I had the pleasure of attending a work related conference in Geneva, Switzerland last week. It was a Humanitarian Logistics Conference hosted by the Fritz Institute. It was a gathering of over 40 supply chain and logistics leaders from various global NGOs, UN agencies and the International Federation of the Red Cross. I was honored to be among this special group of multi-national individuals and birds of a feather.

It was particularly interesting given this was a secular gathering (I think those of us from World Vision, and Catholic Relief Services represented the only faith based NGOs). During my entire career in engineering and business (and throughout most of my higher education) I have been in the gender minority. I always notice in a large meeting like this what the female to male ration is…it’s just a habit. Here again there were less than 30% women, which is actually not bad compared to the US average of women in operations and supply chain work. But in addition, there was a new aspect of being in a minority group, that of a Christian aid worker. Now, of course I realize there very well might have been many other Christians in the room, but for some reason, I still felt different. Perhaps it was more apparent when we shared meals and I was hesitant to bless my food out loud. Or perhaps it was the significant increase in the amount of bar hopping and late night cocktails among this peer group that I wasn’t used to. Certainly the presence of a Muslim woman in a head covering indicated the diversity of faith at the table.

This ultimately is exactly the missional atmosphere I love the most. I am generally more comfortable outside of the Christian bubble. I’d rather be around regular secular folk who also share a common passion to serve others but among whom one’s faith is not so clearly defined or understood (though I can only imagine what they assumed about me working at WV). I was nonetheless able to chat about matters of faith with some folks who seemed interested. In fact, I had a wonderful chance to pray with a woman who was certainly seeking direction in her life but never disclosed her beliefs. The impact was powerful and I know God was present. There was also this African woman working for a UN agency with whom I clicked and in whom I clearly saw the presence of Christ. After a brief chat, she disclosed that she used to work for World Vision many years ago. Small world. I like being in this minority group.

On a side note, I also had a wonderful visit to the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent museum which is just across from the UN. I am passionate about disaster relief and walking through the history of this organization was a treat. Henry Dunant was a Christian who started it all back around 1862 after witnessing the Battle of Solferino. He was a true humanitarian and won the first Nobel Peace Prize in 1901. He’s my new missional hero. Though it has since become a secular organization, the Red Cross and Red Crescent societies have had a powerful impact around the world, helping the suffering and oppressed. I was a volunteer in Austin, and think I should get involved again here near my home. Maybe once the travel slows down a bit.

A massive cyclone has hit Burma this week and I feel the itch to go. I know that it is not my time yet, but someday I pray for the invitation to serve in crisis. For now, I love what I am doing and will pray for our relief efforts and for so many who are suffering. The count of those who died is escalating daily.

Posted by Sharon at 5:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Back off the continent again! Today I write this from my hotel in Johannesburg, South Africa. I am here hosting a meeting with my fellow World Vision employees, one of whom happens to run all of World Vision’s Humanitarian Emergency Affairs for Africa. (which is pretty much my dream job). I was honored to have Steve here. Having very recently dealt with a huge post-election political crisis in Kenya, Steve kept one eye on his email all day watching for any news on Zimbabwe. It is interesting being here watching the Zimbabwe presidential elections. The whole world is watching, but Africa is watching, and praying and holding her breath as she waits for the results. The election is extremely close, with the opposition candidate, Tsvangirai, falling short of the required absolute majority to avoid a second round. No one knows if Mugabe will go down with a fight or not. The tension is rising. Foreign journalists are being hunted under tight media laws.

I was in Zimbabwe two months ago in a tourist area near Victoria Falls. Though we were shielded from the typical suffering due to the acute economic crisis, it was still apparent. Clearly the lack of other tourists in and around the hotel was a symptom. I have no idea how this hotel could afford to stay open. Other signs were the desperate sales tactics used by young Zimbabweans accosting us to buy trinkets on our walk to the Falls. They needed my money way more than I did.

Join me as we pray against any violent confrontation and for positive political change in this economically devastated nation. The people of Zimbabwe need our prayers and need God to take action.

