This last week has been Missions Emphasis Week here at LeTourneau, and while I usually don’t pay a whole lot of attention to these things, I was struck this week. I began to, as Dr. Richard said, look at the rocks in my life to see if I need to rearrange things a bit. As it turns out, I think I do.

I’ve begun to really look at what, exactly, my mission is. For the past year or so, I’ve been working toward a degree in English, with plans to continue directly on to Graduate and PhD programs. I’m thinking now that such a plan may not be the best plan. Rather than going straight to graduate school, I think I might be better off by spending a couple of years on the mission field. I spoke with several of the missions organizations this past week about the possibility of internships and whatnot. Many of them had never been asked about internships with the mission organization publications, but they’re going to find out for me. Also, there’s the possibility of going to a mission camp and teaching English to the missionary kids for a year or two before I head to graduate school. Graduate school isn’t going to change, so taking a small academic break in the name of service and, quite honestly, experience, then where’s the harm? I can still shoot for my goal, a successful career in higher education. Higher education isn’t going to disappear, so waiting a couple of years isn’t going to harm that. In fact, the huge amount of world experience I would be able to gain would be absolutely invaluable to me as a writer.

I’m still weighing the positives and negatives, but I’m curious as to what you all, my friends think. I know it’s a couple of years off yet, but you know, I’m really digging the idea right now. I’m really feeling that it’ something that I should do, and it’s certainly something that I want to do. So, what do you think? Comments are appreciated.

-Tyler