Mentor Project (Featuring Mrs. Hanlon)

I am very excited for this mentor project as I will be working a few things out with Mrs. Hanlon. I chose her for this project because she was the first person I had met in the first few days being in Rwanda and she had once been a bible teacher at KICS. I hope to get to know her better over the course of this project. But so far, this is what I know about her and her spiritual journey.

Mrs. Hanlon had not grown up in a Christian home, in fact she felt many areas of loss- her parents divorced and all through out her life she struggled with her identity. She had never really heard anything about God until high school. In high school there was a guy named Chase- he really stood to her-she said something was very different about him. She asked him about a few things-about why he wasn't like most people. Chase explained his relationship with Christ and immediately Mrs. Hanlon was interested. She wanted to experience the grace that God offered.  It was right about then that a series of unfortunate events occurred-she loved to play sports but then a doctor told her she shouldn't  play anymore with her ankle condition. Her ankle had been rubbing cartilage away. Sports was something she was very passionate about and it seemed as if  a lot of the things that she cared about were taken away. She explained this as a time when her need for God was revealed to her. She began to struggle with what it meant to be a Christian and how to live like one. She had accepted Christ into her life in the month of October the 25th and since then Christ has been evident in her. She had said that even her non-believing father saw a huge change in her attitudes and in her character. Since then she has came a very long way. She now serves as a missionary here in Rwanda, she has been here a little over four years and has really enjoyed it. She works with young women, where she enjoys building relationships with people. She loves people and loves getting to know people. She has kids and a husband and although they are not quite sure how long they will stay here, she said she would love to see her children grow up here in Rwanda.

Overall, I think Mrs. Hanlon is a perfect mentor for this project because I trust her, she is a woman of faith, and as she said she loves building relationships, I hope we can both get to know each other better over the course of this project.

Goal Setting

For this Mentor Project I have 3 goal I plan on achieving...

1. As we work through the book of Ephesians, I would like to clearly see all the aspects of the fullness of Christ and have a better understanding of how to balance between His grace with His glory and Truth. I can achieve this goal by making a list of the times that Gods glory, truth, or grace stands out in the reading of Ephesians.This is something that can be done during each meeting with my mentor and can be something we can discuss at the end.

2. As we work through this book of Ephesians I would like to find where I am in my faith. I would like to find out whether or not I am growing and if I am not growing, what steps do I need to take to grow. Although growth can be hard to measure, this goal can be achieved by simply reading and understanding the fullness of God through Ephesians. Followed by the reading, I can give my mentor an example in life of where I have seen Gods grace, glory and truth in each week.

3. My final goal would be setting a regular time and place for me to just really spend time in Gods word where I don't have to worry about any distractions. Mrs. Hanlon suggested that in the mornings when I have free time in my moms office- I can open my bible, pray for guidance, and read a passage (even a short verse) and reflect on it for 15 minutes. This is something I would like to do every day-and it is something Mrs. Hanlon can ask me each morning if I have completed my reading goal when she comes into the office.

I am excited to be working with Mrs. Hanlon on this project as she can encourage me to keep going, as well as to keep me accountable of these goals I have set over the next few weeks.




First Meeting

In our first meeting Mrs. Hanlon and I worked through Ephesians one. This was a letter from Paul that he wrote for Christains in the opening of a prayer and blessing.

This passage revealed the fullness of God. We saw the fullness of God through the Trinity and in the Trinity we are gifted the Holy Spirit and we also saw the fullness of God through Gods rule and authority (verse 10). We also saw Gods redemption- God chooses to save, bless, and forgive us.

This passage tells us that humans are chosen for His holiness, for the riches of His grace and we are chosen for His forgiveness. We should receive all of our wisdom and redemption from God as well.

This passage demands for humans to change their minds about God. We need to understand the power that is found in Christ so that we may find our hope in Him. We can find rest knowing that God is head over all things-He has everything in control (verses 18 and 19).

This passage encourages me to find security in Him knowing that He is indeed head over all things. I can trust in Him to help me, guide me, and give me wisdom.

This passage prompts me to give thanks for His forgiveness. I can pray that my eyes, my classmates eyes, Mr. Husteds eyes, Mrs. Hanlons eyes may be enlightened-that they may see God's truth, glory, and grace and find rest in His name knowing that God is in control. I can also pray for leaders- there is a lot of tension in the United States right now as the election did not go as expected. However we know that God is in control over all things and there is nothing left to do but to pray for our leaders.  1 Timothy 2:15 says to pray for your leaders, and head of authority. So today, I pray that God will give Donald Trump the wisdom, the courage, the strength, and the perseverance to lead my country in a way the glorifies God.

Finally, Mrs. Hanlon has kept me accountable but suggested that I make an edit to my second SMART goal so that it can be more measurable. She suggested that I give examples of where I have seen Gods fullness in life.

Mentor Meeting 2

Ephesians 2

The passage was about Gods undeserving grace and mercy. In fact the word grace is repeated 4 times in this passage- making it clear that we are only saved through Gods grace, mercy, and His great love for us. (verses 7 and 8) This passage also says that we are transformed- from our old lives in which we were dead in our sins (verse 1) to lives in which we were made alive once again by Gods grace (verse 8 and 9). Also in this passage, when we come to God, He is our ultimate peace maker who breaks down our barriers (verse 14)

In this passage it is quite clear that God is rich in mercy and in love (verse 4) and in Him we are gifted salvation through His grace (verse 8). God is also the hope  and the structure we need in the world. (verse 12) God is our peacemaker who is capable of breaking down any barrier (verse14 and 17). In Him we have access to the Trinity (verse 18). God is also our foundation in which our faith is built upon (verses 20-22).

