"Why are trying so hard to fit in when you are born to stand out?" ::from the movie What a Girl Wants::
Priv-yet! (That’s hello in Russian):
The three of us girls (me, Jordan and Dawna) live in the most populated region of Kharkov. We live in a soviet-era 13-floor apartment building with 13 separate entrances, so you can begin to picture how big it is. And yet, as we befriend our numerous neighbors, it is clear that they all know exactly who we are. Our entire neighborhood talks about us. We are the “A-mer-i-kan-key”; the American girls who have come to live in Kharkov. We clearly stand out.
Being AIMers, believe me, we stand out, even in Lubbock. People don’t understand us. We become the “talk of the neighborhood.” We are doing something that is crazy in the world’s eyes. Paul gives this challenge: “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:2). Every day, we struggle against this world. We have to fight against the way the world wants us to be. We should stand out.
We have to be transformed, each and every single day into HIS image. As an AIMer, you already stand out as different. You have chosen a path that seems crazy. Always remember that the way we show Christ to the world is by how we live. It’s not the easy path. Some days I hate the fact that I will never truly “fit in” here in Ukraine. But I am not here to fit in. I am here to stand out and show Christ in my own life.
Don’t be discouraged when friends or family or even strangers don’t understand what you are doing. Continue to be transformed into the image of Christ. AIM is a great place for transformation. And when that stranger tells you, “I already know who you are…” my hope is that they don’t just see you, but they see Christ in you.
Still being transformed,
AIM in Lubbock has a tradition that every Wednesday at noon, the directors Kris and Pat read letters from AIMers who are on the field written to the new AIM class. It's a sack lunch day, so it is affectionately known as "brownbag." The new AIMers will write notes and encouragement and send it back to those spread out around the world. This week was the second brownbag for the 2011 AIM class, and I sent a letter. I actually wrote it last week, but it wasn't read until today. I thought I'd share it here as well.
My name is ErinJoy, and yes, I go by both names together or even better just call me “EJ.” I am on the AIM team in Kharkov, Ukraine. The other day my teammate Jordan and I were coming home, and Jordan held the outer door open for a Ukrainian Babooshka (grandmother). She was asking something in Russian that took us a few tries to figure out, but she was asking if the door was open for her. We let her in, and Jordan told her we were studying Russian. As we walked into the stairwell, she said, “Yes, yes, I understand. You are the American girls living on the second floor, yes?” The most incredible part is that during this conversation, I had come to the realization that she was blind. I don’t remember ever seeing her before in our neighborhood, and yet this kind, old, blind Ukrainian lady knew exactly who we were.
The three of us girls (me, Jordan and Dawna) live in the most populated region of Kharkov. We live in a soviet-era 13-floor apartment building with 13 separate entrances, so you can begin to picture how big it is. And yet, as we befriend our numerous neighbors, it is clear that they all know exactly who we are. Our entire neighborhood talks about us. We are the “A-mer-i-kan-key”; the American girls who have come to live in Kharkov. We clearly stand out.
Being AIMers, believe me, we stand out, even in Lubbock. People don’t understand us. We become the “talk of the neighborhood.” We are doing something that is crazy in the world’s eyes. Paul gives this challenge: “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:2). Every day, we struggle against this world. We have to fight against the way the world wants us to be. We should stand out.
We have to be transformed, each and every single day into HIS image. As an AIMer, you already stand out as different. You have chosen a path that seems crazy. Always remember that the way we show Christ to the world is by how we live. It’s not the easy path. Some days I hate the fact that I will never truly “fit in” here in Ukraine. But I am not here to fit in. I am here to stand out and show Christ in my own life.
Don’t be discouraged when friends or family or even strangers don’t understand what you are doing. Continue to be transformed into the image of Christ. AIM is a great place for transformation. And when that stranger tells you, “I already know who you are…” my hope is that they don’t just see you, but they see Christ in you.
Still being transformed,
-ej
No comments:
Post a Comment