The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, 

while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied. 

Proverbs 13:4

I'm a child of the midwest, USA. Good work ethic is something that was taught, modeled, and woven into the fabric of my value system. I've always known that something worth having is something worth working hard for.... and this goes into all areas of life: relationships, money, accomplishments, etc. 

But (and now I'm gonna pick on my generation a bit) in working with young people and interacting with all types of people from all over the globe, we are becoming more and more affected by our "instant" society. I feel that we have made a shift to losing patience if we can't get what we want or accomplish something right away. 

When I moved to my last location overseas, my thinking was "I have to get this done RIGHT AWAY because time is running short. And God is in it so he will bless it and make things happen." I was frustrated and disillusioned and questioned the strength of my faith when things didn't happen as fast as I wanted them to. I find that my thinking is different at this stage in the game (granted, I'm not THAT much more mature, maybe just a bit more experienced and sobered by reality) but I'm much more willing to wait and realizing, I need to put in a bit of work. 

"Language learning is so hard! I just keep asking God to give me the gift of tongues so I can speak fluently." This was a conversation I've heard more than once from more than one person. Putting in the work seems like a waste of time to get where we want. 

"Things in ministry are going so slow. The people I'm discipling just don't seem to get it." 

"I really want to know the Bible more but I don't have time to study it like you've gotten to." It's as though our generation has equated things not happening right away to failure (in themselves, others or God) or to it not being worth it because they are not getting results instantly. 

One thing the Bible shows me and one thing working in discipleship has opened my eyes more to is that the journey is often more important than the destination. Time and time again, God circles the same issues with the same people, patiently waiting while they make the same mistakes again and again. He's in no rush. Discipleship takes time; it's messy and it's a lot of work to walk with people through their stuff. Language learning takes time, effort, bad days and good days, but along the way you make discoveries and you value the language in ways you never would if you could suddenly just know all the right words to say. The relationships that require the long talks, the effort and the work are usually the ones we value the most and would be the most painful to lose. 

Those people in life who have had to fight and work for where they are often seem to value it so much more than those who have just been handed it (not always, but generally). I think hard work and not getting things instantaneously is actually a gift from God. We are so quick to not appreciate and I believe it's a beautiful thing to value the things in life that are good....relationships, accomplishing things like finishing school or learning a language or becoming skilled for a job, knowing the word of God more deeply because you've invested time in it, building up a ministry or seeing a friend you've been praying for come to a deeper place with God. 

Just because it's easy, doesn't mean it's better. In some ways I think it's the other way around. So my encouragement to those of you who may be in the middle of a painfully slow and hard journey that is taking a lot of effort, hang in there. Thank God for the work because it's opening your heart to appreciation. You are getting the gift of truly valuing the things in your life. And don't give up because you're probably in the middle of something that is more of a blessing than the burden of the effort it's taking you to move forward. Your soul is being richly supplied. 

the screaming demon dog

This is not the dog in question, but is just one of the many dogs here in Taiwan
that are treasured and pampered by the Taiwanese

Taiwanese LOVE their dogs. I thought America was a dog-owners paradise, but Taiwan has got it beat hands-down. Dogs here often don't get walked, they get carried....in arms, in bags, and sometimes in strollers. If you see someone pushing a stroller down the street, it's not guaranteed there is a child inside. I've seen dogs, cats, even rabbits.

Dogs here in Taiwan wear clothes, bows and get their fur shaved all kinds of funky ways when the hot weather hits. My favorite is when they shave the golden retrievers leaving only the fur around the head and the tip of the tail so they look like mini lions.

Dogs are allowed in restaurants and in the train if they are in carriers. One coffee shop nearby the owner's dog regularly sits on one of the tables (I never drink my coffee at that table!). I've even seen dog owners wipe their dogs with toilet paper after they have a nice poo. It is a dog's paradise here. And people love to own the cute little tiny dogs. Other popular ones are golden retrievers and huskies (poor guys! living on a tropical island!)

Because there are so many people in such a tiny space, our neighborhood is packed full of dogs in peoples' apartments. You often hear them barking at night and it's gotten to be just background noise to me now, almost so that I hardly notice it. It blends in with the sounds of traffic, motos, the constant buzz of the Chinese language, the melody of the garbage trucks and the sound of the man driving around selling stinky tofu.

BUT, one of our neighbors got a new dog a few days ago that doesn't just bark, it scream-barks. And I'm pretty sure the owners are never home, so the dog is free to scream-bark all day and alllllll.night.long. Oh my goodness.

I'm not an angry person. I have lived in so many cultures and so many different places that I can deal with a lot of things as they come. But this dog is a constant "anger button" pusher. Last night I closed my window, turned on the fan, put ear plugs in and still the scream-barking echoed through my brain. My roommates and I all emerged this morning from our rooms, bleary-eyed and immediately started venting about our corporately horrible nights' sleep due to the demon-dog down the street.

And here's the fun part about cross-cultural living. In America, I march myself over and tell my neighbors quite directly that if they can't control the noise of their demon-dog, I'm going to have to call the cops. I tell them their dog's barking means I can't sleep or study and it's infringing on my personal right to quiet and my own life. Then I file a complaint. etc. I know how to deal with it. But here we debate....should we talk to our neighbors? (Confronting directly in such an indirect culture can really damage relationships). Do we talk to the landlord and make it his problem so he can mediate for us? Can we even voice our frustration or are we supposed to just suck it up as the rest of the community has to? In Afghanistan our neighbors dealt with our dog by throwing pieces of bread soaked with poison over our wall, killing our dog, rather than talking with us.

So, I'm pretty sure the saga will continue. And I have to admit, as much as I wasn't a huge fan of little dogs in the past (I grew up with retrievers and German shepherds as pets) I'm REALLY not a fan of little yappy dogs any more.

to better understand....

We live in such a multi-cultural, multi-religious society. As an American, I was taught from a young age that your religion, race, culture, politics, opinions are your own and it's rude to intrude on peoples' personal lives. However, in my travels and interactions with people from all over the world, I get into discussions about these things more than most small talk, which I admit, I quite enjoy.

One thing I've been wanting to do for awhile is read the Qur'an through, beginning to end. I've dragged my feet on it for awhile though because I wanted to have a more firm foundation in my own Holy Book (um....that would be the Bible for those that may just be stumbling on this blog) before delving too deeply into another.

So a friend and I are reading this together and meeting to discuss what we are discovering. I won't be posting much on here because the intent is not to engage in argument with others who believe differently, but my goal is to see why people believe the things they believe. And in a world that seems to be so divided between Muslim and Christian, I want to be a voice of helping bridge that gap and helping us find some common ground, respect for one another and at the same time not compromise what it is I stand for.

So, if you see me around reading this book, I'm not considering other options or doubting my faith in Jesus, but if God truly tells us to "make disciples of all nations" I want to have a better understanding of those nations. 

Some thoughts on "team"

About a week ago I had a whole week of meetings with the group of people pictured above. One of the girls took this picture and posted it on facebook.....and it led me to thinking a bit nostalgically and reflectively at all the teams I've been able to be a part of over the years.

One of my organizations core values is functioning within teams. When you read that in a value statement it sounds ideal, perfect, "of course, we need each other, we are the body of Christ." Then you join a team, you lead a team, or you get "put" on a team and that's when reality sits in. You realize the people around you are different from you, that they may disagree with what you think are your own incredible ideas. Sometimes they fight with you, they tell you the things you are doing wrong. They confront you and call you out on your crap. Teams take work, effort.

But then teams are also there to be a sounding board. They have people on them who think differently than you and can help solve problems in ways you never would have dreamed of, they have multiplied man-power to accomplish things, they have giftings in areas you are weak. They lift you up when you feel you can't go on. They pray with you and for you. They let you cry, laugh, be opinionated, be shy, etc, etc, etc. Hopefully teams can become a family that supports each other and loves one another.

The above picture is my current team, a high quality group of individuals....we are all teachers (at least in this season of our lives) and all learning from one another. Each one of these people is doing amazing things and is amazing in and of themselves, my hope is that together as a team we can be even more effective.

So, in my reflections I was thinking about teams and especially some of my leaders in the past who have had great impact on me:

Covenant Park Bible Camp: Every summer I worked with a team of staff. I learned through these times how you can have so much fun it's ridiculous, and love Jesus so crazily that it changes peoples' lives. The camp director taught me a lot about leadership that is not afraid to confront...he called me out a few times in a way that really built me up, not tore me down. I learned the damaging effects of cliques but also how friendships that are knit that tightly can last a really long time (as many of them are still a part of my life today. One of the most important lessons I learned as a young leaders is that you can never over-communicate and that has been a value that's stuck with me since then.

Residence Life at Northwestern College: I worked as a Resident Assistant with a group of amazing women my first year and a co-ed group my second year. I learned sisterhood during this time, which was a big deal growing up with only brothers. I learned how to be really honest with a group of people. I learned about integrity and I learned a LOT from my first RA about "not blowing sunshine" and speaking openly about things that need to be brought into the light. I also learned that even though you may be really different from the people on your team, you can depend on them and build good trusting relationships with them. I learned how to be a better discipler from the women that I worked with.

Staffing in my current organization: I worked on a variety of short-term teams and staffing with different groups of people my first few years. It was then I began to recognize the leadership giftings that God had put in me and also the red flag of pride that could so often swell up in my heart. I was challenged on what it means to serve and lead at the same time. I worked with people that helped me dream bigger than my limited capabilities, who had faith that if God spoke, it was on him to make it happen and not just my energy that would bring things to pass. I learned how to lead when everything changes and you have to make decisions on the spot.

C.Asia: My team in C. Asia was the most "family-like" group I've ever been a part of, partly out of necessity, partly out of the environment we found ourselves in, but a lot because we chose to be there for each other in that way, and our hearts were truly for one another. These are people I still consider family today even though we are literally scattered around the globe (though all still pursuing the same heart and passion which we started out together as a team with). I learned on this team that relationship can be more important than task, that differences in leadership styles are good but require a lot of communication and give-and-take. I learned SO much about commitment and the results of the lack of it through these years. I grew in investing in a foundational value of prayer and seeking God in everything that I want to be a prominent value of any team I lead or am a part of in the future.

Taiwan: This season has looked so much different from my last one in C.Asia. But, I've grown a lot in this time...I've learned how to be on a team and not necessarily be the one in charge. I've also learned that even without a role or a position, you can be a person of influence. I've learned how to communicate with people VERY different from me in the way they think. I've learned more when to be quiet and when to step forward and speak my mind. I've learned how to be intentional because team doesn't just "happen" it's something we cultivate.

Teams are a blessing, and teams are also a lot of work. For all who have been a part of a team with me over the years, I'm so thankful for each person I've gotten to work with. I hope God will allow me to have such incredible people by my side working together and living life together in the years to come.

Decision making and the will of God

I used this photo elsewhere on my blog but I love it so much it deserved a second chance to shine

Decisions.
Oh my goodness. Life is full of them. And we keep giving ourselves more and more decisions to make. Have you ever been with a group of people trying to decide where to go for dinner together....
"So, where do you guys wanna eat? We could try the new Japanese place, or the pasta restaurant, or if you want mediterranean....." The person pauses to see a response among the others. Then adds, "or we could go get groceries and cook at my house......or ......" Life is full of choices and options.

How do you pick? Some people pick what "they feel like" others agonize over what everyone else would want.

In our generation and especially in the organization I work with, people are all about the short-term commitments and so live in a constant state of decision making and trying to discern "the will of God" for them on a consistent basis. Spend any amount of time with young people, ask them what they need prayer for and probably 75% of the time it's "well, I need clarity for what to do next year." "I'm praying about where I go on outreach." "I need to decide where I'll be after this commitment finishes."

I've had a lot of big decisions to make. I have AGONIZED over them the last few weeks and months. I've been reflecting on some of my major life transitions and realized every time that decision making process is so painful. Not because I hate having options (I love it!), not because I feel like God never speaks or gives direction (He does!) but I realize I wish life was more like a Choose Your Own Adventure book. I wish I could at least "peek" and see how the other choices turn out. My curiosity makes me want to live in 10 directions at once. But after my decision is made, I have to grieve the fact that I will never know "what could have been."

Discerning God's voice and following his will is quite the process as well. My organization has a foundational value in hearing and obeying God's voice. It's something I have done time and time again and you would think you'd get "better" at it....I know I have grown in sensitivity to God's voice. I know I trust him more now than I did in my 20's. But I find I come up against situations more and more now where God gives me options. Just this week I faced two major options and felt God was allowing me to choose.

I would almost feel more comfortable if he said "Do this Danika" and left it at that. Then I wouldn't have to think. I wouldn't have to weigh the implications. I wouldn't have to blame myself if things didn't go well (I could blame God! ha!). And, I probably wouldn't have to pray as long or try to listen as patiently. Seems God enjoys me going through the process with him.

So, the decision is made. And I woke up this morning with a panic thinking "oh my goodness. Did I just make the wrong choice????!!!" After a good cup of coffee though and some time in prayer, peace settled once again. And I move forward, because in life we can't go back. But I do so wish I could flip a few pages over just to SEE how things might have been.