I approached my mother today with a sigh at the work load that I had. She gave me a sympathetic look, but then said, “I actually have no idea what you do – what is it that you’re working on?”
Working as Howard Guinness Project trainee doesn’t start when the students arrive on campus! Since starting with the Grads Fund in January I’ve had a roller coaster ride of training and facing challenges – many that aren’t particularly my cup of tea. It will come as a surprise to some that one of the things that I find most difficult to do is cold calling, or at least, calling people that I haven’t spoken to in a while. And of course, what is the first part of my training as a Howie? To call both supporters and students. Having to continuously contact people, some that we haven’t spoken to in many years, and others that we barely know, to ask them to support us financially in doing ministry with students is a great step of faith.
This really has been a time where I’ve seen the Lord at work. I’ve been continually humbled by the willingness of people to partner in God’s work this year regardless of whether they’ve been involved in university ministry before, or the size of their salary, and even though some don’t know me very well at all. I’ve seen how God has made his Church a family ready to care for one another in many different ways. God has been providing faithfully and I am learning to wait upon his timing for my finances and his decision to move generosity in the heart of his people.