Tears

At work, we have hired a couple student workers to call down a list of people and ask them to take the survey they've been sent.  (I applaud these workers - I couldn't do it!)  One of them just came out of the office with tears on her face, asking how she'd ever handle being a counselor.

As it turns out, she got ahold of a woman who just lost her husband, and our student worker got to listen to this lady's story.  By the end, they were both in tears.  I understand.  I, too, have spoken with recent widows and widowers who have shared with me their stories.  Whether they are calling to donate their late spouse's books, or needing to update our records, they call.  They have to relive their pain.  They tell it again.

Over the summer, my team quickly learned that I cry.  A lot.  In fact, by the last sessions, they were all waiting for me to start crying.  There was a mutually acknowledged moment when I did start crying (it didn't take very long) and we all laughed.

I have rarely apologized for crying.  I have, however, warned people it was coming.  When I meet a new group who I know will get to experience the waterworks, I typically give them a PSA something along the lines of "crying is normal in my house.  It's not an event: it's kinda like breathing."  Eventually, they believe me.

But this summer was different.  By the end of the summer, more than one person told me that one of the greatest gifts I had offered the group was my tears.  It wasn't my humility (ha!).  It wasn't my servant heart (that needed some serious surgery this summer).  My tears.  Apparently, me crying showed others what crying can look like.  I didn't know that was a need.

Growing up, I had heard my mom share that she had been thanked for crying.  I didn't really get it, but I somehow grasped that crying is ok.  This summer, I learned that my tears invite others to be allowed to feel.  They open the gates.  They invite others to a place of acknowledging pain and struggle.  Through tears, I could reframe vulnerability as a strength in others, not a weakness.

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When our student came out of the office today, I just wanted to hug her.  She wants to know how she can be a counselor if that phone call made her cry.  I think the fact that the phone call made her cry is what makes her qualified to be a counselor.

What really are tears?  They're an acknowledgement that things aren't ok.  They're not the way things are supposed to be.  They come from a heart broken from what is and hopeful for what is to come.  Therefore, tears are a gift.  They're an invitation, an acknowledgement, and a hope.

Support Raising

For those of you who missed it, here is the support letter I sent out about three months ago:

Hello Friends,

 As some of you know, and many of you will not be surprised to hear, I like to summarize the passion God has given me for supporting His Church as two-fold: I am passionate about pouring into the people who are already part of the Church so they are equipped and encouraged to reach those outside the church, and I am passionate about connecting the Church in America with the Universal Church in tangible, practical ways. I am more than thrilled to share with you that God has led me over the last year to an opportunity to do both of these things. I will be spending two months this summer (Summer 2016) with an organization called Serge in Ireland!

 Honestly, before I take time to share more about this “internship,” I want to be very upfront in my ask: while I need financial support for this trip, and I do ask you to prayerfully consider how you can give ­­toward this opportunity, more than anything else, I covet your prayer and your encouragement for this trip. Yes, I have a lot of money to raise and there is a lot for which I am relying on God. But God has never left me hanging when He has called me – whether He has called me to a new job or on a trip overseas, He has always provided.

 Please commit to praying for me and for this trip: …that I continue to trust God as I wait to see His provision. …that God continues to prepare my heart for this trip and that I will be gracious and humble. …for unity as a team and that God will open doors for us in Ireland to touch needs.

 While these are the biggest things about which I ask for your prayers, please also be in prayer for the details on this side of the trip: …the ability to work ahead well at my job and for smooth transitions to and from the temporary person. …for support raising for trip costs and other financial needs I will have over this time. Please pray for all these things for the other members of my team, as well!

 On this trip, we will spend time supporting pastors and missionaries who already work in Ireland. We American interns will begin our time in Ireland with a week of training and discipleship in Dublin, after which we’ll join with Irish locals and head out in groups to join ministry leaders where they are already working. At each location, we are there to partner with whatever these pastors and missionaries are already doing – working to assist and encourage them as they proclaim Gospel and grace despite a growing atmosphere of atheism there. We will stay in each location for a week or two before moving to the next place.

As I mentioned above, please consider how God is leading you to partner with me for this opportunity. Serge requires that I raise over $5,000 to cover airfare to and from Ireland, food & lodging, local transportation, and other ministry expenses. Fifty percent of my funding is due by March 31, and the remainder is due by May 6. If you are led to support me on this trip, checks can be made payable to Serge and mailed to the address on my pledge card (which you should include with your check). You may also submit donations online by going to serge.org/staff/id-22100/.

 One last thing: I would much rather discuss this in person (or at least voice-to-voice) with each and every one of you so I can share about the passions God has placed on my heart and about my excitement for this trip! While I hope to contact many of you in a few weeks to do so and to see how God is leading you to support this trip, please feel free to call or text me at XXX.XXX.XXXX. You can also email me at brittany.stichter@gmail.com.

 Thank you for joining me in this opportunity as the Lord leads you!

             May the Lord make His face to shine upon you!

NOTE: I am more than fully funded!! God is so good!
NOTE 2: If you would like to receive the 2ish update emails I hope to send while I'm gone, please email me.

I expect to write more soon... I want to write about what all has happened in the last three months.

I will also post the update email I sent out yesterday, but it may take me a day or two to get to it...

See you soon!
B