So we packed up our things for the two weeks, like we did for December break, fully intending to be back in school after two weeks.\u00a0 I was quickly transported into the unknown.\u00a0 In no way am I claiming to be a hero\/heroine. However, I see so many correlations to my journey into this program through Joseph Campbell\u2019s identification of a hero\u2019s journey.\u00a0 In Campbell\u2019s description in chapter one of <\/span>The Hero with a Thousand Faces<\/span><\/i>, <\/span>the hero is separated and transported from the comfort of ordinary life into the unknown, with the unknown containing both treasure and danger.<\/span><\/p>\n Enter Danger<\/b>. . . The streets felt eerie.\u00a0 Traffic seemed to cease.\u00a0 We were advised to stay home, so we did. There were nine in our family living together to conserve resources and care for one another, two of our kids were in college and the dorms closed. My mother-in-law came to our home so we could care for her needs.\u00a0 I remember my first journey out to the store.\u00a0 It was like gearing up for surgery. . . gloves, a bandana, because there was a mask shortage and we didn\u2019t have any at the house yet, our reusable bags, and plenty of hand sanitizer for sanitizing before and after entering the store.\u00a0 Faces were covered and you could no longer see the unique smile of each person you met in a store.\u00a0 Not only were faces covered, but it was like everyone didn\u2019t have a voice either, maybe fear of contracting the virus along with the rush to get the goods and get out as fast as you can.\u00a0 There was so much unknown as to how the virus was contracted with some theories adamantly proposing that the virus was airborne, one sniff and the bacterium could enter the nasal passages and get you infected.<\/span><\/p>\n Our place of worship even ceased to meet in our ordinary fashion, making a quick shift to online. \u00a0 I was a worship leader at the time.\u00a0 The sanctuary that was once filled with followers of Jesus lifting their hands and voices in praise, felt empty with just our band, tech and audio teams having a go with a new venue for gathering together.\u00a0 Except it didn\u2019t feel like together.\u00a0 We even printed names of all of our families, kids, and college students and placed them all over the sanctuary to pray for them but also to imagine their presence with us.<\/span><\/p>\n I had never been trained to lead worship through a camera nor had I been trained to teach Kindergarten online, virtually.\u00a0 In my mind, how could one do virtually anything, without the presence of humans with them.\u00a0 The weeks of school looked like phone calls to my students, a shared google drive for families to access materials and interaction through daily video greetings using Seesaw.\u00a0 The two weeks passed and then it was months and before we knew it the 2019-2020 school year was over.\u00a0 No end of year Kindergarten celebration, no spring break, no little hands to hold or hugs to receive on the last day of school.\u00a0 Instead, my student teacher and I drove from driveway to driveway making visits to my kiddos, to drop off an end of year gift on their porch, only to wave at them in the window and offer best wishes for a safe summer.<\/span><\/p>\n I could go on and on about this unknown containing danger.\u00a0 It wasn\u2019t that long ago and we are all too familiar with how the Covid pandemic has rocked all of our worlds.\u00a0 Lost loved ones, academic struggles for our children, strained relationships, not to mention the thousands, maybe millions of followers who have left the Church and have never returned.\u00a0 The pain is all too real. Here is where I enter the next stages in the hero\u2019s journey. . .supernatural aid and crossing the threshold from the diagram above.<\/span><\/p>\n Second Stage of the Journey: Supernatural Aid for Crossing the Threshold<\/b>. . . ( I think I am over my word limit, but if you could see the tears on my keyboard. . .) In this unknown time and space, God, always faithful and good, met me.\u00a0 We had so many special times together.\u00a0 I cried out to Him on the rug of my bedroom floor, many mornings my face imprinted with the carpet fibers and the carpet wet from tears.\u00a0 Holy Spirit pinged a passion in my heart.\u00a0 God was doing a new thing so I began to pray.\u00a0 It was a passion for shepherding the hearts of others that had looked more like a side job at the time.\u00a0 I heard the Lord calling me to give my life fully over to Him for His plans and purposes.\u00a0 I prayed.\u00a0 I questioned.\u00a0 I consulted my spiritual director and my pastor (who happens to be my husband).\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n At this same time, when we returned to school, I was offered a position in our district as an instructional coach, serving teachers.\u00a0 I cannot begin to tell you how many times my training as an instructional coach aligned with my call to ministry.<\/span><\/p>\n I entered Asbury Theological Seminary and took a year of intensive classes while pursuing ordination.\u00a0 I became a local ministerial candidate and am on the track for ordination.\u00a0 It is also in this process that I pursued where I am with all of you today in the DLGP. \u00a0 The whole process of researching programs, meeting with an advisor, applying, praying, questioning, doubting, praying and praying A LOT MORE.\u00a0 My LMC team was praying for me, my spiritual advisor, my coach, my family and friends all for God\u2019s direction and discernment.\u00a0 I questioned my ability to travel alone to South Africa, London, etc.\u00a0 All along the way, Supernatural Aid, Jehovah Jireh, gave strength, wisdom and guidance.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Before I received the call of being accepted into the program, I was certain that I wouldn\u2019t be allowed this opportunity.\u00a0 I couldn\u2019t do it, afford it and had definitely heard God incorrectly.\u00a0 Supernatural signs and wonders enter here (well, everywhere).\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n My stepmom called and asked me to stop by the house to pick up things that were my mom\u2019s (my mom passed away when I was much younger). So after a bridal shower for my niece, I stopped by to pick up a box of items that had belonged to my mom.\u00a0 After I had entered the door, my step mom quickly put a plastic tub in my hands.\u00a0 I had not shared with my family that a part of this program involved travel.\u00a0 I opened the tub and on the top of the stack of photos was my mom\u2019s two travel brochures from her missionary journey to South Africa in 1970-71.\u00a0 She was a missionary nurse for a short time in Africa.\u00a0 Her two travel brochures along with the frail agenda of her trip to Capetown.\u00a0 I balled.\u00a0 I had specifically asked God for a sign that this was what He wanted me to do and He delivered.\u00a0 He is faithful to His promises.<\/span><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/The-Heros-Journey.jpg\")
<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n