Missionary?

"So what will you be doing in Dallas?  Do you have a job yet?"

I find myself awkwardly fumbling for a response, not really sure how to explain myself.

Can I say that I'm a missionary?  Is that appropriate to what I'll be doing?

I hesitate to claim the title 'missionary' as images from End of the Spear come to mind and I think of people in primitive or rustic places, literally sacrificing their lives to make God known.  Dallas isn't exactly primitive with its skyscrapers and multilayered highway system, nor is my three-bedroom apartment with dishwasher and walk-in closets rustic, so I would hate to presume the label when I know others have given so much more than anything I am doing.

"I'm hoping to get involved in ministry."

She stares back confused, clearly questioning my plan and wondering if "hopes" will pay rent.
"Oh, okay."  She's not sure what to say, so I try to save the faltering conversation.

"I will be working for my friend's dad to pay the bills, but that's not really the focus of what I'll be doing in Dallas."

"Oh, okay," she responds, this time with understanding.  "So what is the job?"

She does not understand.  I explain the job, and hope that by the next time the question is asked, I will have a concrete ministry to talk about.

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Thomas Hale defines being a missionary as "one who is to witness across cultures."  Given this understanding, I think I can say I am a missionary.  Dallas, and in particular Oak Cliff (my neighborhood, AKA Little Mexico), is most definitely a different culture from the small-town Midwest I've grown up in.  Or perhaps the move is more comparable to going from Wheaton to the south side of Chicago, for those of you familiar with that geography.  Witnessing is also a large part of what I'm doing.  We just met our upstairs neighbors, and may now be nannying their children four days out of the week.  I've been attending Mercy Street, an after-school program for kids in the area.  And through church and other organizations, I am working to make known the glory of God.

I currently find myself working under the 'tentmaking' philosophy of missions, and thus think of myself less as a computer draftsman and more as a missionary.  If anybody reading this is a missionary and finds offense at this or thinks me bold to suggest my lifestyle in Dallas as missional, then I apologize.  This is me just trying to find the short-version response to "What do you do?"

And for anyone still curious about what I'm actually doing, but now too afraid to ask, please don't hesitate to call or email me.  Perhaps the post below will also help clarify things.

The Dallas Project

A seven month lease guarantees (caveat: James 4:13-15) that amount of time in Dallas, and thus I begin what I affectionately call, The Dallas Project.

What does it entail?
- Read the Bible in its entirety
- Pray for every country in the world
- Be involved in the local church
- Spend time outside of my typical context

- Make sacrifices to be able to give more generously*

- Live in a community of believers who are also participating in some or all parts of the Dallas Project

How does this happen?
- I am getting involved in LifePoint church.  I love their mission statement and hope to adopt it as my own: "Love God. Love people. Serve the city."
- I am getting involved in local ministries.
     - Mercy Street: an after school program once a week where we hang out (read: go completely crazy) for awhile, then we sing some songs, and then break into age groups for a lesson and craft.  So far I've gone with the youngest ones (1st-3rd grade) and they are hilarious.  My favorite quote from last week: "The opposite of kindness is a girl."  Sorry fellas ;)
     - Buckner International: I haven't actually done anything here because their volunteer coordinator is out of town this week, but it looks like an awesome organization.  They are a global ministry that strives to make life better for orphans and vulnerable children.  They combine my love of youth ministry and missions (and even have a camp!) so I am eager to find a way to get involved.
- I am working to get to know other people and families in the area and apartment complex.
- I am supporting myself as a computer draftsman for Spitze Graphics.  Spitze Graphics helps people apply for patents.  Working in AutoCAD, I will be cleaning up technical drawings and making them fit for the patent office.
- I'm living with four other wonderful girls who have warmly welcomed me into their apartment.

I say all of these things as though I am somehow responsible for them happening, but really this has been quite the journey of God opening up doors for me to come to Dallas and get connected.  He has put several books in my hands (Life Together by Bonhoeffer, Radical by Platt, Don't Waste Your Life by Piper) that have filled my head and heart with these ideas about how to live.  And most of all God has allowed me to grow up in a context where it is easy to know Him and feel His love.  It doesn't seem possible that I can take responsibility for too much of what has happened this first week in Dallas, nor the rest of my life prior.

Praise God for how well this transition has gone thus far and please pray that I can continue to find where God wants me to get involved here in Dallas.

*the first five pieces of the Dallas project are more or less David Platt's "Radical Challenge" from his book Radical.