"Wherever you are, be all there!"

Elizabeth, our Discovery colleague is at a large university this week talking to students who are interested in missions. And her very interesting blog post has sparked my thinking along these lines:

Do you remember being 20 something and wanting to do all your life's ideas now?  I don't think it was just me... my guess is that is a very common reaction to being young and full of ideas, potentials and God's urging to follow Him. And there is that NOW element to following Him... but the tension is that life unfolds at it's own speed and all those ideas and dreams don't get put into practice NOW... looking back a few years, that is mostly a good thing.  We need some time to become who God is creating us to be... and then we have more to give to make this world a better place.  We also have a lifetime to implement those ideas... and along the way we are changed just as much as those we sought to bring change to.  

I think Elizabeth and I agree on this topic.  She says it even better than I would:
"Looking back, I believe that my college years were the primer for my life’s engine to take off. The energy and passion I had were not wasted, and those experiences have had significant impact on who I have become and what I am doing now."

I just got off the phone with a young lady graduating from university who wants to spend some months on the field learning and helping in our work. She is taking the time to do the research both online and on the field to know our organization and how her skills and passions match up.  Once her internship is complete, she hopes to get an advanced degree in languages and cultures to make a big dent in the problem of biblelessness in a remote part of the world. I see this generation is getting it and is patient enough and passionate enough to make an impact in the right places!

I think Elizabeth's advice for college students is right on:
"My advice to college students considering a life of following God, whether or not that includes overseas work, is to invest deeply in exploring avenues and adventures around you. From short-term trips, to summer internships, to local church outreach, to praying for Bibleless people groups—get involved. Do it now. And while you’re at it, give it your all."

What advice would you give to a college student?  What ideas did you have in your 20's that you still want to do?

Next week we will post more pictures from the Benin Discovery team!