Why Serve 2014 Reflection: Caressa James

What I felt that I learned the most was that I’m not alone when I say that I sometimes struggle. I struggle with balancing work, school and my duties within the church. I’m a very passionate human being and I often get caught between indecision when it comes to what I want to really do and what I actually should do, especially when it comes to my work within the church. It was refreshing to know that I am not the only person who struggles with these issues. I love advocacy work, I love public health and I have a great passion for education along with being a servant of God. Being able to hear from others and to talk about struggles and issues they face really helped put things in perspective. It gave me the clarity that I needed to know that I can do all of these things and much more with patience, time, and diligence.

My learnings have assisted me in mapping my future endeavors. I do know that work within the church is in my future. I have a few steps to take prior to this goal but I know that my heart is set on working within Native/Indigenous Ministry. Being a positive role model among my people and church is something I take very seriously. Why Serve was another steppingstone for me to moving into the right direction. I hope that through my grandmother’s footsteps (she was recently ordained) and mine, we can help our mission grow and inspire others to the call for discernment.

Highlights I would share would be the meeting of new people who share the same vision, unique opportunities in various ministries, the opportunity to speak with leaders within the church, a chance to learn about other cultural dynamics, a chance to speak freely about concerns for the church, and engaging in dialogue.

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