October 2011
Nearly three years ago I decided to work with Word Made Flesh. My commitment to serve with the organization was out of a desire to work in a community that I believe in and to offer support to its community members. In so many ways, I have seen God bless me in the place. My service with Word Made Flesh has been an experience of personal development, spiritual growth and vocational discernment.
It was nearly a year ago when I began to discern my continued service with the organization. As I approached my 2-year Word Made Flesh anniversary, April 2011, the questions, “What is my vocation?” and “What gives me joy and life?” were consistently on my mind. These questions have always seemed difficult and terrifying. In this season, they have been clarifying as well. It is by God’s grace that I am able to name my desire to transition and I have peace knowing and moving toward this decision.
I know my vocation to be an active, relational engagement with others through service and presence. The relational aspects of my service with Word Made Flesh are energizing and the reasons I was drawn to this role and have loved working in the office. But the flip side of this is that my relational work is limited and restricted in nature because I am working from an office and I, logistically speaking, cannot relate in presence. This has been a difficult but freeing self-understanding to realize. I am thankful for all the ways God has worked in me and through my experience with Word Made Flesh to bring light and grant certainty. Coming to a clearer understanding of who I am and how I am guided vocationally has been beautiful. God wants to and will use who I am and how I have been created in more full ways. I trust that. I celebrate that!
I write and send this with much thankfulness to you all for the support and encouragement you have offered to me throughout these 2+ years. Your partnership in my journey has brought possibility and hope. My service with Word Made Flesh has been marked by your generous provision through financial, prayerful and relational presence. Thank you for allowing me to share Word Made Flesh, my experiences and the past three years of my life with you. Words are inadequate to say how truly grateful I am for you. Thank you!!
I will complete my service with Word Made Flesh on October 28, 2011. If you sponsor me financially, please continue to give through October. All automatic donations will be cancelled upon my completion. If you are able, please continue to support Word Made Flesh: a different missionary, a field or the General Fund. Your partnership, contributions and prayers sustain us.
It would love to stay in contact! Send me an email: hilary.wilken@gmail.com. If you think of me, please pray. Pray also for our little community here in Omaha.
Love, love
Hilary