Home > Singles > Talk Amongst Yourselves
The Power of One
6 singles share how they're making a difference in the world.
September 21, 2005
Giving Peace a Chance
Last summer, at the age of 25, I went on my first official missions trip—a month in West Africa. Boy, were my eyes opened to the poverty, the dire need for good health care, and the spiritual depravity. The whole experience weighed heavily on me when I returned to the U.S., and I began to question what I was doing with my life. I knew without a doubt God called me to be a nurse, but I couldn't explain my deep dissatisfaction with the two jobs I was working. Through a series of life events, I began to question if God truly had good things in store for me, primarily because I was still single. New Years Eve weekend, I had one of my worst weeks at work—I attended two weddings and I reached a point at which I knew something had to change. I can't begin to describe the peace that came over me when I decided to further explore the world of missions.
Today, I am back in West Africa working in a clinic, and I've found that sense of peace I'm doing what God's called me to do. I'm committed for the year, and hopefully within that period of time I'll learn if this is what I should do full-time. Regardless, I know when I return home next summer, I'll never be able to forget the children dying of AIDS, the lack of education about basic health principles, and the sometimes-overwhelming spiritual chains that keep West Africans in bondage.
Being single has allowed me to experience this great adventure God has me on. I'll be forever grateful for how it's shaping me as a person. Full-time missions as a single woman scares me to death, and the thought of doing it alone is overwhelming, but I know I can't stay at home in the U.S., unhappy because my stubbornness in "waiting for a husband" is keeping me from doing God's will for my life.
Shannon
Welcome Wagon
My three roommates and I are hosting a Chinese exchange student through a program at our church. She's coming to the U.S. to study at a nearby college, and she'll live with us for about a week until she's able to find an apartment. We're her first contacts when she arrives in the States. We have an open door to share our lives, and most importantly, the truth of Christ with her.
Jocelyn
Ministering to Punks
The place I feel most suited to be a witness for Christ isn't an official organization or ministry. I really love rockers, punk kids, artists, and hippies. I was born and raised in a Christian home, which I've valued my entire life. However, I was never your typical old-fashioned, church-going Christian girl. Ever since I can remember, I've always loved rock music, art, independent movies, unusual books—all things usually labeled "wrong" or "too secular" by the traditional church.
I was an art major in college. In the art scene (as well as the music scene), most people don't care about anything related to God. Because I have substantial knowledge of rock history, attend rock concerts, and have an unusual clothing style, these kids relate to me. Often they're surprised to discover I'm "one of those Christians." Over time, some of them start asking me questions about my faith.
I love making Christianity approachable. I think it's important to communicate to non-believers that reading the Bible and choosing to be a Christ-follower, doesn't mean you have to change your personality. You can be saved and still have blue hair, tattoos, and a nose ring. You can truly love and honor Christ without having to give up your electric guitar and mohawk hair style. Jesus didn't walk up to sinners and say, "Come hear my sermon on the mount. Oh, and make sure you wear a tie." No, he actually sat down and got to know them where they were. I can't help but think of that when I'm standing in line after a concert to meet the famous musician whose show I've just seen while striking up friendships with the punk kids around me.
Megan
GROWing Awareness
A few years ago my sister called me; she was horrified. She'd just seen a news report about orphans in Russia who were autistic due to the fact there weren't enough people to touch, talk to, and stimulate them as babies. They were basically left in their cribs and lucky to be fed and changed with any regularity. She'd just given birth to her first child, so this was particularly upsetting to her and she begged me to look into it and see if there was anything we could do.
I spoke with the head of the missions organization where I volunteered, and he put me in touch with a few missionaries around the world who either already worked with orphans or agreed to investigate their local orphanages on my behalf. The results were eye-opening and devastating.
