What will I be when I grow up?

regional review
Apr 122012

For our family, spring break means one thing: vacation.  Beginning just after the Christmas holiday, we spend weeks imagining where in the world we want to transport ourselves to escape the dreariness of the winter season.  Conversation is always lively as the kids offer up their very best ideas: DC, Disneyworld and Grand Canyon have all been strong contenders. But last year, these late winter conversations took a decidedly different direction.  Our oldest daughter was a senior in high school and preoccupied with the age old question that plagues many of us today: “What am I going to do when I grow up?” As she rolled her eyes at our helpful suggestions (you can be a scientist, a doctor, a business woman…), I couldn’t help thinking to myself: “what did I want to be when I grew up?”

Although it’s been more than 20 years since I graduated from high school, I can still recall with certain clarity exactly what I wanted to be when I grew up.  Being a young woman in southern California it seemed appropriate to begin planning for my future career by building the proper wardrobe: I bought a pair of crisp white Bermuda shorts, a cherry red scarf for my neck and a dark blue blazer.  You see, for teen girls who loved TV, there was nothing hotter than ABC’s The Love Boat,  and I wanted to be Julie McCoy, your cruise director.

Although I had never been on a cruise, there was something wildly exotic and attractive about working on a ship.  There were three factors of Julie’s job that seemed like a good fit for me:

  1. Julie was mighty perky and optimistic—there wasn’t a crazy situation she couldn’t help fix.
  2. Julie was great at details…she would find that single shy older man and let him know that there was a shuffle board tournament going on and would he mind partnering with this nice, older woman, who just happened to be mourning the death of her beloved husband? And,
  3. She was part of a dynamic team. Instead of working as a lone ranger on the ship, Julie and her cohorts relied on each other to do what they did best. Only by working together, could they accomplish what needed to be done before reaching the next destination.

It’s no secret that I didn’t end up pursing a career as a cruise director. I find it enchanting to consider that the same things that excited me as a young woman are still true today. I’m a natural optimist and love tackling strange situations and seeing how they can be repaired; and my love for details and working with others to see ministry unleashed gives me renewed energy.  I imagine the same is true for every woman who ever had a childhood dream of what she would do with her life.

Our innate traits, personalities, gifts and talents can operate together to bring us pleasure and satisfaction in our daily work.  When we discover where the world’s greatest needs are met through our unique skills we then experience true delight.  Ministry leaders should embrace the question, “What did you want to be when you grew up?” and listen as women share their childhood dreams.  Together we can each other discover what makes us particularly unique and find new ways within ministry to tap into those gifts.

Kristen Rietkerk

Europe Region President

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On Earth as it is in Heaven

regional review
Nov 102011

            I miss owning my own home.  I live in a rental here in Belgium—it is a lovely little house, but it is not mine.  Because we don’t own this house, we don’t invest in it like we did our home in Texas.  I simply live differently because I know my time in Belgium is temporary.

            I have watched with amazement over the past eighteen months as the young man down the road has built his home brick by brick.  Every evening and every weekend, he labors to construct his forever home.  His urgency has intensified recently because now his wife is pregnant.  Now he is building his home in hopeful anticipation of this special arrival.  I suspect his investment in his home far exceeds mine because he is preparing a permanent place to welcome, protect and provide for someone he loves.

What if we began to look at our earthly abode, not as a temporary rental, but as our eternal home?  Our popular view of heaven often misses our eternal hope of resurrection and redemption.  While it is true that when we are “absent from the body” we will be “present with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8), the present heaven itself is interim.  The apostles focused on the gospel’s hope of life in its fullest when our resurrected bodies will enjoy eternity, not in the present heaven, but on the fully redeemed and restored earth—this earth restored and renewed (Romans 8: 11, 18-25).  If “heaven” is defined as the dwelling place of God, then when Jesus returns to this earth, heaven and earth unite.  Although this earth groans from the curse of fallen humanity (Genesis 3:17, Romans 8:20-22), it will one day be restored and renewed for us to enjoy as our eternal home.

