The Swaziland Experience

Tim Deller
May 2007

I have spent the first 25 years of my life seeing the Holy Spirit work in Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin. Over this time, I have gradually and continually progressed to understand God better and to grow in Christ. I have had opportunities to serve in ministry, and I have seen God’s work so clearly in the lives and relationships of those around me. In the last year, for example, I have seen God’s amazing work within the small group that I co-lead.

For several years, I have considered the idea of seeing how God works in other cultures and among different members of the global church. I feel that much could be gained from taking some time to pursue an international experience that would allow me an opportunity to serve and to see God work in another culture. I know that this could shape my life in so many ways, but I realize that I do not yet have a good understanding of what these ways are.

I hope to serve in a capacity that will help to grow and develop the church. I understand that I may or may not be able to see this growth, but I desire to serve, build relationships, and simply follow God’s lead. I hope to derive insight into God’s plans for my life. Is my calling for long-term missions? At this point, I simply do not know the answer to this question.

I feel that my most prominent area of personal and spiritual growth over the past several years has been an increased understanding of Christ’s love. I pray regularly to see more and more of this love so that I may pass it along to others. I feel that God has given me a special type of love for society’s underdogs and an ability to help people feel loved who otherwise might not. Nevertheless, I know that there is so much of Christ’s love that I have yet to understand. I want to continue to see more of this love and pass it along to others in all new contexts.

I am at a stage in my life that opens the door to this type of experience. I am 25 years old, single, stable, and debt-free. No one depends on me. I love my job very much, but I believe that I would be able to arrange a leave of absence from work for approximately 9-12 months beginning in late September or early October. This seems like an excellent opportunity to set aside some time from traditional American life and explore more of what life in Christ can be.

At the end of the day, God’s will is my will. If God desires for me to serve internationally, then I pray that it will happen. If this is not what God has scripted for this stage and time in my life, then I will gladly continue to serve the church here in Wisconsin. I certainly love my job in medical imaging development, and I am perfectly content to remain in the Milwaukee area. Yet, I feel a tugging at my heart, as if God is asking me to make myself available and to pursue options that exist within the international church.