be the "point person" for a group that is coming in May. I’m excited to be able to invest in these groups, and a bit overwhelmed to be responsible for other people in this city!

Every Friday morning, the North Americans on staff gather for prayer together. Beth led our first prayer time of 2011. She spent the previous night reading through each of our blogs from 2010 – and she led us into a reflection of the year, based on the words and thoughts we'd written. It was beautiful, and powerful, and emotional to take a tour through the past year in that way. So I came home and read through my own blog for 2010. It was incredible to look back on all the places my heart, mind, body and spirit were in 2010. And then I sat in the "in-between" – looking back, and looking forward. I have no idea what the year ahead holds (who does?!) What joy, celebration, laughter and beauty are waiting for me? What sorrow, grief, ache and refinement will I pass through? I can't guess what this year holds – but I do know that as I enter fully into 2011, I aim to do so in hope – in joyful confidence...in who I am, in who I am becoming, and in the God who is making all things new.

In joyful confidence,

melissa

Ways you can pray this month:

● For me (and the community) as I transition into my new roles. It is a significant change in my schedule, and my work-load. Pray that I'll handle stress appropriately during this transition, and do the appropriate things to take care of myself.

● For creativity and wisdom as I begin investing in the Aftercare aspect of Sari Bari

● That the Lord will keep my heart compassionate – but not overwhelmed as I begin visiting The Gatch.

● There are lots of visitors, and transitions in the next 6 months – please pray for a sense of peace in the midst of many changes!

● Continued disciple to study Bangla. I feel really good about how far I've progressed in a year, but still have miles to go!