I need to be completely honest with you. The beginning of this semester has been the exact opposite of my expectations for the fall & it's been hard! In fact, most weeks, I dread Sunday because I know that means I'm going to have to go to campus and I just don't want to go.
First of all, it's a LOT of work to get there. I have to load everything: a sidewalk A-frame sign (weighing about 15lbs), a folding dolly to move the sign across campus, a cooler loaded with ice & 30+ bottles of water, paper plates, napkins, & other necessities for our FREE LUNCH. (Let me pause and say that I am so very grateful for my amazing friend & volunteer, Krystal, who coordinates all the food coming to campus brought by local churches, herself, or delivery - without her I do not know what I'd do.) Needless to say, it takes a lot to get there & get set up. Secondly, no matter how much I prepare for the Question of the Day these conversations take on a life of their own and can go in ANY direction. This experience can be both exhilarating and exhausting. As a type A person, I've learned that the art of facilitating a conversation can be both frustrating (because I cannot be in total control) but also fun if I let go & enjoy the conversation. As I prepare, I plan point A & point Z, the rest I've learned I can lean into the process and trust the Holy Spirit to guide the conversation every week, When I do it's always amazing to be part of! Third, I feel pulled in so many directions. My husband recently told me we are part of the OREO generation (caring for the top cookie: aging parents as well as the bottom cookie: young children). So life can be busy. On top of that, I've got 3 part-time jobs. I continue to raise my support as a Texas Baptist Missionary (hovering between 40-50% funded). My goal is to be on campus one day a week (Tuesdays) doing BSM & do office work Thursdays. To fill in the funding gap I'm a crossing guard and I've started a photography business: Tamara's Camera. ALL of the above make me not want to go to campus. But then Tuesday rolls around and I go. Many days, like today, I leave on cloud 9! Energized! After preparing, dragging myself, and ALL the stuff to campus, I got into room 223. The pizza came. The students came. We ate & we discussed our Question of the Day: Is there a God? If so, how do you know? The discussion was deep, thoughtful, & honest. Again. I couldn't have planned the exact words to say or scripture to reference but the Holy Spirit was there and spoke through students & myself. My goal is that our FREE LUNCH is a safe place to have an honest conversation about God and spiritual things. We accomplished that today... in just 30 mins. So, please continue to PRAY:
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Tamara Brooks
is a Texas Baptist Missionary, raising 100% of her salary to serve on the college campuses in Montgomery County, Texas. This blog is an effort to keep you posted with what's happening on campus monthly. Please consider becoming one of Tamara's financial partners (of course it's tax deductible). Archives
October 2019
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