Posted by Sharon at 10:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

After a ridiculous global work travel schedule these past 6 weeks, I was able to take a (relatively) short trip to Ireland to attend a dear friend’s wedding. I have deeply desired to visit Ireland. I am an Irish (and Polish) American. My father’s side has deep Irish roots, eventually transplanted to western Massachusetts, where I was born. I favor my dad’s side of the family in looks and physical attributes. I guess I look and feel more Irish. This became all the more obvious as I stepped off the plane in Cork, Ireland last week. It was a sweet and precious moment. I felt strangely familiar and comfortable and quite at home. I saw people who sort of looked like me, with the same nose, coloring, and build. I met total strangers who acted like kin to me in no time. I saw the most beautiful countryside, lined with rolling green lush hills, with grazing cattle and big fluffy sheep. I drank my first true Guinness at a bar, and it went down like a Dr. Pepper. After attending a marathon Irish Catholic wedding in Clonakilty and Innishannon, that lasted from 1:30 PM until 3:00 AM, I was officially indoctrinated as an Irishwoman. I really didn’t want to leave.

Thankfully, I had one day to sight see and ventured off to the Blarney Castle. If you are going to do one thing in Ireland to show your heritage, it certainly must be kissing the Blarney stone! It involves lying on your back, and doing a back-bend of sorts, and leaning way down to smack your lips on the very out-of-reach piece of stone. All of this occurs after you have climbed up and up, through a narrow winding case of ancient stone spiral steps to the top of the castle. If you are excessively overweight and/or claustrophobic, good luck! I now supposedly have earned the gift of eloquence for accomplishing this feat.

My plans are to remain in the USA for the next 4 weeks. I have not been in America for longer than a week since January began. I will have some domestic travel, though, so won’t settle in for too long. I am now only coming up on my 4th month with World Vision. It continues to be an adventure.

Posted by Sharon at 2:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Written February 6, 2008
Outskirts of Chennai, India
As I sit on a mini-van in route to a World Vision Area Development Program (ADP) I am reading an article about programs against malnutrition in a World Vision magazine. The issues of children, starving and facing massive hunger and child development issues in Zimbabwe and Haiti are discussed. I get an overwhelming feeling of sadness and hopelessness at the issues we fight. I don’t know how we can truly make an impact. I am on my way to my 3rd ADP visit; first was in Dodwa Ghana; 2nd was in Vardenis, Armenia, and today is Gingee, India. I can’t tell you what I expect to see, since each country is so diverse. What I notice along the drive is the daily life of Indian people; children in school uniforms going to school; women walking to the store; men commuting on mopeds; busses full of passengers; lots of horns blowing as we drive. There are people everywhere. India has over three times as many people in land mass a third the size of the United States. It is so crowded here. I feel so out of place. I am so rich and spoiled and fearful of my own health and well-being. I imagine what it would be like if I lived full time in an ADP village, say in Zimbabwe or Haiti. Could I survive? For whatever reason, my friends Marika and Dale with Mennonite Central Committee come to mind. She is American, and loves India and lived here for a year or more. She impresses me. She has a strength within her that I seem to lack. She has an inner confidence and this sort of external oneness with the environment. She almost seems out of place in Pasadena and I imagine she is perfectly at home in the remote village in Uganda. I miss her and I really must visit them in Uganda. They are living as incarnationally as any one I know. Each has had malaria already. I take the anti-malaria meds. They don’t.

I feel this tension within me. One side desires to go and live among the poor and oppressed, who suffer daily. I desire to be simple and poor, and rely upon God more completely. I want to feel the daily impact of my work in tangible ways. I must flee the ivory tower of World Vision Global Centre and go before it is too late. Will I fit in a local community? Would I emotionally self-destruct? Could I learn to deal with such a life? This tension lies directly against my other desire to remain with a foot in the West. I long to move upward and use positional authority to make things change. I can affect large budgets and technology and projects from there. I can earn enough money to support others in missions and to sponsor children in poverty. I can travel the world and stay in comfy hotels and eat good, clean, safe food and water. I can take malaria pills and diarrhea meds and not get too sick. I can remain an outsider in each culture I visit. I can be a “development tourist” and yet still make a contribution to the cause. I can see poverty up close, but yet not have to really be poor. I can bring awareness and influence to my naïve and sheltered circle of friend, family, and church. I acknowledge this tension most when I travel to non-western places. I recall the first hints of this feeling when I crossed the border to Nuevo Laredo, Mexico in 2003. It only has gotten stronger with time.

As the bus leaves the city we now begin to see the rolling hills of South India. It is pretty scenery. So was the trip to Vardenis, Armenia ADP. I recall the breathtaking views of snow covered mountains and lakes. It is quite hot outside here. Our bus is air-conditioned. No on else’s is. We are development workers and we are rich. Am I a hypocrite? Perhaps. I have more education than 98% of the world. A blessing? Yes. A burden? Yes. How will I best serve the Lord with all that I have, today? I was called here to India to help my team but what is my real purpose of being here? It costs a ton of money for me to be here; more than an average man makes in a year as income in India. How will I make that investment worth it?

