July Newsletter
From Summer to School Year
“The Road goes ever on and on
Down from the door where it began.
Now far ahead the Road has gone,
And I must follow, if I can,
Pursuing it with eager feet,
Until it joins some larger way
Where many paths and errands meet.
And whither then? I cannot say”― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring
Summer is an odd time of year. For many, it is a time of rest an relaxation. For others, schedules are busier than ever - packed with work events, travel or summer gigs. Both our roles include summer events to organize even as we prepare for the fall semester. Though August means the start of the school year for Morgan and transition into a new role for Darrel, it is in many ways a step back into familiar routine after a hectic summer.
Darrel - An End and a Beginning
I served for a year and a half as a Short-Term Missions Coordinator with GFM’s Mobilization Team. The two summers I worked (our busiest season) were nearly opposite. The first summer was packed to the point of a waitlist, but the following was barely half capacity. I’m beyond grateful for the time I had running our STM program. The team I joined was full of many diverse personalities. I learned to communicate with clarity and gentleness as we sought to share God’s love for all nations with the churches that joined us.
Though I’m sad to see that time of teaching and team building come to an end, I’m excited to begin a new adventure. In my new role as Student Life Coordinator (described more fully here) I’ll walk prospective students all the way from application to graduation. I love the blend of administrative focus and relational strengthening this role offers. To care for future missionaries through both spreadsheets AND game nights is a dream come true for me.
As I move from one role to the next, this season will hold a lot of change. Friends from formerly distant programs of GFM will now become coworkers and superiors. My commute will go from one mile to six as I move offices. Since I’m now commuting by bike, this will involve some strategic route planning and ride sharing as the weather and speedy Atlanta drivers attempt to impede the ease of that commute. All the same, I could hardly be more excited. I look forward to sharing with you all that God does through this new role and the opportunities it creates.
Morgan - Surprise Travel and Camp ImpAACt
Wow, what a fast and busy month! July was FULL of meetups with friends (old and new), family, and a hectic Camp Week at Ellis Center!
This month came with a HUGE surprise as my sister that I haven't seen in three years flew home to Maryland from South Korea (where she and her husband are stationed in the U.S. Army)! Darrel and I initially decided that we didn't have the funds for a last-minute flight. Partway through her visit, I got a call from a generous family friend who offered to pay the cost to fly me to Baltimore. This was the first time in FOUR YEARS that my entire family was reunited!! My parents were THRILLED. Although I began feeling sick during the trip and had to fly home earlier than expected, it meant so much to my heart to spend time all together again.
At the Ellis Center this month, we had our annual summer camp! Camp ImpAACt is a one-week day camp run for kids ages 5-22 who use Augmentative & Alternative Communication (AAC). This year, we had 22 campers from four states attend Camp in Atlanta! We offer adapted activities for all campers’ abilities. I had a big role at Camp this year as I was directly supporting our Camp Director as well as serving as Volunteer Director, Photographer, and Communications Coordinator. With all those hats to wear, I got over 10,000 steps every day compare to my typical 5,000 at my desk. 😂
It was such a joy to see not only the smiling faces of the campers, but also such a supportive team and community come together to give these kids and young adults one of the best weeks of their lives! It's rare for me to see the direct impact of the work I do at Ellis, but during Camp I saw all the hard work pay off as we reached our fundraising goals, had one of the highest-attended camps, and highest count of volunteers! Although some days at Ellis are hard (i.e. lonely desk job in a basement), God is SO good to put me in a role where the gifts He has given me can be used for His glory.
Pray
We can’t do this alone. Relying on God is only part of the picture. He made the church a body to support one another. We would love it if you would take some time to pray for us. Here’s how:
Darrel’s New Role - Darrel already knows and trusts his new team as they’ve worked and lived in Clarkston for a while now, so that definitely eases the transition! Even so, there’s plenty to learn and plenty that could fall through the cracks. Pray for a clear head and attentive spirit.
Diving Deeper with Church - We’ve felt a lot of confidence becoming a part of this community! We’re still just getting involved and would covet prayers for that process.
Work Decisions - A new (very) part time job at the church has opened up for Morgan. Pray for discernment whether this is a wise step to take in ministry.
Work Friends - Although coworkers are moving on from our workplaces, we would love to continue relationships!
Energy for Morgan - With coworkers moving or retiring, Morgan’s work has become both more demanding and more monotonous in their absence.
Grace be with you,
Darrel & Morgan Current
Photos
Follow the Ellis center on social media to see what fun Morgan had during camp week!
