I want to give a shout out to all the MissionCorps, past, present and future. When I was your age, a year of service was the furthest thing from my mind. I was a single mom at that time in my life so I naturally relate to our moms.
My year at Maggie’s Place is coming to an end. I will depart on January 31, 2017. In the past 11 months I’ve shared some stories about my experience with moms, donors and volunteers but there’s a group of young ladies I haven’t really talked about yet… the Maggie’s Place MissionCorps.
Many of the MissionCorps are recent college graduates still trying to decide what they want to do with their education. They have chosen, like the first five young women who started Maggie’s Place, to put their careers on hold and spend some time serving those less fortunate. They have felt the call to love as Christ loves, to be selfless and to show others what grace and mercy actually look like.
These are not your typical young ladies! These young ladies have inspired me, they have stretched me and they have accepted me. They have taught me more about grace and mercy than I am comfortable admitting. I’m probably the same age or older than most of their parents, yet they have allowed me to be part of their lives and we have shared some wonderful moments together. At Maggie’s Place everyone is treated with dignity and when you live in community, you learn to accept people where they are.
If I could tell your parents and future employers a few things I’ve learned about each of you, I’d tell them this: you each have a rare form of selflessness mixed with determination and perseverance. You aren’t afraid to try something new and you give whatever you’re doing your best. It is obvious to anyone who would spend a few minutes in your presence, that you allow God to work in and through you daily. You give attention to prayer and trust in His Divine Provision and it shows.
The Lord is doing amazing things in the lives of the moms and your fellow MissionCorps through your obedience to His call. Know that He is so pleased with you! It’s not about what you do here… it’s your heart that He is after. Continue to surrender your will to His and He will bless you in ways you can’t even imagine. God has given each of you exactly the right amount of love to pour out to those around you, no matter where you are or what you’re doing. God made you in His image and God is love. He will continue to work in and through you …trust Him to always light your path.
If I’m honest, this has been one of the hardest years of my life. But God is good, all the time! He has given me so many opportunities to experience His love through all the moms, babies, staff, volunteers, donors and MissionCorps of Maggie’s Place!
Blessings… and may the Christ child, the Savior of the world, be ever present in your hearts this Christmas Season!
By Jackie Jennings, a MisisonCorps
