Originally, I thought I would stay here for a year or two,
but God keeps make it clear that He has more for me here. Coming to the end of Year 3, I’ve started
reflecting on how this isn’t a short-term missionary stint but actually I need
to start viewing my life here as a long-term missionary. God has provided abundantly for me here, but
it’s time to start looking a bit more at my future and sustainability rather
than just living year by year especially financially.
This spring, I am taking a chunk of time to restructure my
life to make it more sustainable for long term missionary work, so I’m not sent
home in a little “burned-out/ I hate people” box. I don’t necessarily want to do this, but I
know that I have to if I want to continue doing missionary work in which I
truly believe God has called me to.
So what does this look like?
1)
Taking more time for prayer and reflection in my
life and work. “Unless the Lord builds the house, I build in vain.”- Psalm 127.1 Everything I do has to be done for and
through God or else I am working in vain- what’s the point then? I need space to think, pray, breath, and be. I am a human BEing rather than a Human Doing.
2)
Fundraising for a more sustainable income. I work 40+ hours a week and make less than
20. Through a grant from the States, The
Koch Foundation, I get paid 12 hours from YI and a bit more from my personal support
raising – PSR. I’ve been making enough
to get by, but it’s not sustainable for the long run. I am working with my mentor on putting
together a more realistic budget and salary allowance. It’s my goal to be able
to pay more for my rent, save for the future, shop (sometimes even if it’s from
thrift stores :0), live a life of hospitality, and work towards bigger
purchases like #3. God has provided
generously (don’t even have words for it sometimes) for me in the past, and I
trust that He will continue doing that in the future.
3)
Work towards getting a CAR! This is huge for
me. A portion of my fundraising will be
going towards getting a car, paying for insurance, MOT, tax, and petrol. It’s expensive, but something I believe it’s
time for. It will help me get around
easier as well as bless the ministry work I do.
I will be able to meet up with people easier, pick up young people from
school, offer lifts, and save loads of time getting from place to place.
4)
This spring/ summer, I will also be working towards
getting my British drivers licenses.
This is something I have been putting off for the last couple of
years. It is intimidating, and I hated
how different the system is from back home.
Moving towards a more sustainable and long term missionary lifestyle
requires me swallowing my pride and taking a plunge for my licenses. Aka-
starting from the beginning again.
Ultimately it will lead to greater freedom and mobility.
5)
Exercise… yeah… I’ve been talking about this for
years. I hate working out but love
working hard. It’s the small town girl
in me. The reality is I don’t live on a
farm or go hiking every day. My life is
fast paced and can be stressful which isn’t always good for my health. I’ve felt the impact of that this year
through being sick a lot. I need to
start exercising in order to survive, thrive and ultimately be healthier.
6)
Accountability- it’s easy for me to say that I
want to do all these things in my journal, but it’s another thing to be held
accountable for these areas in my life.
This is part of why I am blogging about it- I want to be held
accountable and live in the light. I also have key people who supervise and
care for me in Belfast who I am allowing to speak particularly into these areas
of my life. They aren’t going to be
cracking the whip ticking off how much I’ve down. Rather they are going to lovingly help me
more towards my goals of living a sustainable long-term missionary
lifestyle.
I have been supported by so many people over the years as I
have travelled the world doing various kinds of missionary work. I cannot thank you enough for your support,
prayers, and love. Please don’t stop
now! I still need your help especially
now as I transition into a new phase of my missionary life.
So what can you do?
1)
Pray for me!
I can’t make these transitions without the grace of God.
2)
Pray for the work I do and the young people I
minister to.
3)
Send me a note or email (sarah.nilles@gmail.com) to encourage
me and ask how I’m doing. Help me be
supported and held accountable through your love and care.
4)
Support me financially either as a one off
(maybe towards a car :)
or on a monthly basis. My regular
supporters are incredible and I don’t know what I would do without them. Come join my team in the missionary work I
do. – Check out this link to learn how
or send me an email-
5) Share my story and the work I do with others. Maybe God is calling them to get behind the work I’m doing and support me too. We will never know unless we ask.
5) Share my story and the work I do with others. Maybe God is calling them to get behind the work I’m doing and support me too. We will never know unless we ask.
6)
Be creative!
What other ways can you support me?
I look forward to hearing your ideas.
That’s it. That’s my
spring restructure. As much as I don’t
want to do it, I know that it’s time and actually I’m more ready for it than I
think. God’s grace is enough, and He has
good things for me. Here’s to spring
cleaning and allowing God to restructure my life towards a more sustainable
missionary life style. Let the cleaning
begin!
