In many ways, I am an unlikely choice and a bit of a misfit. I'm young, I'm not good with authority, I don't really do things by the book, I don't know Portuguese (yet), and I'm definitely not the picture of sainthood. I stay out too late and listen to music that is too loud; I talk too much, I have no filter between my brain and mouth, and I have crazy opinions regarding just about everything. I just finished a PhD that I don't know what to do with, and I have this crazy song in my heart that I can't stop singing (often out-loud, and at inappropriate times). I don't really fit in...but hasn't that been the way my life has always been? It's just that now, I have a new job.
For reasons that are sometimes beyond my comprehension, The Missouri Conference of the United Methodist Church has chosen me as the next Associate Director of the Mozambique Initiative, which is an honor and privilege beyond my wildest dreams. This job entails partnering churches in Mozambique and Missouri in an effort to initiate and support multiple humanitarian efforts in Mozambique - including clean water projects, public health programs, a women's shelter, an orphanage, and countless others. As part of this job, I travel to Mozambique a couple of times each year and visit local churches in Missouri to share the excitement over the work being done there. I am completely and totally excited in every way! And extremely humbled.
And so I'm asking for grace, and prayers, and support, and love, and accountability - hence the attempt at a blog. Help me help Mozambique. Help me help the Missouri UMC. Help me affect change. Help me work for justice. Help me be light. And I will try to be the best misfit missionary you've ever seen.
