A lazy Sunday afternoon....ahhhh. Well, I finally got rid of the five bags of bottles that needed to be redeemed. And of course I attended church this morning. But otherwise, that's it. When I was reading Paul's second letter to Timothy today, I came across a passage that makes me think of Ashley and Alicia, who will soon be moving out to Wisconsin for a year:

And so I solemnly urge you before God and before Jesus Christ--who will someday judge the living and the dead when He appears to set up His Kingdom: Preach the word of God. Be persistent, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching......You should keep a clear mind in every situation. Don't be afraid of suffering for the Lord. Work at bringing others to Christ. Complete the ministry God has given you. (2 Timothy 4:1-2, 5)

If there was any advice I could give to Ash, that would be it.  It's actually good advice for everybody. We are not all called to move far away from our homes, but just because we are not called to leave our homes doesn't mean that we are excused or not a part of going out into the world. Christians have gotten a false idea of missions as going to Africa, or India, or other foreign places. We need to go where God calls us to go. I struggle with this a lot, because I really don't like my job. I've said it before, but I'll keep saying it in the hopes that I'll get it eventually: that God has me in that environment for a reason, and when it's time, I'll move on. I need to do the best job I can there as though it were for the Lord.
I try to live my life in such a way that others can see Christ in me. I don't always succeed; in fact, I fail more often than I would like. That's why Paul tells Timothy to be persistent. You can't let past failure dictate your current action. At the risk of sounding like a self-help guru or a speaker at a cliche festival, if at first you don't succeed, try, try, again. (Or as Statler and Waldorf of the Muppets say: If at first you don't succeed, fail, fail again. Couldn't resist throwing that in.)
I hope Ash and Alicia will do these things listed in this verse, though I'm sure they will. I pray for the clear mind they will need in the different challenges they will face, and to not worry about what others think. In our country, we don't worry so much about our physically suffering for Christ as we do ridicule and ostracism, but those can be psychologically damaging. If you don't fit in with the world, you're not accounted for much. God has given them a ministry and a chance to learn, and I will certainly do my part to support them, as they are part of my flesh and blood.