Friends.
There’s nothing like that first cup of Scottish tea after a
time away. Believe me, I know because I’m finally back in Scotland. And I’ve
got stories to share!
Autumn has spun out of control. But like, in a good way.
Landing in DFW the 2nd of October was like landing on a foreign
planet. Too hot; too dry. The next three and a half weeks were packed with
family and friends, lots of burgers and Tex-Mex, turning 25, visiting nine Oklahoma
church communities to share of missional work in Scotland and just lots of
resting. It was perfect timing to step away, tell stories, listen and take
stock. Also, to realise how completely weird I now sound.
Thank you for being a refuge, Oklahoma, for listening to,
supporting, praying for and encouraging me, for buying me meals and letting me
crash. I’m grateful for you all this month and all the other months.
By the way, if you’d meant to or want to support me, here is
the link to my Nazarene Missions support page. I understand there’s tonnes of
things you can give to these days. However, Nancy, my personnel coordinator, said
I shouldn’t be living off a few hundred USD per month in the UK. She’s probably
right.
But anyway!
 |
| Jet lagged me sharing about coffee shop ministry at Alva Church of the Nazarene. They fed me fried chicken after this. |
Do you know what your calling is? Not your life plan –
house, family, travel, two cars, retirement plan. Not moral living or good
manners. Like, your God-given purpose right now? This question sat with me the
entire time I was home, possibly because I’ve been freaking out over whatever
is to come at the end of this visa. I tried asking some people I look up to
that question and read some really dumb articles. Ultimately, though, my trip
home forced me to slow down and listen for the answer.
One of the best moments from home was having the all-day
breakfast at Ozzie’s Diner with my favourite Marine friend and watching the
OU/Texas game. As the game (painfully) went on and the diner emptied, the
waitresses joined us. We won’t talk about the final score, mainly because why
would you want to hurt me like that?
 |
| BOOMER SOONER |
I loved that day, anyway, because Dawn, the pink eye
shadowed waitress, shared about life, her Green Bay Packers obsession,
celebrities she’s met, her grandsons, her turbulent ex and her current
boyfriend Danny. She wanted to know what I did and why I would move across the
world. It wasn’t a Touched by an Angel moment. No golden light shown upon us.
But it was one of those fantastic moments where God spoke, I think.
There were other similar moments too. Like Maria at the gas
station on the way home from Dallas who’d just lost her job and felt adrift.
And Mr. Khan the businessman on the flight to London going through an ugly
divorce and trapped by addiction.
As I listened, God reminded me of the woman at the well
from John 4. I used to completely identify with her and still do some – her desperate
need to be heard and understood despite her ball-and-chain mess, her ravenous
searching for something greater and more powerful than herself. I was reminded of Esther who was made queen of Persia "for such a time as this". God also
reminded me of the lessons in last autumn’s blog, “to be a part of creating
just the right space and environment for connections to happen.” These thoughts have been the undercurrent of all my journal entries lately.
I was invited to attend the Eurasia Regional Conference in Turkey
at the start of November. It was an incredible week. I don’t really know how to
do it justice. Hearing stories of life and ministry in Lebanon and India,
talking about how reconciliation looks in our own contexts, watching the sun
rise over the Mediterranean with my British Isles and Irish friends. A big, fat
week of abundance.
The final night, we were meant to share communion with a
person from another culture. Looking around, I spotted my Iraqi friend just
walking into the room. With tears in his eyes, he told me of his sister who’d
left Iraq for Turkey when he was ten. Attending the conference was sort of a
once-in-a-lifetime chance for him, and she came down just for that day to see
him. They’d said goodbye that night not knowing if they’d ever see each other
again. All I could do was listen. I’ll never know what that’s like. We decided
to share communion and just pray together. On our way to the table, we found
our Croatian friend whose leg injury hadn’t been healing properly. He needed a
communion partner as well.
It was an extraordinary moment praying for each other, English, Arabic and Croatian words interweaving and going to God. We exchanged
nametags and currencies remembering to pray and lift each other up, remembering
that we’re linked in this love for God and His kingdom.
I always feel a deep, immovable certainty when God speaks. I
knew that night with that deep certainty that I am a bridge. Wherever I am,
whatever I’m doing now and in the future, I’m a gap-closer. I listen to the
stories and offer the hope I’ve found. I pray, create places of refuge, be
peace, joy and love. I’m a reconciler because my identity is deeply rooted in
God, the ultimate reconciler.
Again, I ask you. What is your calling? Your God-given
purpose?
Returning from Turkey, I was immediately back into the swing
of things here with Blend and Jubilee House, yet I’ve not stopped listening. The
other day, a friend who recently started her own clothing company to
financially support charitable causes said something like, “I’m just so tired
of people complaining about the bad in the world but remaining so passive. I
just want to be around people who see all the bad yet go out to discover the
solution.”
Yes! That’s our purpose. Discovering ‘the solution’; being
‘the solution’. There are too many deep, open wounds needing care, attention,
financial support, creativity, passion. There are too many searching for the
divine, beautiful God who makes it all hang right. We have to walk into God’s
calling for us though it may lead us into darkness. Running, refusing to open
our eyes, or barricading ourselves will not exempt us from that darkness, from
the bleeding. Honestly, walking into God’s calling will be our salvation, I
think.
So, what is your calling?
Jubilee House is an expression of my calling. It’s gained
speed in the past few months. Midway through October, Jubilee was awarded
Scottish charitable status! This has taken literally months, but we can now
apply for grants, fundraise, etc. God continues to connect our team with
experts and volunteers who help us move forward. And this next Friday, we’re
hosting our official launch party. One of the major MP’s who champions domestic
abuse here in Scotland will be speaking. Others who are passionate about
providing solutions will be there as well.
As our volunteers
network grows, more and more women join our community of second chances, not
because they have experience or practical skills to offer but because they were
or are now trapped in an abusive partnership. It’s sad yet not surprising
considering the stats. The house is completely gutted, and we’re just now
beginning the long, up-hill trek of fundraising. Yet Jubilee began a long, long time
ago. It continues on as we hear the stories and offer prayers for restoration.
It’s the kingdom of God seeping into the cracks before we’ve actually cleared
the red tape.
If I am
truly meant to be a bridge, I hope this update connects you not just to God’s
work here in Scotland but maybe to His voice calling you to see your life in a
fresh way and to take that next step, whatever it might be for you.
Thanks for sharing in the journey with me.
Catie
PS Obviously, I wasn't in Scotland to get photos of it being beautiful this autumn. Turkey certainly made up for it though. Thanks to my pal, Amy, who is brilliant and took most of these.