Perhaps if I began to view my earthly abode as my eternal home instead of a temporary dwelling to be endured until I go “home,” I might be more apt to do God’s will on earth as it is in heaven.  I might strive to do my part to reverse the curse.  I would honor God’s creation and creatures as “good,” (Genesis 1).  I would invest my time, energy and resources into maintaining and improving my eternal home.  Other residents would be treated like family instead of strangers, looking forward to the day when we experience relationships without the stain of sin, selfishness and sorrow.  Like my neighbor, I would live with a sense of urgency in preparation for a special arrival.  For when the King comes, heaven and earth collide.

Welcome home!

Respectfully submitted October 7, 2011,

Mitzi Roberts,

Europe Region Training Coordinator

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Never Forgotten

Local Limelight
Jun 092011

Submitted by Meredith Cooper, Europe Region Financial Liaison

There are feelings I associate with the arrival of each season, and summer is no exception.  With the recent arrival of Memorial Day, I start to feel a tendency toward all things patriotic.  And, it doesn’t start and stop with Memorial Day.  After all, we still have Independence Day just around the corner.  And, Flag Day!

When Memorial Day begins to roll around you hear many people say that we need to take the time to remember what our patriotic holidays are all about – after all, it’s not really about the cookouts and days off of work, right?  It’s really about taking a moment to be thankful for all who have died for our freedom.

This year, however, something occurred to me.  It is really important to remember the sacrifices of those who died for our freedom.  But, they aren’t here anymore.  Here in Europe, we have a plethora of military memorials and cemeteries to visit, and it is stirring to do so.  Last year on Memorial Day, our family visited the Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial in Margraten, Netherlands to place flags on the graves of our fallen.  Not only was it moving to see the endless rows of men who died for their country, but it was equally inspiring to see the numbers of Dutch who routinely care for the graves of their liberators.

But, again, these patriots are gone.  We can’t actually thank them for their service to our nation.  So, how can we really pay tribute to their sacrifices?  James 1:27 says, “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress…”

As women who are part of a greater Protestant Women of the Chapel ministry, many of us have been affected by the deaths of fellow active duty service-members or those who have served with our spouses.  All of these circumstances have been tragic, and we have pledged to do what we could to help the spouses and children suffering as their loved ones were taken suddenly.  But, as time goes on, how many of us really fulfill the pledges that we made to check in on our friends and make sure that we could provide comfort in the midst of their ongoing sorrow?

We are in the midst of serving our country during a long war.  We proudly do what we can to serve during this time.  But, there is a lot of suffering going on around us.  There are women who are spiritually, emotionally, mentally, and physically exhausted.  There is no greater way that we can honor those who have died for their country, or those who are continuing to serve far from home, than taking care of those left behind.

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Europe Region Update

regional review
May 122011

By Chris Young, Europe Region President

There has been a great deal of activity and change happening in our region over the last few weeks.  It’s made me realize how comfortable we get doing the same things year after year and it has also accentuated the fact that change can be complicated, especially when it affects so many people.

After many years of having our conferences at the same hotel we made a change in venue and, on the surface, that doesn’t seem like that big of a deal.   But it was.   We have long standing relationships with our last hotel and we have a detailed schedule that has only had to be tweaked slightly from year to year.  We had a well oiled machine of sorts.  We had set patterns of behavior and expectations.  We knew how to program our GPS and where we were going to.  Then it all changed!

The reality is that our new location, Edelweiss, is a secure location and we have chosen to err on the side of caution, at least for the foreseeable future.

Likewise, for many years, we had trained both the executive and appointed positions.  This year, due to space restrictions, we are only training the executive positions.   We’ve had to downsize and simplify in many ways.  Last year we trained 200 women whereas this year we have registered just over a hundred.  It’s different.

As our board has worked to adjust to this new reality, it’s been so inspiring to be a part of a team that is ready and willing to respond to these changes.  God is in charge and He is after something new this year.  Yes, things are going to look much different in 2011 but they are going to be good.  We can trust the Father and rest in His plan knowing Father knows best.

