EPISODE 2: “FOLLOW ME”

Having taught for 25 years, the prospect of retirement was both exhilarating and intimidating! What would I do? Who would I be? Obviously, the decision was not made without much prayer and consideration. But, alas, here I am. And I’m loving it.

Let’s take a step back, though. I began attending Stone Church (Yakima, Washington, USA) in October 2024. By December I was going every Sunday, Matt by my side. I started attending a mid-week session on the Book of Genesis, and then I attended the Women’s Rise Up conference in March. That conference ultimately changed our lives! One of the conference break out sessions was geared for women who have retired or who were near retirement. The speaker said something that really stuck with me….she said, and I’m paraphrasing here…’God did not spend all of this time preparing you to do nothing…’ It may sound a bit harsh, but what she was getting at was that God had spent the last 30 some years preparing me for what I was to ‘DO’ next. He was helping me grown in my profession and in my faith so that I had all the skills and tools I would need to GO OUT and fulfill his purpose for me! And although what she said really struck a chord in me, I had no ideal what that purpose was.

Shortly after that fateful conference I learned that Stone Church was supporting a missions trip to Brussels, Belgium in the summer. It sounded interesting so Matt and I attended an informational meeting and quickly signed up. Now, I have to admit that a missions trip to Belgium did not exactly fit my perception of missionary work…I mean have you SEEN the castles there!?

Our mission was to assemble furniture to prepare the newly renovated seminary (aka 400 year old building) for the incoming seminary students. How hard could it be? Well…turns out it could be harder. Plans changed and the furniture didn’t arrive on time so we were left to dig trenches, lay concrete and move rock….lots and lots of rock. It was really hard work. Especially for two 50-something, not in the best shape, recently retired people. Hard…yes. Rewarding…ABSOLUTELY. During that 8 days I knew, without a doubt, that mission work was my purpose. I didn’t know what it would look like, or where it would take me, but I knew, without a question, that Jesus was saying, ‘Marci, FOLLOW ME’. And so I am…to AFRICA.

January 13, 2025 / Tacoma, WA / 20:31 PST