This tension exists within me and for now, I don’t know what to change. I rely on a daily walk and daily instructions from my God and the Spirit that dwells within me. If my spirit is unrestful and my heart is not at peace, I know I must not be stagnant. I may simply be opportunistic and going as the wind blows. Or I may be going as the Spirit leads me and trusting opportunity and God’s will are one in the same. I have experienced a union of God’s will and my will quite often lately. Maybe not entirely this trip but now that I am here, I feel the unity. I also watch as my crazy life goes not on a predictable schedule. I feel okay with this. I must be okay with this. My world is changing rapidly. My call to the nations is happening right before me. God is honoring the commitment. My God is faithful and continues to push me, slowly forward, pressing me harder to sacrifice my needs and wants. Yet all the while I still have dreams coming true. Like seeing the leopards in Botswana last week or the Giants winning the Super Bowl, (though I didn’t feel the total present joy because I missed the game; funny realization, I also missed the Red Sox win the World Series because I went to Lebanon). I get very different satisfactions here in India. It’s a deeper more significant pleasure than the win of a favorite sports team.

The tension sits deep in the pit of my stomach. I’ll just let it be, for now.

Posted by Sharon at 12:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I am in a state of shock and sadness for our body of Christ that grieves the loss of several young believers in Colorado, including two YWAM staff members, Tiffany Johnson, 26, and Philip Crouse, 24. I was in Arvada, Colorado at this training base about one year ago as my dear friend, Carly, graduated from phase II of her DTS (Discipleship Training School). I was humbled and proud as I watched Carly and her classmates complete this intense program. The YWAM experience has transformed the lives of countless young leaders who have gone through similar training. The YWAM family is global in scope but is also very close and small in many ways. I know the shock of this senseless killing is rippling around the world to touch many. And for those of us who may not know anyone directly affected, you simply have to watch the news today and you too will be affected.

Just a few months after Carly’s graduation, I was back in Colorado Springs in March. I passed New Life Church and could not help but stop in to see this mega-church. I was specifically drawn by the huge global World Prayer Center, surrounded by flags of all nations. My friend Krissy and I just walked in and spent a few hours worshipping with other unknown believers, underneath a massive globe, spinning on its axis, with a beautiful mountain range outside in the distance. As a person who has a heart for the nations, and a love for praise and worship, this was a real treat for me, to happen upon this gorgeous place dedicated to prayer for the world. We explored the building, and saw the YWAM class rooms in the hallways of this building as well. People were very friendly, and I wished I lived near such an amazing place.

That Sunday I attended a New Life service and was quite amazed by the whole experience. The church was still grieving the loss of Pastor Ted Haggard and all the shame and bad press that came with his struggles. It was, and is, an awesome church. Today, I too grieve their loss of two sisters, Stephanie Works, 18, and Rachael Works, 16, who were killed by the same gunman who shot Tiffany and Philip, and several others who are still in hospitals.

Please pray with me for those who are still wounded, for those friends and families of the departed, and yes, even for the man who shot them, and his family. Don’t let all the crap in the news distract you from remembering the fact that these young people died while serving full-time in missions. Also, as the press elevates the brave woman who shot the killer, Jeanne Assam, we can give thanks that fewer lives were lost because of her. However, we must not revel in another killing, despite how evil this man’s actions were. It is all awful, senseless and tragic.

Lord help us to understand this all...And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28.

Posted by Sharon at 10:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

As I reflect on my courses at Fuller, there were many that were quite good. However, if I had to narrow it down to the best of the best, I must name the three that affected me most, and literally changed me personally and wholeheartedly. They were Advocacy for Social Justice, Transformational Development (Now Poverty & Development), and Culture and Transformation, all courses in the SIS department. There is certainly a theme here among these courses. They are predominately focused on a theology of facing our role as Christians in a world of oppression and poverty. They each took a different perspective on this topic and opened my eyes to subjects I have never considered. For instance, the Advocacy class gave me an overview of the most horrid practices in the world, such as human slavery and child trafficking. The TD class introduced me to multiple views of poverty and most importantly, to a spiritual framework to address poverty. Culture & Transformation helped me look at my role in ministry through my own cultural bias. It helped me understand the challenge and importance of understanding issues of power, basic values and biblical interpretation as I enter into other diverse cultures desiring to use community development.

