On Boarding Final Project: “Transformative Themes”

The “Welcome Dinner” hosted by Angie Fadely was my first clue that “Change” was on the horizon for everyone. However, I could not have imagined how significant those changes would be for me. Indeed, God is doing a new thing. Do you not see it?

I got spiritual chills when I saw the pattern of transformative themes that continued to recur throughout my On Boarding experience. It’s amazing how “Transformation” overlapped from Angie, to Dr. Clark, to me, Small Group leader Karen Ransone and finally Camille Bishop. Fittingly, it is the basis of my final project. **TRANSFORMATION!**

Dr. Andrew Clark sent me into a writing frenzy. I was captivated by his conceptual command and delivery, but moreso by how the “nuggets” offered spoke directly into my life. I’m in charge? I’m RIDICULOUSLY in charge? Who better than me to lead than me? My **“Aha Moment”** is on the adjacent page, but reads:

**“God never asks about our ability or our inability, but about our availability.**
**God, where am I not being available right now?”**

On Boarding has taught me what it means to be available mentally, prayerfully, physically, and spiritually for God!

Project Dr. Clark — Dr. Andrew Clark sent me into a writing frenzy. I was captivated by his conceptual command and delivery, but moreso by how the “nuggets” offered spoke directly into my life. I’m in charge? I’m RIDICULOUSLY in charge? Who better than me to lead than me? My **“Aha Moment”** is on the adjacent page, but reads:

**“God never asks about our ability or our inability, but about our availability.**
**God, where am I not being available right now?”**

On Boarding has taught me what it means to be available mentally, prayerfully, physically, and spiritually for God!

“God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.”

GET READY TO GROW UP IN GOD PENNY!

During the Silent Retreat, I observed the flight of a dragonfly for close to ten minutes. It busied about with speed, yet exhibited grace and spread its wings while resting on varied blades of grass. Such sightings have remained symbolic in my life, much like Rachel’s sunflowers. While the voice of the Lord always speaks to me during these symbolic sightings, the internet confirmed it.
**ACCORDING TO GOOGLE:**
The dragonfly, in almost every part of the world symbolizes change and change in the perspective of self realization; and the kind of change that has its source in **mental and emotional maturity and the understanding of the deeper meaning of life.**

My small group leader, Karen Ransone added momentum with her July 2, 2019 entry in my journal. She prayed for God to give her scriptures for me and they are:

Change: “See, I am doing a new thing.” Isaiah 43:19
Transform: “Do not conform any longer to the patterns of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is. His good, pleasing, and perfect will.” Romans 12:2
Adaptability: “For though I am free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain more.” I Corinthians 9:19

Project camille From the anointed Camille Bishop, it all came full circle with her World View presentations.

“One of the biggest problems in the world today is that Christians believe they cannot CHANGE.”
“We never CHANGE in isolation. We need each other.”
“Christian life is about CHANGING from the inside out.”

It initially saddened me that I would not be traveling to Dakar with my team for their two-week field practice, but God is resourceful.

He is using my writing gift stateside to illuminate SENEGAL and her culture just from a different location. Change advances God’s purpose, so Journalist Penny will travel to Washington, D.C. next week to write a feature on the following Smithsonian National Museum of African Art exhibit and then fly from Dallas to Madrid to Las Palmas, Spain on July 26th to meet Mercy Ships. From there, we all sail to Africa together.