Ultimately I think trust is the main issue in all of these changes.  Do we trust God enough?  Do we believe that He does indeed see us and know what is best for us?  Can we yield to His plan with all of the unknowns?  Can we trust Him?  Proverbs 3:4-6 says, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.”

For those of you impacted in our region, we ask for your understanding, prayers and grace as we move forward.  We are trusting God and want to walk in His present path and plan for our region, not remain in yesterday’s comfort zone out of convenience.  We are thankful for His today provision (Edelweiss), protection and guidance and are so grateful for the opportunity to serve you in this season of change.

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Turnover Time

regional review
Apr 072011

Submitted by Christine Young, Europe Region President

It’s spring here in Europe.  The baby sheep are here.  That is always a turning point for me.  I love this time of year, when things that have lain dormant over winter are now springing to life.  I especially enjoy this time of year in relationship to our PWOC leadership calendar.  Very soon it’s “Turnover Time” and I’m not talking about apple or cherry.  Leadership selection in our chapters is either in high gear or coming to a conclusion.  Hundreds of leaders are finishing their year in service and hundreds more are gearing up to serve the many women and Chaplains in PWOC.

I’m a people watcher and if you’re watching close enough, or involved in leadership at some level, you will see two categories of people who have served this past year.  Inevitably we will see women who have served and can’t wait to hand the baton to their successor.  It’s been a tough year, filled with messy ministry problems and they are exhausted and “so done” with being on the board.  Often times these women are too tired and distracted to adequately prepare turnover files and AARs (After Action Reports).  She’ll meet her new counterpart and run for the door.  Ok.  Maybe a slight exaggeration there…

On the other side of the spectrum, you will see women energized by their year in serving.   She has so many stories and testimonies to share about how the Lord used her as an instrument to touch lives.   She may likely have already signed up for another board position or, if she’s moving, she’s scoped out her next PWOC and praying about how she can serve the Lord there.   She has taken the time to catalog the key information her successor might need and maybe even put in a few extra goodies just for good measure.

Of course there is a range of people in between the woman who is “so done” and the other woman who is “so energized.”  My point today is, if you have served, where do you fit?   Are you “so done” or are you “so energized?” Ministry is not easy and it comes at a cost.  What lessons have you learned in serving this past year?  Is there any unresolved sin issue that you need to work out in your heart, on your board, with a PWOC sister?  If so, it’s never too late to repair a relationship.  What could you have done better or differently?  In closing, if you’re a board member, please work on your turnover files now.  J  Consider what would have helped you navigate better in your position this past year and work toward blessing the sister who will come in after you.  That would be a great way to end your year in service.  My prayer is that you finish well this year and can enthusiastically move forward to serve the Lord Jesus Christ.

Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead,

I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

- Phil 3:12-14

 

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Growing Spiritual Community in Europe

regional review
Mar 102011

Submitted by Tamela Johnston

Americans are blessed beyond measure, there is no doubt about that! Yet even those living the proverbial American dream can find themselves discontent with their lives.  Some believe the individualism Americans tend to value so highly might be keeping us from experiencing the contentment that can be provided by being part of a strong spiritual community. . . . the kind of community the early church enjoyed.

Acts 4:32 – ….. and the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul and not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own, but all things were common property to them.

Living in Europe for several years now has given me a unique perspective of the military community here. There are some obstacles to overcome while living an ocean away from family and friends. There are often language barriers.  Deployment is a continual struggle. And don’t forget limited choices for shopping and schools!  But because of our unique circumstances and the “obstacles” listed above, we are forced to rely on one another!  I believe this creates good soil for growing spiritual community.

One of the reasons I love PWOC is because the women involved understand the uniqueness of the military community overseas and take advantage of it to shine the light of God’s glory to others.  In my experience, the women in PWOC come the closest to living with one heart and soul as the early church did.  What gives PWOC the ability to nurture spiritual community?  We strive to provide a safe place to belong and be accepted for who we are–baggage and all.  Here we can trust that there will be no gossip or breach of confidentiality.  I’m learning that spiritual community grows best when we are willing to be vulnerable enough to show our brokenness to one another without fear of judgment.  Then we can begin to look for Christ in one another and encourage the passion only He can give to know and follow Him.  I am personally overwhelmed when someone believes the best about me even when they know me well!  This is what I have experienced in PWOC, and it has caused me to grow closer to the One who knows me better than anyone and yet died for me. . . . . overwhelming love!

Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.  - John 15: 13

Living in spiritual community is living interdependent, not independent. I am so grateful for the opportunity to grow in spiritual community here in Europe with my PWOC sisters.

__________________

The Europe update is posted the second Thursday of every month. For comments email europepresident@pwoc.org

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Perseverance

Leadership Development, regional review
Feb 102011

Submitted by Mitzi Roberts, Training Coordinator, European Regional Board

How exciting it will be to live in Europe for the 2012 Olympic Games in London!  What is it about the Olympics that captivate us?  Perhaps it is national pride—the goodwill victories that we experience through these world class athletes.  Perhaps it is the global experience—sharing so much in common with our international neighbors.  Or perhaps it is the most glorious of life lessons learned from unexpected drama from competitors whose lifetime of training climaxes in a tidal wave of unscripted emotion.  I believe it is the latter.

Who will ever forget the vivid picture of perseverance when sprinter Derek Redmond pulled his hamstring in Barcelona?  With 175 meters to go, Redmond collapsed in pain.  But he had come to finish the race.  He courageously arose to limp around that final curve.  Redmond’s father came down from the stands to provide support, and they crossed the finish line together.  Redmond’s greatest victory earned him no medals, no platform, no wreath.

The Apostle Paul would have understood this man.  Paul used the language of the athlete when he wrote to Timothy, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing,” (2 Timothy 4:7-8).  This great leader knew his successor would need encouragement to finish the race.

Current PWOC leaders are rounding that final curve of serving Christ this ministry year.  Many of us have trained well and are serving our women with joyful hearts and fruitful hands.  We have mentored developing servants who will take the baton of leadership soon, and build upon the work that we have done.  Recommend them to your LST Leader for consideration.

But for some of us, the strain of personal pain or ministry fatigue has caused us to nearly collapse, give up and burnout.  Paul had faithful Luke supporting him in the darkest hours of his final lap (2 Timothy 4:11).  You were never meant to go the distance alone. I encourage you to turn to your Titus 2 to help you finish the course.  Like Derek, lean on your heavenly Father for strength to persevere.  Just beyond the finish line, an eager new leader awaits your baton and your blessing as you entrust the ministry of PWOC to her.  She will go on to train at WILD and face 400 meters of her own.  Only God Himself knows what Olympic-like moments await her.

Grace and peace be with you all.

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Feed the Sheep - Love the Sheep- Part 4

regional review
Dec 092010

Submitted by Christine Young, Europe President

In the previous articles I had shared that our mission in Europe is to “feed the sheep” based on Jn 21:15-17.   Today I’d like to emphasize the importance of knowing the sheep.  Sheep are very interesting creatures and it is no mistake that we are compared to them in the Word.   We have a lot in common with sheep.   Trust me.

In Phillip Keller’s book, A Shepherd’s Look at Psalm 23, he shares that “sheep do not just ‘take care of themselves’ as some might suppose.   They require, more than any other class of livestock, endless attention and meticulous care.”   That was news to me.  Sheep, more than any other class of livestock, require endless attention and meticulous care?  Seriously?   I thought they just roamed in the fields all day and we only had to move them occasionally.   I was wrong.   Sheep are more complicated than that and so are people.

My point today is that we need to know the sheep – the people around us.  We don’t get to just walk into people’s lives and have influence without investing our resources of time and concern in them.  Do you know the sheep around you or are you just a casual observer with a surface hello?  The day that I went out to get pictures of sheep in my village (I live in the Netherlands on the border of Germany, tons of sheep, hence the storyline J), I had brought my digital camera.   When I went to turn on the camera and the little audio “bleep” went off, the sheep ran.  It wasn’t that loud at all.  I was bummed out and not very confident that I would get good pictures.  Then the dear shepherd came up alongside of me, with a pail of treats and the sheep came back.  They knew the shepherd’s voice and they also knew He was telling them that I was “safe.”