Additionally, there were several great professors…Bryant Myers, Bobby Clinton, Doug McConnell, and Erin Dufault-Hunter, to name a few. However, I must say, without a doubt, hands down, Dr. Sherwood Lingenfelter is a professor in a class all by himself. I took Culture and Transformation with him as well as Sexuality, Ministry and Culture which he co-taught with his wonderful wife, Dr. Judith Lingenfelter. Sherwood brings to the class room an incredibly rich depth of experience in the field of missions and anthropology. However, it is the brilliance of his biblical devotions and his frank and open vulnerability in the class room that have impacted me most. He is also the Provost at Fuller, so doesn’t have to teach, but he still does. If you leave Fuller and don’t take a course with Sherwood, you have missed out on one of the great ones!

Posted by Sharon at 7:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Today I sit in an internet cafe in the heart of Beirut, Lebanon. Three weeks ago, I made a decision to come here, without a real plan for what comes after. I had a Plan A (to stay for 5 weeks and complete my practicum) and Plan B (get a job before I go, and come back after 2 weeks). Praise God, Plan A came through in the last minute, and I got a wonderful job with World Vision International (www.wvi.org) a Christian relief, development and advocacy organization dedicated to working with children and families and communities to overcome poverty and injustice!! My position is a Business Analyst position on the PMIS (Project Management Info Systems) team. This is a huge global initiative to gather knowledge and processes from around World Vision and build a common system with new technology. I'll be a Supply Chain rep., based in Monrovia, CA, and will likely travel extensively globally, over the next 6 months. I'll start on November 14th, the day after I return from Lebanon.

My time at Fuller has given me a unique lens through which I am viewing my time in Lebanon. This is my first time in a predominately Muslim context. I have prepared just a bit, by reading Colin Chapman’s, Cross and Crescent: Responding to the Challenge of Islam, which is a very helpful book for Christians trying to understand and relate to Muslim peoples. But now that I am here, I see no book can truly capture the massive spectrum of views, cultures, and beliefs that exist under this umbrella. This is much the same way Muslim people try to sum up views of American Christians and think we have a view that could be captured in one book. Yeah right!

Beirut, Lebanon has more western influence than I anticipated. This was evident as we walked by the Starbucks adjacent to our hotel. We have also traveled deep in the South, and up North where you go through a virtual time warp. The mix of people I have come across is vast, from Christians, both Orthodox, and Evangelical; to Shi’ite Muslims, aligned with Hezbollah or Amal; to Palestinian Muslims. Though many speak English, Arabic is the primary language, which I do not speak. Our hosts, who are American, have been wise and invested the first several years here learning the language. It makes such a big difference.

The main goal of our trip is to do medical outreach and to love and serve people in the name of Jesus. We have a team consisting of a doctor, nurse, occupational therapist, and two administrator, logistics types. We have been setting up these make-shift clinics in villages and inviting the local people to come and receive free check-ups. Our main objective is to support the long-term team, as they move to build relationships and bridges to these communities. We have had ample opportunity to pray for our brothers and sisters here and ask for God’s healing to come.

I must also say that I have been completely blown away at the hospitality of these people. When you come into even the simplest Muslim home, you will always be treated like a king / queen! There is always tea or coffee, often a snack, and sometimes a bit of fruity narghile (or hookah). It is so hard to refuse the hospitality, and after visiting several homes in a row, you may end up with a nice caffeine buzz for a while.

It is a shame there is not much draw for Americans to visit Lebanon these days. I however, am thankful I overcame my fear and took this trip. I encourage any of you who desire to see the Middle East, to consider Lebanon as your first stop!

Posted by Sharon at 6:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I don’t know about you, but since I decided to do missions full-time, a few years ago, I get antsy if after several months I haven’t gotten my butt overseas to serve. I am thinking this is part of God’s plan in converting our hearts, turning us from focusing on ourselves to focusing on the world. I recall in my class, Biblical Foundation of Missions, Dr. “Chuckâ€? Van Engen describing a process that the apostle Peter went through in Luke and Acts. It was a transformation of Peter’s heart first to Jesus, then to the Church, then to the World. This echoed true in my life as well.

About 8 years ago, I went through a re-commitment to Christ after a luke-warm, non-committal Christian life through most of my twenties. I was raised Catholic, and decided to join a Vineyard Church after I moved to Austin, TX. After a short few months attending services, I decided following Jesus needed to be central in my life and I committed to pursue my life’s purpose as a follower of Christ. This was the first phase.

Once I began to read scripture and obey God, the next obvious thing was the decision and desire to commit to a church. This began a gradual process of deepening my engagement. I attended Alpha, joined a small group, became a children’s minister, and really got to know others in my church. Phase two became a reality as I no longer was an anonymous ‘pew sitter’ but an engaged and committed member.