This passage tells us that people are born of wrath (verse 3), we are born into sinful nature.
*Does this make us evil if we were created for "good works" (verse 10)?
The passage also says that we were once alienated and without God (verse 12) but now we have access to be members of Gods family (verses 13 and 18).

This passage demands that I be challenged in mind to accept the gift that has been given to me. This challenges me to answer the question- Have I lived in response to that gift? Am I seeking ways to walk in Him? This passage also encourages me to praise God for being near to me so I no long have to earn my way to Him.

This passage encourages me to seek and maintain the peace that God has brought to us- knowing that we are the body of Christ (verse 14). I can also me more merciful to others just like Christ is merciful to me. I can better reflect the King,

This passage prompts me to praise God for being near. I can thank God for having access to the Father where I can enjoy a relationship with Him. I can pray to seek peace, love, mercy.

Mentor Meeting 3

After reading Ephesians 3 I had an understanding about the passage, about what the passage said about God and humans, about what the passage demands of me, about the way I should relate to people and what the passage prompts me to pray.

The passage was repetitive of Gods grace, the word was repeated  two times, in verses 2 and 7. In verse 3, the passage explains how this "mystery" of revelation and how this mystery was made known to everyone in verse 4 and 5. "that by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before in brief. ⁴ By referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ,
⁵ which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit." Also starting in verse 14, the passage continues as a prayer to be strengthened in the spirit:

¹⁴ For this reason I bow my knees before the Father....  ¹⁶ that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, ¹⁷ so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love...amen.

This passage reveals God to us for what was once a mystery is now made known to us in verses 5 through 7 and how His abundant grace extends to all. God is also loving in verse 19 "and to know the love of Christ that surpasses all knowledge." Verse 11 tells us that God is powerful as everything has happened in "accordance to the eternal purpose in which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord". Verse 11 encourages me to know that God has everything in control and has known all according to His eternal purpose. This passage also encourages me to remember that God keeps His word, He has a purpose to be carried out. This also tells me that people are a part of His plan and purpose as He uses all kinds of people throughout the Gospel.

People now have an understanding as stated in verse 4, 'By referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight ^[b]into the mystery of Christ." People no longer have to live in mystery now that we have understanding and insight of Christ. Also people are fellow members of Christ in verse 6, "⁶ to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. In verses 7-8, it is shown that God uses imperfect men for His purposes, "⁷ of which I was made a minister, according to the gift of God’s grace which was given to me according to the working of His power. ⁸ To me, the very least of all ^[d]saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ." This is encouraging for me because even though I am an imperfect person, I know that God still has a purpose for me. Finally, in verse 16 people only have understanding through the Spirit. "¹⁶ that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man."

This passage demands that I ask for wisdom from the Holy Spirit and while keeping in mind other Christians and knowing they are part of the body of Christ, I can pray for the persecuted church. I can also walk with the confidence and the boldness that is found in Christ, "in whom we have boldness and confident access to the Father," (verse 12). That passage reminded me about the confidence unit we had a few units ago and how our understanding of the Bible and of God builds confidence and we are able to have confidence through the access to the Father. Also this passage demands that I be patient while remembering that God is working through each of us, through His grace.

This passage changes the way that I pray for people. In knowing that we are all the body of Christ I should pray for strength, boldness, confidence and wisdom among all of us. I can also encourage others who may be struggling in their faith or I could even be asking my sisters how their relationship with Christ is going and offer to read them a verse each night.

This passage prompts me to pray for wisdom and strength to keep pushing through and to keep growing in my faith. It prompts me to thanks God for all that I have but to also surrender all that I have to trust that He has the best in mind for me. I can also thank God for the gifts and talents I have and I can thank Him for being able to do what I enjoy because of Him.

Smart Goals
1) In this passage I saw  the fullness of God, more of Gods grace and mercy. But I also saw God's glory and wisdom, verses 20 and 16
2) This week I saw Gods grace. I have been stressing about grades and exams as well as trying to answer the question of what I want to do with my life, and I just asked that God would put a sense of peace on my heart. Although, I still feel a little stressed, I have given my worries to God like we learned in class a few weeks ago and I feel confident knowing that God has everything in control.
3) I am beginning to read Matthew- the Christmas story (the birth of Jesus, the wisemen, story of Mary)

Mentor Insight
This weeks question was can Mrs. Hanlon testify to a trial she experienced. She began with saying that a big trial in her life was when her father passed away. She continued how it all felt like a coincidence, he passed away on her 21st birthday and she couldn't understand why God would let this happen, she questioned God's goodness. Although it was a very hard time for her, she grew closer to God. She was no longer seeking the approval of her dad so she grew closer to God. She also said that her relationship with her mom made the situation worse because her mom relied a lot on her husband, it was a very difficult time for the both of them. However, she was refined, she asked God for the strength and the wisdom to keep pushing through. We then talked about God's goodness and how He always wants the best for us but how it can be hard for us to understand His goodness. Mrs. