Texas, here I come…

It’s 10:00pm in Seattle and I am sitting in the middle of my room looking at all the stuff that needs to either get packed or left behind & the massive pile of laundry that needs to get done before.

This week I’ve been blessed to have had the time to spend with my family and some close friends. My thoughtful dad even took the time off work this week to be my personal assistant to help me prepare for Mission Year. With his help, I’ve remembered A LOT of things that needed to get settled before heading to Houston (student loan/deferment paperwork, paying off credit card bills from school, and getting the necessary items for a hot/humid place like Houston!), and I am so grateful! Despite all my fears of moving away from home, my friends, and my community I have peace deep down about getting on the plane and starting Mission Year.

Whenever I do something that I feel God is calling me to do, I always feel the support and love from the right people to motivate me to run towards that calling and always finishing strong. A long time ago, I once told a friend that in our lives if we feel that God is urging us to do something, God will bring peace into our hearts and those that we need support form. I remember praying back in February that God would bring peace about Mission Year especially to my parents – or it wouldn't be something that I wouldn’t commit to. Regardless of where I was to be placed, what service organization I was going to serve with, what church community I was going to join - I just wanted and was so desperate for a year to be mentored and discipled into a better me. All the way through, my family (that includes all my friends) asked questions and encouraged me to follow the path that God has clearly paved for me.

So here I am, overjoyed & grateful by your support as I take these steps forward. thank YOU thank YOU thank YOU!

So, about these 11 months...

Well, for the next 11 months I hope to learn more about what it means to live in a community. My number one goal is to live a productive life every day that I am in Houston. I pray that being more like Jesus is my priority so that I may build the habit towards living the rest of my life serving God in a radical way.

I want to be a radical disciple of Jesus Christ. I know this statement is bold, but to me it means that I want to be deeply rooted in the ways of God so I may learn how to better  serve, love, and communicate to everyday people that I meet – so that they may (hopefully) feel the love of Christ radiate out of me.

What about you? You don’t have to move to Houston, Texas in order to love and serve your neighbors. In your home, workplace, church, and community there is always something that you can do to live holistically. What I hope is that you will join me & take up the challenge in discovering the life that Christ calls us to live daily.

Are you up for it?

"Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way" (James 1:2-4 MSG)

how can you pray for me?

new beginnings

This summer, I officially moved back home with my parents, only to find myself preparing to move out again. This time, a little bit further…and where everything is bigger.

When I first shared my interest in Mission Year with my family, friends, and Seattle Pacific University community, I knew that the community I had invested time to build for the past four years was more genuine and intentional than I could’ve ever planned for it to be. I was surrounded with ears willing to listen and mouths ready to encourage and uplift throughout the entire process of thinking and committing to the call to serve in Houston.

Mission Year is my personal decision to live a year of simplicity and service while being discipled into a mature leader and a person of greater faith. Discovering more of my passions and desires over the past four years, I know my heart is passionate about serving others wherever God calls.

As much as this was a personal decision, I would’ve not been able to make the commitment to Mission Year without a community that confirmed my calling and continues to help me step out of the comfort of Seattle. The good thing about my personality is that when I sense God is calling me to something and it makes complete sense; I hop on that train immediately. Then, as time progresses and I let moments of weakness (we all have them, right?) settle in, I begin to question a lot. And again, the good thing about my personality is that I don’t give up easily.

I’ve asked God for a lot of signs (yes, another weakness) about this decision. I just can’t help it because this is a decision that will require a lot of change. If and when I return back to Seattle, I will no longer be the same Rediet. A year from now, I hope I’ll have a better understanding on what it means to have a genuine relationship with my family, friends, and neighbors. A better understanding on what it means to genuinely love God and others, even when it is uncomfortable to do so. My greatest hope is that I will fall deeper in love with the word of God, learn how to live out my life in service to others on a daily basis, and discover more of God’s unconditional love for me.

I’m really excited to share my journey with you. I hope to reflect not only on the details of my year, but hopefully see write about the connection between where I came from to where I am and where I am going. I also hope that wherever you may be reading anything I have written from, that you are able to also learn with me and grow. At the end of each post, I hope that maybe you too will be motivated to discover how God is calling you to love discover ways in which you can love others and God better.

There are two weeks until many interns from all over the United States (and some abroad) move to their city placement, meet their city directors, and get to know those they will be living and working with. Many of you have been asking how you could be praying for me in these days as I prepare to go and serve. Please pray for:

1.  My ability to enjoy my last days in Seattle with family and friends.
2.  Many more opportunities to share what I am doing with whoever is willing to listen.
3. For my new friends that I will be living with (James, Eric, Lauren, Shealy, and Paul) as they also prepare to move to Houston.
4. For the people of Houston welcoming us into their community.
5. Our ability to believe and trust in God to meet our every need financially throughout the year. 

Your prayers are much appreciated!

Genesis 12:1-4

“Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. “And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you…and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

To donate: www.missionyear.org/donate (12-9037)