Phase three just seemed a natural progression (though I realize many never move to this level) as I felt a tug to join our church’s missions efforts and went to Mexico for a weekend outreach. This began my final phase. Here I saw abject poverty, and witnessed oppression and darkness in stark contrast, just 45 minutes over the border of the wealthiest nation in the world. Over the next year, I served in Mexico, then made a rather quick decision to join a small team on medical missions to the Philippines. Once I returned, I was deeply struck by the third and final phase of my conversion. This is the one that would most profoundly affect my future. And it was the following year that I quit my phat corporate job to come to Fuller.

So, now, that itch I was talking about, comes after I have not traveled overseas for a period of time. I felt it last summer after about a year of now travel abroad. This time, it has been about 11 months, and I gotta go!! Fortunately, I’ll be heading to Lebanon next week with my church for a short-term medical and relief trip.

Clearly those seasoned missionaries who helped design Fuller’s School of Intercultural Studies MACCS degree, understood what I am talking about. It was their foresight by which we are able (and required) to scratch this itch in our program. They have built in a required 8 credit cross-cultural practicum that demands you to go abroad and participate in ministry at some point for 5 weeks during your degree. (http://www.fuller.edu/sis/main/advising/practicum_overview.asp)

So, those of you who are settled in one place too long, and have the missional itch, you are not alone. If you care to share your thoughts or experiences, I’d love to hear them. I am honestly very new to this life, and I cannot wait to touch my feet on every continent, in countless nations!

Posted by Sharon at 9:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Welcome to my blog! I suppose this will particularly appeal to those of you interested in Fuller’s School of Intercultural Studies (SIS, formerly known as the School for World Missions), but also those interested in a non-traditional missions path. I have a passion to do international emergency relief work as a Christian vocation. I plan to write more about my path to Fuller from the corporate world to give you some background, or maybe to inspire some of you stuck in the mundane, uninspiring corporate muck, wondering "isn’t there more to life than this?"

More excitingly, I invite you to join me as a Fuller graduate, traversing the world of relief and development work as missions. The areas I want to reflect upon are how exactly did my time at Fuller prepare me for my ministry, and what are the key professors, courses, books, and other experiences that equipped me. Of course, this also means I need to discuss where the program may have fallen short or where I could have made different choices to enrich my experiences while at Fuller. Overall, my time at Fuller was precious. It powerfully shaped me spiritually, emotionally, intellectually, and theologically. My courses opened my eyes to the realities of global poverty and injustice, while deepening my compassion to pursue a vocation in relief and development as missions. I have confronted my own innermost fears and weaknesses and faced them alongside a rich, loving community offered through the School of Intercultural Studies cohort program. My professors have prepared me with a biblical foundation for cross-cultural ministry and a wealth of invaluable mentoring.

So I’ll start with a bit of background…I was drawn to Fuller when I heard that the School of Intercultural Studies would prepare me in theology, missions, and relief and development work. I was specifically sold when I heard a very seasoned expert, and former executive with World Vision International, Dr. Bryant Myers, was joining Fuller full-time to advance the international development concentration. My degree is a Master of Arts in Crosscultural Studies (MACCS) and I had a concentration in International Development. I started in the Fall of 2005 and took courses through the Summer of 2007, thus completing my degree in two years. The first year, I was a bit insane/naive and took 4 classes each quarter (I didn’t have a job either) and in retrospect, was very happy I did that because it lightened up my second year. I was able to take an easy summer and take on a part-time job during my second year, working in the SIS office on a Career Placement strategy for SIS grads (that is a whole other topic that I can share on later).

I came to Fuller with a dog and a cat and thus had to live off campus. I am still based in Altadena, CA just a few miles from Fuller but am currently seeking to secure a leadership position in emergency relief with an international Christian nonprofit or humanitarian organization. I can’t say I have a particular region I prefer, but rather a heart for the whole world. My immediate family resides in St. Louis, Missouri, and my extended family lives in and around New England. I have personally lived in Massachusetts, Alabama, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, Illinois, Missouri, and California. I suppose all of this moving around in my early life prepared me for a missionary life. Outside of a trip to London England, and Paris, France when I was in high school, I’ve just begun to see the world in the last several years, including missions work in Mexico, Belize, and the Philippines; a business school trip to China; and a recent two-week journey with World Vision to Kenya, Zambia, and Ghana.

Well, this is just a brief initial introduction. Welcome, and please, stay tuned for much more to come!!

Posted by Sharon at 3:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)