Thursday, 6:22 pm
Carol (would-be supervisor in Monterrey): "Cara, I want you to know that today the team in Monterrey made the decision not to send any summer interns or short-term missions teams to Monterrey this summer for security reasons. I want you to know in case that changes your mind about coming to Monterrey."
Me: "Well... I still want to come. I've felt peace about coming this whole time, and I'm not fearful about my physical safety."
Carol & me: Make plans to meet at the airport in Monterrey on Monday (tomorrow).
Friday, 12:15 pm
Sam (director of short term missions and mercy ministries with Mission to the World [MTW]): "Cara, I want you know that I'm concerned about you traveling to Monterrey. Just because your flight is on Monday, you don't have to go if you don't want. You can take some more time to think and pray about it."
Me: "I've known about the violence and security all along, and I'm still moving forward. I'm looking to MTW to help me make this decision."
Me: Goes into living room with my roommates and dear friends Emily and Sarah (who are providentially stuck at my house on a snow day). These women pray for me and encourage me to call one of our pastors.
Friday, 12:47 pm
Pastor Colin: "Cara, if I were one of your parents, I would tell you to listen to the concerns of MTW and start thinking about other options."
Me: Prays to God. "Dear Lord, through this whole process many people and I have been praying for wisdom, protection, provision, open doors, closed doors, etc. Give me wisdom. You are sovereign. You are in control. You are good."
Friday, 1:13 pm
Sam: "I've talked to the leader in Monterrey, and he told me he wasn't primarily concerned with your physical safety. He said they could keep you safe: you could work in the MTW office and spend time at the leader's house. However, he's concerned that you wouldn't have a good ministry experience if so much effort was put into keeping you safe, rather than building relationships."
Me: "Well, I don't know how to feel any more. I don't know if I feel peace. I'm still looking to MTW for guidance..."
Sam: Interrupts me. "Okay, this is my recommendation: do not go to Monterrey. Let MTW take care of the cost of your plane ticket, and we'll send you somewhere safer."
Me: "Okay"
Friday, 1:30 pm & 1:37 pm (respectively)
Dad & Mama: "Good. I love you."
.......................................................
Are you able to follow these exchanges? I hope so. I wanted to try to flesh out how the decision not to go to Monterrey was made in less than 24 hours. Really in less than an hour. Tonight I'm at home while friends and roommates are watching the Super Bowl. And I'm sad. I was planning on getting on a plane tomorrow morning and flying to Monterrey. I feel sad, but I know some things with every inch of my being: God is good, God is sovereign, God is protecting me and will provide a fruitful ministry experience somewhere else, God loves me. These things and more I know about my God.
I will keep you posted with when and where I will go. Please pray for wisdom for the team at MTW as they find another internship opportunity for me. Thank you.
Carol (would-be supervisor in Monterrey): "Cara, I want you to know that today the team in Monterrey made the decision not to send any summer interns or short-term missions teams to Monterrey this summer for security reasons. I want you to know in case that changes your mind about coming to Monterrey."
Me: "Well... I still want to come. I've felt peace about coming this whole time, and I'm not fearful about my physical safety."
Carol & me: Make plans to meet at the airport in Monterrey on Monday (tomorrow).
Friday, 12:15 pm
Sam (director of short term missions and mercy ministries with Mission to the World [MTW]): "Cara, I want you know that I'm concerned about you traveling to Monterrey. Just because your flight is on Monday, you don't have to go if you don't want. You can take some more time to think and pray about it."
Me: "I've known about the violence and security all along, and I'm still moving forward. I'm looking to MTW to help me make this decision."
Me: Goes into living room with my roommates and dear friends Emily and Sarah (who are providentially stuck at my house on a snow day). These women pray for me and encourage me to call one of our pastors.
Friday, 12:47 pm
Pastor Colin: "Cara, if I were one of your parents, I would tell you to listen to the concerns of MTW and start thinking about other options."
Me: Prays to God. "Dear Lord, through this whole process many people and I have been praying for wisdom, protection, provision, open doors, closed doors, etc. Give me wisdom. You are sovereign. You are in control. You are good."
Friday, 1:13 pm
Sam: "I've talked to the leader in Monterrey, and he told me he wasn't primarily concerned with your physical safety. He said they could keep you safe: you could work in the MTW office and spend time at the leader's house. However, he's concerned that you wouldn't have a good ministry experience if so much effort was put into keeping you safe, rather than building relationships."
Me: "Well, I don't know how to feel any more. I don't know if I feel peace. I'm still looking to MTW for guidance..."
Sam: Interrupts me. "Okay, this is my recommendation: do not go to Monterrey. Let MTW take care of the cost of your plane ticket, and we'll send you somewhere safer."
Me: "Okay"
Friday, 1:30 pm & 1:37 pm (respectively)
Dad & Mama: "Good. I love you."
.......................................................
Are you able to follow these exchanges? I hope so. I wanted to try to flesh out how the decision not to go to Monterrey was made in less than 24 hours. Really in less than an hour. Tonight I'm at home while friends and roommates are watching the Super Bowl. And I'm sad. I was planning on getting on a plane tomorrow morning and flying to Monterrey. I feel sad, but I know some things with every inch of my being: God is good, God is sovereign, God is protecting me and will provide a fruitful ministry experience somewhere else, God loves me. These things and more I know about my God.
I will keep you posted with when and where I will go. Please pray for wisdom for the team at MTW as they find another internship opportunity for me. Thank you.
2 eHugs:
Cara, I know this must be very disappointing, but you know as well as I that God will use your talents in a wonderful way. I'll be preying for you! You will do great things wherever He sends you!
Ack. *praying
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