Round 2: The Office my Mission Field!

By Erika Olson

This January begins my second year serving in the ofﬁce here at Big Woods Mission. I am delighted to serve the missionaries and my community in this role. I am convinced that this is where God wants me, where He has called me. I am also convinced and convicted that while God has asked me to live and serve here in the States instead of living in the foreign mission ﬁeld, He has called me here to grow even deeper in my missionary vocation. It is ironic to me that He would call me out of what I love the most in this world to teach me more about it.

I have learned that while I miss being in the mission ﬁeld more and more each day, I am a Catholic missionary. That is my identity. You can take the girl out of the foreign mission ﬁeld, but you can’t take the mission out of the girl. I think I was always intimidated by the call to State-side missions. I know it’s crazy, but I think in a certain sense, for me it’s easier to leave everyone and everything you love behind to follow Jesus to the ends of the earth and bring the message of His salvation to the remotest corners of the earth, than to ﬁnd myself in America – the land of the free and the home of the brave. Not because we are more technologically advanced than other countries or because we are more wealthy than other countries, but are we really FREE?

[pullquote1 align=”right” variation=”blue” textColor=”#000000″]Are we really FREE? [/pullquote1]
Those whom I served in Mexico were much more open to hearing the Good News that Jesus loves them and calls them out of the darkness of their sin than the people I’ve shared with here in the U.S. I think I ﬁnd people are more free when they are not attached to an ipod, ipad, iphone, and iMac all at the same time. How is that freedom? Jesus tells us, “If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:23). I admit that in the past year, I have struggled with fighting the temptation to become too attached to the things of this world, to become so “plugged in” that I can’t hear His word, let alone remain in it. This year, I am choosing to un-plug myself from the music, movies, Facebook, e-mails, Twitter in order to remain in His word and then to share it with others.

Heading into 2013, I have been thinking a great deal about how I can make this a reality for me; how I can live into my missionary vocation right here, right now. I know that the call is URGENT. I must be missionary wherever I am. How can I be a missionary living in the United States?

Teach or volunteer to help with a CCD class/youth group/RCIA for your parish. Parishes are always looking for volunteers to help!
Help at a homeless shelter or soup kitchen. Bring them clothes and food, but ABOVE ALL visit and pray with those who live there.
Carry granola bars or sandwiches or fruit to give out to beggars that you pass on your daily route. Get down on their level, engage them in a conversation and smile at them! Always PRAY with them when you give them food.
Visit a local nursing home weekly. Pray and sing with the residents.
Lead a monthly Bible study or prayer group at a pregnancy center, homeless shelter, or soup kitchen in your area. There are many books and resources available for your planning purposes.
Offer an elderly man, woman, or couple to help with their grocery shopping. You can offer to give them a ride or pick up the things they need. Pray with them when you drop their things off.
Make Scripture cards to hand out at all of the above mentioned ministries. Share a Bible passage with them from your Bible. Pray with each of them RIGHT THERE, not after you leave, but while you are standing there with them. Your children could help decorate the Scripture cards and pray with the people.

I am still praying about where God wants me to serve Him this year in a speciﬁc ministry, but I have done these different tasks both in the US and in other countries and I have never regretted any opportunity to give of myself or my time. Do you have a speciﬁc ministry that you feel God has called you to this year? How is He calling you into His vineyard where the harvest is abundant but the laborers are few?

By Erika Olson

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