In John 10:25-30 we read:

25Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father’s name speak for me, 26but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. 27My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. 29My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all[d]; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. 30I and the Father are one.”

The bottom line here is that God’s sheep know God.  They recognize Him and know His voice.  They “listen” to Him.   There’s another key.  Listening.   That takes time and sacrifice.  Sheep will not follow us if they don’t know us.   God is the one who tells them if we are “safe” people.  And if we don’t listen to them we really don’t deserve the privilege of speaking to them – they should just run away in a “bleep.”

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Feed the Sheep - Love the Sheep- Part 3

regional review, Testimonies
Nov 112010

Christine Young, Europe President

In the previous articles I had shared that our mission in Europe is to “feed the sheep” based on Jn 21:15-17.   In part two I had centered primarily on the importance of loving God first so we have love to give out.  If we are intentional in our love relationship with the Lord we can both “feed the sheep, and love the sheep.”  Actually we are feeding the sheep His love which makes all of the difference.  As I continued to search out the Word and ask God for His design on our ministry, I was led to the feeding of the five thousand (naturally, more about food and feeding J) and in Mark 6:30-34, it reads:

30The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. 31Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”

32So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. 33But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. 34When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.

This scripture drew me back to the importance of having His love for His sheep because in and of myself, I don’t have love for the sheep.  Did you know sheep bite?   I’ll save that for another time. J  The truth is that we need the Lord Jesus and His love and compassion in order to love the sheep and touch hearts.    Jesus had compassion for the sheep because they were like a sheep without a shepherd.  Do you know some sheep that have no shepherd?   Do you know some women who have just moved to your post and they are wandering around lost, like a sheep with no shepherd?   Do you have compassion for them?   If not, why not?  If your love tank is empty and you have no compassion, head back to verse 31.  Have you had a chance to eat at His table?  And if not, maybe it’s time you receive the invitation He is giving out “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”   Then rustle up some sheep!

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Feed the Sheep (Do you love me?), Part 2

regional review
Oct 142010

Christine Young, Europe President

As I shared in the first article, Europe’s mission is to “feed the sheep” based on John 21:15-17.  Jesus had told Simon Peter to feed the sheep three times.  I’d like to look deeper into that line of questioning with you.  Here is the passage:

When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”

Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”

The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”  Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.

What did Jesus ask him before he told Simon Peter to feed the sheep?  He asked, “Do you love me?”   The key in the passage lies in that very question, “do you love me?”  Of course, Jesus had to know that Simon Peter loved Him.  He knows all things and yet, He draws this out of Simon Peter like water from a well.  The key is love.   IF we love the sheep we will in turn feed the sheep.   And I would also add that our love for Him, our love relationship with Him, supplies us with the love we have to accomplish His command to love the sheep.  If we are not drawing from that well of love, found only in the person of Jesus Christ, our well runs dry and we end up in the land of striving, pleasing and struggling.  If that’s where you are today, go back to the well!  It never runs dry and always satisfies.   God’s design is for us to love Him first before we love others.  In Mt 22:36-40, Mark 12:30, and Luke 10:27 we see that same truth emphasized.   In 1 Corinthians 1 we find another verse, “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.”   Have you heard Ginny Owens’ song, “I am Nothing?”  It’s an excellent song and reminder that love is the first ingredient in everything we do.  Here’s just a sample of the lyrics:

I could travel over oceans, cross the deserts, climb the mountains
Just to share your story, bring you glory, and win souls for you.
I could sing like an angel, songs so humble and so thankful
Full of drama and emotion, so the world would know your truth.
I could give away my money and my clothes and my food
To restore those people who are poor, lost, and down-and-out.
Oh, I could succeed at all these things,
Find favor with peasants and kings,
But if I do not love, I am nothing.

______

The Europe region update is published on the second thursday of every month. Submit comments or suggestions to: europepresident@pwoc.org

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