Preparation

Travel-size deodorant? Check.
Sunscreen? Check.
Favorite Cds? Check.
Teva sandles? Check.
Passport? Check.
My frazzled, excited, sleep-deprived self? Check.

The above list doesn't even begin to show how many things I managed to squeeze into my poor 26" suitcase! In less than 12 hours, I'm hopping on a plane and I'm headed to the Middle East! That's right -- Jordan, Syria, Israel, Greece, and Egypt. Through the Middle East Travel Seminar (METS) (a travel venture jointly sponsored by Candler Theological Seminary, the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and Columbia Theological Seminary), I, along with approximately 40 other seminary students and laypersons, will travel to some of the most beautiful places on earth.

So now you're probably thinking, "Uuuumm....isn't this blog about Duke Divinity School summer field education?" And you're exactly right!

You see, as a participant in the METS program, I'll begin my summer field education placement -- at South Tryon Community Church in Charlotte, NC -- in June. That's three weeks later than normal. So before I travel to Charlotte and dive into the beauties, joys, pains, surprises, and blessings of parish ministry, I'll spend three and a half weeks trekking in the Middle East.

And isn't that just like God? To bring together two seemingly unrelated things (urban, parish ministry and the Sinai desert) and use them both, in conversation, for His glory? God is so good! I know that God has called me to both ventures -- the METS program and field-ed. However, my challenge -- my prayer -- is to discern how the two experiences are to come together. How do they feed one another? And how can I be open to that 'coming together?'

I'll return to this exciting online community upon my return from the Middle East -- and I'm so excited! Please pray for the safety, health, and openness of our group and for my continued sensitivity to Christ' beautiful voice.