for the summer missionaries.

Tis the season for missionary departure! Within the next two weeks, hoards of young adults will leave their homes to embark on an adventure: summer camp, communal living, or whatever the Catholic program they signed up for and raised money for entails.

I know that Covid-19 shut down some of these opportunities, but there are plenty that are still happening, and I would like to offer my thoughts, as I often do.

I was a summer missionary at a summer camp the summer after I graduated high school (four years ago, right before I started this blog). I went back to that same summer camp last summer. My position was on the program staff, which meant that I wasn't necessarily working one-on-one with kids all the time; my energy was focused on high -adventure-activity facilitation, giving talks, acting in skits, and setting an environment.

Regardless of where you're off to this summer, or what your role is, I want you to know this right now: you are enough.

You were enough before you got accepted into this program.

And you'll be enough after.

If you're experiencing fear right now, before you leave-- it's because the Lord is about a mighty work in your heart. That's real, and I need you to believe it. He needs you to believe it. Your Father wants you to be steadied in this truth, right now: that you are His beloved child, and where He calls you, He'll provide for you.

He's called you here.

And honestly? Your calling is a big deal. Not just this summer, but forever. Every single moment. This summer isn't what makes you a powerhouse child of God; the blood of Jesus is what makes you infinitely accepted. And the intentionality of your Father's heart makes every single assignment given to you-- every single season you walk through, every job you have, every class you take, every relationship you enter into, every errand you run, every day you wake up into-- worthy of rejoicing. Because He is present there.

You're going to meet lots of new people this summer.

You're going to meet lots of new people, and when you do, I pray that you remember all of this: that you have something unique and good and worthy of attention to bring to the table. That's not dependent on who validates you, or what position you have, or how people react to you; it's dependent on your unshakable identity in Jesus Christ.

What does that mean, practically?

You don't have to go into this summer prepared to convince people to like you. You're pretty cool already. You have so much to bring! Your voice has power, the way that you love has power. So get out of yourself and love the unseen. Join in the song.

The moments when I stopped thinking about how I was perceived was when I walked in true freedom, and was able to love the most powerfully.

Much like the rest of your life, the people you're interacting with have a story. Just because they're now affiliated with a Christian ministry does not mean that they have graduated from imperfection. It's really easy to see fellow missionaries as perfect and place them on a pedestal; I've seen people spend entire summers with the end goal of impressing their missionary brothers and sisters. Guess what? You'll be inevitably disappointed. They, even in their goodness, are not worthy of the throne of your heart.

You're going to meet people who pray differently; whose history with the Father looks different. You're going to interact with people who you see as more spiritually mature than you are.

Hear this, sister, brother: this doesn't have to send you into competition, fear, or striving. This can actually be a means of you coming to know the Father's heart more deeply. Someone else's relationship with God doesn't have to threaten your relationship with God. Choose to be inspired, not spun into comparison.

I was in a beautiful situation where I came back to the exact same job three years after doing it, and the second time around, I was at peace so much more, because I chose to be confident in the Father. It wasn't all smooth sailing, and this security in identity was forged in me over years and years...and is still being forged. Regardless, there's this choice you have to make:

You can get caught up in exhaustion and fear...or you can worship.

You can turn every day into worship. When you're stretched? Worship. When you're frustrated? Worship. When you're challenged? Worship. When you're facing things about yourself that make you uncomfortable? Worship.

What does that look like?

That looks like giving it all back to God. Claiming His goodness. Claiming His power. Receiving your sonship, your daughterhood...knowing that it all knows no bounds.

The summer missionary life is not totally glamorous. It's not all Instagram posts and sometimes, you'll feel lonely and spent and not know why.

But you're serving Someone greater than yourself and He cares about you.

He's for you.

You're enough to do exactly what He's called you to do. Take chances. Put yourself out there. Love boldly. Be a tone setter of positivity and kindness. Know that your voice has power.

There are so many good things that are going to happen to you this summer. It's going to cost everything, though, if you let it, and that's my biggest piece of advice-- Give everything. Hold nothing back. You won't regret having given too little; you'll regret the costly oil of your life that you're still holding onto, that you didn't anoint the King's feet with.

He's worthy of it all.

Every unseen sacrifice, every moment that you push yourself when you don't want to, when you think you're too tired.

You know Jesus. That's why you've come. And He'll take you deeper and deeper into His heart...but hear me, friend: you know Him.

And He knows you.

I could tell stories of a thousand different moments of breakthrough, of powerful miracles, of deep community, but I think those are what's talked about more than the imperfect realities.

It's okay if you don't become best friends with anyone. It's okay if it's not what you thought it would be like. It's okay if you get frustrated and maybe even regret giving the summer away. It's okay if it's not a perfect experience of chacos and finding your future husband/wife (which please for the love of everything good and holy, DO NOT go in with that mindset...maybe that's a whole separate blog post. But if you're actively expecting him/her to show up, you'll try to conform any good person you see into the person you're supposed to spend the rest of your life with. Be open handed with the Lord, and He'll be faithful.)-- there's a deeper reason for you being where you are:

Jesus wants you to encounter Him in this space.

The reality is this: you're needed, right where He's placed you. And if you go, with open arms-- you won't be disappointed. Because this isn't not for you to build up your spiritual resume; it's for you to give your life away, and for Jesus to give you His. And in my experience, that always ends up looking very different from how I thought it would.

Let go of your expectations and anticipate His glory. He's here, and He's coming for you.

I'm praying for you this summer. Please don't hesitate to reach out to me before you leave so I can pray for you by name. You're going to crush this.

For more on my summer last year as a missionary, read this.

Photo credit: Sarah Noltner