The Puzzle

It's taken a long time, but I am starting to see the image formed as the puzzle pieces connect...

- many years ago I watched the documentary Invisible Children and the stories of child soliders in Uganda tugged my heart strings.
- I read a book called The Middle of Everywhere about refugees in America. I was intrigued on many levels but put the book aside after reading it and gave it no more thought.
- 4 years ago I met Sitey, a Somali Bantu refugee. I tutored her in English and got to know her family. The book I had previously read was incredibly helpful.
- 2.5 years ago I started my current job as a mental health therapist. My organization requires more than behavior modification. Instead, we deal with deep trauma.
- this fall I started volunteering with two Congolese refugee families by transporting them to/from church. Over the last few weeks I have spent a lot of time researching the Congo and what they may have experienced. I've looked at horrific pictures and read traumatic stories.
- this fall I met "Grandpa Bill" when he joined my community group. The night I met him and heard about his heart for Uganda, I told a friend "I'm going to Uganda with this man".
- I am reading a book called Radical. It's messing with me on multiple levels.
- I stumbled across a blog written by a young woman from Uganda. She went for a short-term missions trip and then never left. She is now raising 13 girls who call her "mommy".
- Last week I read Mark 8:35- "For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it."
- Saturday night I journaled about trauma and how much trauma work I've done recently with my clients. Trauma often causes therapists to burn out. Instead, I see hope and am encouraged by the work that my clients do.
- I sat down at church on Sunday and sitting in front of me was Grandpa Bill. He introduced me to his friends- a couple that works for Global Refuge International. After learning what I do, one of the first questions the man asked was "do you do trauma work?" He then proceeded to tell me about his organization and the need for trauma workers.

It's a glorious mess. Jesus is wrecking my life, one puzzle piece at a time. I am confident the final picture will be beautiful.