Donan's thoughts on work and motherhood, Summer 2015

"God often calls people to the obscure, the ordinary, and the mundane. Some of the most important word that God accomplishes in the world is fulilled by ordinary people doing ordinary work, This is not and cannot be merely tolerated, but rather is something we must embrace and even celebrate."
Courage and Calling. Gordon T. Smith. 140.

As a recently minted mother of two, I find most of my day filled with the ordinary and mundane. Sometimes, I think this is a great blessing, Other times, I find it tedious. I've sensed that God is inviting me to continue on right where am, in the tension between the blessing and the the tedious.

What does this mean for my employment with InterVarsity? I'm grateful to work for an organization that is so accommodating to mothers, letting me craft my job so that I can be fully present with my children and pursue living out the vision of InterVarsity. I've realized that as my kids grow, my desires for work will also change (like the number of nights a week to spend on campus, amount of travel, etc.) In this season of life, I want to work from home as much as possible with the option to travel to retreats and trainings. And so, my supervisor and I have crafted a job description that will help out the area team, allow me to try some new things as a staff worker and be home with my children.

My plan is work about 10 hours a week with time divided evenly into the following categories:
- area logistics: arranging our team meetings, coordinating student gatherings and communication
- coaching: new type of job for me! I'll be helping other team leaders develop chapter growth goals and implement plans to reach these goals
- teaching and training: one of the things I love to do! I'll be working with Jeremiah to provide training and mentorship for our interns. I have flexibility to travel to other schools within the area for large groups or scripture dig-ins.
- discipleship: another thing I love to do! I'm looking forward to coming alongside younger women to help them see where God is at work in their lives.

Student reflections on Summit 2015

A few student responses to the questions: What did God do in you during Summit? How has your outlook on life changed? How has your outlook on Christianity changed? What are the things from Summit that you will take with you?

- God removed the feeling of apathy I was carrying and turned it into empathy for others. He also taught me to go deeper into prayer and pulled up many dead roots. My outlook on life has changed from luxury to simplicity. My outlook on Christianity has gone from an unclear picture of community to an understanding of a Christian community. I will take the values of simplicity, community and empathy for the poor as I leave Summit.

- God reminded me why I want my friends to know him. I feel more motivated to start a GIG (scripture study with Non-Christians) in the performing arts community next spring. I feel like I have a deeper understanding of houselessness and will apply that to how I choose to give.

- God did a lot of things for me! He dug up a lot of crap that I have been burdened with and showed me what it looks like to serve others and live simply. I see a lot of growing opportunities for me and I know that God is doing something my future that I don't see yet.

- I have feelings but this is really hard to articulate in words... for starters, my whole view of evangelism changed.

- I don't even know how to summarize this. God probably did more in these two weeks that I have in the past several months. God brought up lots of wounds in my life that I really didn't want to deal with and opened me up to more... I have learned so much about God's character through this community I have been with and worker with. I have a more positive understanding of the church because of my experiences, and have faith that because of experiences like these and the love of the Christian community, the church can heal the many wounds it have inflicted on the world throughout history. As a new Christian, this is something I struggle with a lot. So, this definitely has been healing for me.

Introducing WSU Interns for 2015-2016 school year

Jeremiah and Donan are excited to welcome 2 interns! These recent college graduates will spend a school year working with students and discerning if college ministry is a place where God might be calling them to invest 3-5 years of their lives. Please pray for them as they transition to living in Moscow and doing campus ministry at WSU. Pray specifically that they find part-time jobs which will provide for their financial needs and providing flexibility to do ministry on campus. Here's a brief intro to each in their own words...

Annie

As the school year quickly approaches it’s end, I quickly approach the end of my college career. After four years at Oregon State University, I am excited to receive my Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Sciences with a minor in Spanish! The last four years have been exciting and filled with academics, travel, and a lot of learning about life and myself. My most important development in college however, has been my faith in Jesus Christ. In college, I’ve learned what it means to follow him, trust him and also how good it is to see my friend’s lives changed by God. Coming to know Jesus has given me purpose and motivated me to want to see change in the world, especially on college campuses. I am a little nervous but very excited to continue ministering to college students next year as a Campus Intern for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship at Washington State University! Throughout my four years in college, I have been actively involved with InterVarsity at OSU. Coming in, I was excited about the people I met, and their passion for life. Some of these people became my best friends. By the end of my first term in college, I committed my life to following Christ. After my freshman year, I lead a bible study, and I joined the worship team. Now, during my senior year, I lead the worship team, and I am helping two freshman start a new bible study in their dorm. I am so excited at the opportunity to continue college ministry. I am excited to develop relationships with students, share Jesus with them through scripture studies and worship, and to see them follow Jesus with their lives.

Amy

 As this school year comes to a close, I am reaching yet another transitional point in my life. After four years at The Evergreen State College, I am excited to receive my Bachelor of Arts! It has been a long but fun four years filled with not only the rigors of academics but also the joy of developing as a musician, as well as building and developing friendships and community. Most importantly, though, I have seen my faith in Jesus Christ grow in numerous ways during my time at Evergreen. I have learned to trust him, to invest in his Kingdom, and to become a leader who mentors and raises up future leaders. I am very excited to continue ministering to college students next year as a Campus Intern for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship at Washington State University!

As a student at Evergreen, I was a part of an InterVarsity group that really blossomed my sophomore year. I had the privilege of seeing God grow the group from one student leader to now a dozen student leaders, with 40 in the fellowship. I led a freshmen dorm Bible study and mentored several underclassmen, and it was amazing to see God working not only in the lives of those whom I mentored but also my life as I obeyed him in investing in younger students. I am grateful for the opportunity to continue leading at WSU next year. With my supervisor Jeremiah and my fellow intern Annie, I will play a part in devolving the chapter at WSU. I am excited to develop relationships with students, share Jesus with them through scripture studies, and to see them eventually follow Jesus with their lives.

I fully expect God to do amazing things in the lives of the WSU students next year, and I am so honored to be a part of his work. I am also excited to invite you to be part of this work as well.