When I was younger, I used to love Dr. Seuss's The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins. I don't remember the outcome of the story or the point of it, but I remember wondering, how could he possibly wear 500 different hats? Where does he even keep them all? I definitely don't have 500 different "hats" in my life, but as a missionary I find myself wearing hats that I never thought I would. Here are some of the different hats that I will wear from time to time, some of which I never saw coming till they were plopped on top of my head.
1. Mathematician / Engineer: When our handyman Joe found out that I majored in math, he started to bring to me some projects around the house that required more math than he was comfortable with. Most of them are more engineering-type problems, and I have not been trained as an engineer. I help him when I can, and tell him I can't when I can't. Even still, he calls me his "little engineer".
2. Grant Researcher: I've always been intrigued by the idea of grant writing, and now I'm getting an inside look at it by helping one of our leaders with research to include in the proposal he is writing. I spent two days in the office last week just doing research on chronic homelessness and other organizations in the area. If you think you're done with research when you graduate college, don't become a missionary. (I secretly enjoyed it though. It's much more fun doing research without having to write the paper.)
3. Teacher: I had not planned on teaching this year, since I gave up an offer to teach in order to become a missionary. Granted, teaching a class on philial and agape love to adults trying to get back on their feet at the Samaritan House looks very different from teaching math to junior high students, but it is teaching nonetheless. I love the opportunity to teach these people, though, because so many of them have never been introduced to the idea that love is not just a feeling. So many of them are at the Samaritan House because they are hungry for more in their lives.
4. Technological Advisor: From sending a text message and turning on the computer to updating the website and scanning documents, I am continually helping people with technology. I now spend two hours a week helping a resident at the Mullen Home print labels for library books, and at the Gabriel House, our director schedules meetings with the website designer at a time when I will be there. I don't mind teaching people about technology -- I'll be the first to admit that it is frustrating when you don't understand it!
5. Street Missionary: Ok, I definitely saw this one coming. I mean, that's a huge part of CIC. But with my position, I only expected to do street ministry once a month. A while ago, though, as I was walking from the bus stop to the Gabriel House, I decided to be adventurous and take a different path for those few blocks. That's when I found Brenda on the corner begging for spare change. I talked with her for a little, gave her some of the lunch I had packed, and came back to sit with her after my day's work. Whether or not I see her again, I was able to bring Christ to her and to encounter Christ through her in that moment.
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