Transitions. It’s a word that I am very familiar with but still adapting to. As an MK, I grew up moving, changing cultures, adapting to new environments, rearranging my schedule, and living in a way so that I could adapt to the lifestyle of others. Although transitions are something I am familiar with, I am still navigating how to do them well in different stages of life.
As a child growing up with my parents it was simpler. I would go to a new place or situation with my parents. They would be there to help lay down routine, to give me tips and advice when navigating new areas, and my main focus and job was simply to adapt.
As I grew older my role changed a little. In high school, I moved to the dorm. I was away from my parents, but I still got to see them and learn from them face-to-face on a semi-regular basis. I had new responsibilities with social life, bigger school projects and homework loads, and balancing the schedule of a teenager who was in high school and away from parents while adjusting to life away from family and outside of the village location I grew up in.
When I graduated from high school I began the life of a college student. Learning to work a job, do schoolwork, get enough sleep, cook for myself, engage in social life, and begin to take on adult responsibilities was tricky. Doing it away from family and in a culture and country I did not grow up in made it a little bit trickier.
Now that I have been out of college for a little over a year, I am still adjusting to what life is teaching me. I am currently raising support to go full time into the ministry that the Lord has called me to, building new relationships in contexts outside of school or a conference, working a part time job, learning to set up a schedule for myself outside of school, and figuring out that “adulting” only gets more complicated as you grow older. I am still discovering social “norms” in the United States as well as how where I grew up has impacted me to this day.
All that to say, I have been up to a lot of transitions and decision-making the last couple of months. I have quite a few things I got to be a part of, and I am excited to show you pictures and give a snapshot into all that I’ve been up to.
I got to go back to Iowa at the end of March! While I was there, I was able to reconnect with people and attend a women’s conference hosted by Le Mars Bible Church. In April, I began a part-time job at a coffee shop and got to be a part of an MK Care Event in Wisconsin. It was so much fun to be able to reconnect with some of my coworkers and friends in the MK Care Team! I was also to meet some MKs I did not know and hear some of their stories.
Looking forward…
The Ethnos360 MK Care Retreats are coming up!! I am so excited to get to be on staff again for this year’s retreat! For five years now, the retreats have been a place of encouragement, learning, and fellowship for me, and I hope to bring some of that to the MKs (missionary kids) attending this year’s retreats. There are two separate retreats that will be happening this summer. The first is the high school retreat that will be happening June 15-18. The second retreat will take place from June 20-23 and is for young adults. If you want to learn more about registering for the young adult retreat, click here. If you would like to learn more about the Ethnos360 MK Retreats, click here or use the button below.
““Look at you! You have gotten so fat!!” I was 15 years old and around a hundred pounds. I paused for a moment before smiling at the person calling me fat. In the USA, where I had just been, this would have been extremely offensive. However, in the country I was currently in, this was a compliment. I had just been told that I looked healthy and beautiful. I have learned that context can be the difference between an offence and a compliment.”
-Amanda*
Prayer Requests and Praises
Prayer Requests:
For the MK Care Retreat staff during the high school retreat as we engage with the high energy and excitement of a completely full high school retreat
For the MK Care Retreat staff during the young adult retreat as we engage with young adults in a wide variety of life stages
For the MK Care Retreat staff that the Lord will use us in the retreats to encourage, uplift, and walk alongside of missionary kids from all over the world. We value MKs and seek to build connections with them during this time
Praise:
The high school Ethnos360 MK Care Retreat is full!
I am enjoying my part-time job as a barista
I am making connections and continuing to build relationships and community
My mom and sisters are going to be back in the States soon, and I will be able to visit them
I am currently at 67% of my monthly support!
75% is the goal that Ethnos360 has set for me, and I am getting close! I am so thankful for those who have partnered with me financially, and I am overwhelmed by the amount of people who are keeping me in their prayers. Thank you for partnering with me in prayer! I know that without those who are a part of my team, both in prayer and finance, I could not be moving forward with what the Lord has for me.
If you are interested in giving, you can scan the QR code or click the button at the bottom of this letter, and it will take you to where you can partner financially. If you have questions or would like to know more about what I’m doing, I would love to meet with you! Ways to connect with me through email or phone are at the bottom of the letter, and I would love the opportunity to get to share with you what the Lord is doing and how you can be involved!
Other ways you can be involved:
Prayer! I appreciate and treasure the fact that I have people praying for me.
Opening your home as a place where I can present my ministry. I would love to share with you and others about what the Lord is doing!
Interested in my prayer card? I would be happy to send you one, email or text me your mailing address.
If you go to a different church than I do, and they are looking to take on a missionary, reach out to me and I would love to connect with you about that!
If I have not had the opportunity to meet you or interact with you, welcome! My name is Avalon Luse and I am serving with Ethnos360 as a part of MK Care, which serves missionary kids and their families so that the gospel can go out to all people.
I grew up as a missionary kid overseas in Papua New Guinea. Starting when I was one-year old until I graduated high school when I was nineteen. This experience gave me a passion for missions and a heart for missionary kids. If you are interested in more of my story checkout my website or blog using the QR code in the connect with me section.
Connect with Me
I would love to hear from you and get to know you a little bit better!
Scan the link on the bottom right to learn more about me.
