Meredith Blough
"What are you doing next year?" you ask...
Hello everyone! I am almost half way done with my senior year at Ohio University and a lot of people have been asking this question “What are you doing next year?” the answer: Mission Year. The Lord showed me a little bit about inner city ministry last summer in Chicago and that has really had an impact on me. I have decided to spend next year serving and growing through Mission Year and I am excited to start getting ready :)
Here is my hope for the next year: To serve the Lord, trust Him, and give my all to LOVE GOD and LOVE PEOPLE.
“We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us.”
~1 Thess. 2:8
I will try to keep you up to date on my life through the next year on this blog.
Thanks for reading!
About Mission Year
Mission Year is a year long urban ministry program focused on Christian service and discipleship. We take teams of young people, place them in an area of need, and help them to serve people and create community. We are committed to the command of Jesus to “love God and love people,” by placing the needs of our neighbors first and developing committed disciples of Christ with a heart for the poor. Learn more about our first year program…
Meredith Blough's Blog
the small things / Apr 14, 07:54 PM
Its the small things that remind me that life is not always to serious. Even though there are lots of problems, and large doses of brokenness, God is always pursuing our hearts individually and specifically. Here are a few of the small things that God placed in my week to remind me of his goodness.
1. Fish stick cleansing.
One of the 1st graders in our SAY Yes! after school program dropped his fish stick on the ground. He immediately picked it up, blew on it, kissed it, and held it up to the heavens while looking there also. It was then deemed eatable and he enjoyed it. All before I could really say anything.
2. Friendly welcome home.
I came home yesterday afternoon, walked up to my door and heard my neighbor Tony yelling my name. We had a friendly conversation and it was very refreshing. It is nice to be called by my name instead of the most usual cat calls and awkwardness from strangers hanging out on the block.
3. Being chased.
In a good way. When I turned onto my block after work the other day, a herd of children started chasing my car down the street. They followed me all the way home to say hello and check in to see where everyone is. Most of the little kids on the block know all of our names. “Where Ali?” “Where’s Conner?” “Kaylyn?” “Emily?” “Can we play?”
Precious.
Thank you Lord!
Simplicity / Feb 18, 04:33 PM
We had a great curriculum discussion about simplicity this week, and I thought I would share it with you…my teammates helped me even understand more about simplicity.
One question was…“How would you explain simplicity to your neighbors?”
We had many answers, that together help explain simplicity.
Simplicity is:
-giving up the things that the world tells us we need in order to really embrace what is important to us
-less is more
-live simply so others can simply live
What does the world tell us that we need to fill our lives and our time?
(these things are not inherently bad, but when we put our identity in them, it can be destructive)
-technology
-busyness/ appearing to be busy
-feeling connected
-stuff
So what is important to us? At least during Mission Year, and hopefully from now on, the following things are shown to be important in our lives…
-Sitting down together to have dinner
-availability to neighbors and friends
-healthy relationships
-time spent with the Lord and in the Bible
-praying together(for each other & others)
-serving each other & our neighbors
-rest
-finding our identity first in Christ
Another part of simplicity is living our lives like we care for all of the people that God has created in HIS image (which is everyone on the Earth).
-We live with less because it is important for people everywhere to have: food, clean water, shelter,a relationship with Jesus
-so we give, not only our extra, but sacrificially(time and money) to share Gods love in the world
“Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.”
1 Timothy 6:17-19
Lord make us more like you. Help us to live simply so that we can see you more clearly. Amen
birthdays / Jan 31, 09:52 PM
Birthdays are very important in my book. Because each person was fearfully and wonderfully made by the hands of the God of the universe. So we should celebrate!
The other day our neighbor revealed to me that it was her 56th birthday. So I told my team and we baked her some chocolate chip cupcake creations, stuck a candle in, and went next door to sing to her. She was shocked and very happy. She thanked us multiple times and said she didn’t expect this-and even apologized for not knowing all of our names. But that’s what it’s all about. Making sure she knows that we were thinking of her :)
She is a wonderful lady, and often cleans the snow off my car for me in the mornings.
This is what neighbors are for.
Thanksgiving / Dec 10, 03:54 PM
Once again, I spent Thanksgiving in Chicago.
I continue to be amazed by the hospitality of those around me.
The night before Thanksgiving, Ms. Betty made our team banana pudding and had Barbara bring it over. What a great surprise!
On Thanksgiving day, we had the wonderful opportunity to spend time with our Pastor Joe’s family. His parents welcomed us into their warm home and treated us like family. I want to be like them one day. I want to be willing to share my family, food, and home with strangers. We aren’t strangers any more, and Christ’s love was shared.
We ate, crafted, talked, napped, drank coffee, watched UP, played with the kids, and just enjoyed ourselves. It was beautiful. I am thankful.
Good morning! / Nov 23, 03:19 PM
Everyday when I walk outside I say hello to my neighbor Tony on his porch and whoever else happens to be out there. Usually just a short “how are you doing today” conversation.
This week I had 2 opportunities to go beyond that with neighbors, under kind of funny circumstances.
On Monday a man was playing a recorder in the alley across from my house. It was an unusual sight. So I asked Tony if we were having a concert and we had a good laugh.
Yesterday, my other neighbor asked me what color was in my hair. She thought I dyed it. But I got to tell her a funny story about my dad and how his hair was red too.
These are small victories in my life. God is good.
