My adult life has so far been arranged in four-year cycles.
2012-2016: the education years. I spent a year in Thailand with YWAM, then three years in Saskatchewan with Millar.
2016-2020: the Taiwan years: I served with YWAM, creating evangelistic, contextualized animated shorts to help missionaries share the gospel.
2020-2024: the "farm apartment" years: I have spent the last cycle on the farm with my brother, working on my art career and continuing to serve with YWAM from home.
When 2024 came around, I sensed that it was going to be another year of change, a transition to a new four-year era. Lo and behold, an opportunity for change did come along! My cousins own a house in a nearby town that they want to rent out. It became available, and I sensed that this was my chance to step into my next four year cycle. Of course, I don't mean to say that I know for sure that I will live in this particular house for four years. What I do know for sure is that the previous four years is now over.
Past Pros, Past Cons
Living in this farm apartment has been a strange blessing. These walls have witnessed some of my deepest emotional lows: the fallout of COVID and my inability to continue as an overseas-artist-missionary-person. While living here, deep wounds were revealed, I struggled with depression and anxiety, and I spent a lot of time being worried and sad, wondering what on earth I was doing with my life!
In retrospect, I now can see that God led me to this apartment - and would not permit me to leave - to address these problems. I did a lot of journalling, therapy and some spiritual direction. (the art above is some art I did while processing therapy. I might do a post someday about what they all mean, but for now I'll just share them to show some of the emotions I was processing.)
In his patient way, God made space for me to:
1. realize I had things that desperately needed to be healed
2. let him begin to heal those things. I am truly a different person than I was in 2020.
Living here has not just been struggle and pain and depression, though. This apartment has also witnessed some wonderful joys and pleasures: my first steps as an independent artist/illustrator, my friendship with my brother, and a re-introduction into my family and community here in Canada. I feel overly, abundantly, gratuitously blessed to have the family, friends and church that I have. My illustrating career never would have started if I wasn't hired by my auntie Kim to illustrate her books about my cousin, Mac. Colson brought me along into his musical life, playing in orchestras and choirs and bands. I've been able to attend family gatherings and see my cousins' kids growing up. I've been able to see how my church loves me, and I've been able to lead a prayer team to love the other missionaries that PEC has sent out. I could go on. There is a lot to be thankful for, here!
What does the next four years have in store?
Looking back helps me look forward. I can anticipate that in the next four years there will be real challenges, though hopefully they are new challenges and not a re-do of my old problems! I can also anticipate a steady stream of love and generosity from my God, my church, and my family.
If you're in my area, you can also anticipate some more community events to become possible because of this move.
Art classes: I will have a space I can dedicate to teaching art. I hope to have something going on in there at least once a week.
Jam sessions: I am keen to get people playing music together. My hope is to host a bi-weekly jam session. Every session will start with a kid/beginner friendly portion: a chance to learn how to play music together in a group, or play the latest song you've learned in your lessons. Then after that, the more advanced jam will begin, with each participant bringing a song to lead. We will learn together, play together, and hopefully develop a community music culture of growth and fun!
Stay tuned! First thing's first: I have to move over there! Second thing's second: I have to fill the space - with furniture, friends, and memories. I hope I'll see you there!
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