Pioneers? Wycliffe? New Tribes? Impact Basque?

A fantastic yearly occurrence here in Portland is the joint Missions Conference put together by MBC and Central Bible. This week is the 2005 conference and it's going spendidly. Yesterday, I took the opportunity to tour the displays arranged by representatives of myriad organizations. In the 75 minutes I spent perusing the information offered, I conversed with only 3 representatives. Our conversations were filled with questions, scenarios, potential plans, and brochures. Lots of brochures.

Something nagged at the back of my mind as I meandered away from a 20 minute conversation with two large Wycliffe men to a humble Pioneers display manned by a casual dude in a folding chair. I wanted to figure out some kind of structure within all these organizations. Here are these grandiose parachurch names who have been around for hundreds of years and shelter dozens of offspring organizations under their tried-and-true umbrella. Right next to them are culture-specific, modest, laid-back groups that meet small needs and do behind the scenes networking. How does it all jive? I wanted it all to work together. I wanted to see unity and feared I was facing competition.

As I spoke with these reps, however, I was gratefully proven wrong. My "new friends" - Brad, Edith, Russell, Gerald, Mike, Gwen - understand what it means to be a missionary with a sales pitch. I never felt guilt tripped; none tried to prove why their mission statement or methods were better than that other guy's; here were believers from multiple denominations excited to "hand off" a college student to a place that might utilize her eagerness better. I gained an appreciation for these people and places where before I had been skeptical, and that's a good thing. I like to see Christians representing Christianity rather than Western culture.

What about me? Not sure. The organizations I've tossed out have caught my attention, but I'm in no place emotionally or spiritually at the moment to be making big life plans. My hope is that the Lord directs my education and training as long as I'm here so that it's appropriate for when He sends and where He chooses. Maybe this summer I'll be an intern stateside with Impact Basque, or maybe I'll work my butt off so I can finish school and go, or finish undergrad and bump it up a notch. Who knows? Not me. And that's okay. I think.

Or maybe I'll head to Jordan independently and hope I don't get caught in crossfire before I have the chance to start a tuberculosis sanatorium. (I can hear my parents: What are they teaching those kids??) It's all good, guys.

I think.