My sister and I prayed, and began a non-profit organization called G.R.O.W. (Giving Resources to Orphans Worldwide). We knew it was God's leading because with little effort on our part, we were able to provide 200 care packages to orphans in Krasnoyarsk, Siberia; 6 boxes of supplies to an orphanage in Kiev, Ukraine; and as I'm the single one, I was able to travel to Chaing Rai, Thailand to take medical supplies, toys, and money to an orphanage. The trip changed my life.
I'll never forget those children. My heart broke as I heard how some were found on the streets, eating rats to survive. Others were given to the orphanage from the hill tribes because it was the only way their children would be able to go to school. One boy had been sold for the equivalent of two dollars so his parents could use the money for drugs. One little boy had been given to the orphanage covered with cigarette burns. And perhaps the worst of all was when we went by the local "mall" and our local contacts pointed out a man who sold children as prostitutes or as servants.
When people saw we were Farong (non-Thai), they asked us if we were from Germany or Australia. We later learned that tour groups from these two countries frequent Thailand on sex tours (Bangkok alone has more than 40,000 prostitutes, and 10,000 of them are children). When people asked us why we weren't in the tourist areas and we explained that we'd brought supplies to an orphanage, they smiled and said, "Oh, you GOOD people." But after we left the orphanage and traveled around Bangkok before heading home, I never felt less "good." Our hotel was glamorous compared to the place that housed those precious children. And when we returned home, my 400 square foot studio apartment never felt more luxurious.
It's truly amazing what can happen when you're simply willing. When you stop asking "why me?" and starting looking for what YOU can do to make a difference.
Name withheld
You've Got Mail
I was married to a man who was emotionally and verbally abusive for almost 30 years. On my journey to healing, I met many girls in the support group at my church who were residents at a facility for abused women. Some of them had a history of poor choices, some of which had involved jail time. As I got to know these women, my perception of prisoners changed.
God began to prompt me to write to some prisoners through Prison Fellowship's Pen Pal Program. It was a bit scary at first, but God has given a peace about this ministry. I currently write to three people in three separate locations. I asked for female inmates or males about the age of my children so there would be no romantic entanglements.
Because I'm single again, I try to keep the letters focused on what God has done in my life, and what he can do for these prisoners. I share Scripture in every letter. Many times I don't have an answer for their hurts or needs, but God does. Each letter is bathed in prayer before, during, and after I write. My goal is to make a difference for Jesus' sake in the lives of whoever he gives me as a pen pal.
I don't want the lessons God has taught me to go to waste, so if I can share them with some of these prisoners, the pain of my life journey has been worth it. Mostly, I'm just thankful God has chosen to use me.
Marilyn
On a Mission from God
I'm a two-year missionary to the Czech Republic through the organization Mission to the World. My particular ministry involves teaching English, administrating a fledgling theological education program, and getting Christian texts translated and published into Czech. I'm in the process of moving from Prague to Zlin, Czech Republic, a much smaller industrial city by the Slovakian border, where I hope to start a youth ministry as well.
Learning a language and culture, trying to fit in where you're automatically seen as someone foreign and strange, and then speaking about Jesus in a nation where atheism is king and apathy is law, a single missionary can feel rather unanchored and forgotten in the world. But only by being firmly grounded in Scripture and prayer can we continue drilling into the concrete hearts and souls of the world as the Father enables, the Holy Spirit chooses, and Christ redeems.
Sarah
We welcome your feedback and brainstorms at: SinglesNewsletter@ChristianityToday.com
Sign up for the Singles Newsletter and receive a new article plus community updates in your inbox every week!
Copyright © 2005 ChristianityToday.com
|
 |
|
|
eHarmony is a completely new way to build a relationship. We turn the process around, so you learn about people from the inside-out before you get involved.
Falling in love still takes chemistry, but eHarmony gives you the confidence to take the first step, knowing that you and your matches are truly compatible for the long-run.
Only eHarmony creates matches based on 29 proven dimensions of compatibility and over 30 years of relationship expertise. Combining this knowledge and experience with our commitment to personal care ensures that eHarmony will work for you.
|
|
|
|
| |
|
