THE TWO MONTH COUNTDOWN

Welcome! My name is Maddie Lindahl, and this year I am embarking on a very big journey through a program called Young Adults in Global Mission (referred to as YAGM). I would like to take time to explain to you all the process of finding my call to YAGM, and to Senegal.

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If you have made it to my blog site, chances are you know a bit about the journey I am taking already, but I would like to take the chance to briefly explain a bit about YAGM regardless. In particular, I would like to satiate any curiosity you may have about the process it took for me to become a YAGM.

I first heard about YAGM from fellow camp counselors at Luther Crest Bible Camp in Alexandria, MN. A few of them were leaving later that summer, and were wonderfully willing to answer the questions I had about the program. This brief introduction piqued my interest, and it was still on my mind this year as I considered what to do after graduation. Therefore, when the applications opened on December 1st, I had decided to try and apply. By mid-February I had two different phone interviews: 1 with a program alumnae to simply ask and answer questions, and another more formal one which would help determine if I would get accepted to YAGM in 2018-2019.

There was a lot of stress, anxiousness, and even tears surrounding just the application. I was already very conflicted about leaving my family, friends, loved ones, and just about everything I know for an entire year. And yet, something pulled at my heart, tugged at the nerve cells in the back of my brain, and just kept nagging me that this might be exactly what I am meant to do for the next year. I will discuss the decision and discernment which I underwent about YAGM in my next post, so keep your eyes open for that.

I knew that YAGM is a fairly selective program, and although I had lots of encouragement from my Lutheran Campus Ministry community, I had plenty of doubt that I would get accepted. And yet, in mid-March, I received an email inviting me to DIP, the Discernment Interview Placement event hosted in Chicago, which was the next step to becoming a YAGM. At this weekend in mid-April, we were told we would be interviewing for two different countries, and mine were Senegal and Madagascar.

DIP was incredible. And exhausting. Emotionally, mentally, and spiritually exhausting. This weekend pushed me in so many ways. To begin, this was my very first time flying alone. On top of that, once we arrived, we were immediately tasked with trying to get to know a group of over 100 people. Of course, we weren't tested on names or anything like that, but I genuinely wanted to put in all the energy I could into getting to know everyone (typical extrovert that I am). Then there was the fact that we were interviewing, and still not certain if the country programs we had been given were really going to fit us (or if we would fit them). However, I got to know dozens of phenomenal people. Truly, the people were absolutely the highlight of my experience at DIP (again, typical extrovert). On that Sunday morning, after a final worship, they called us by name and announced which country we were placed in.

Madelin Lindahl. Senegal.

I was finally able to hear again, because for the first ten minutes of them reading names, I was too terrified to really focus. Then began the process of considering what it means to be called to be a servant to people in Senegal, which is a process I am still going through, and will certainly continue throughout my year.

Suddenly, after a brief meeting with our country coordinator and fellow YAGMs called to the same country as ourselves, we were off once again to the airport. So much had happened in those three days. Lots of prayer, lots of fellowship, and certainly lots of discernment.

In the past the past two months since then, paperwork has been submitted, doctor's visits have been had, and more preparations are yet to come. And now, I have only two months until I depart once again to Chicago for our final orientation, before we depart for our countries on August 22nd.

I would like to now invite you to continue to follow my journey. This year will bring challenges, growth, change, and certainly the unexpected for me. And all of this has happened in each of my previous years, and I would expect they will each be present in your years as well. However, this journey is something so new and unlike anything I have ever experienced before. I thank you for your support, and hope that you may grow, learn, and be challenged with me.

Many blessings,

Maddie Lindahl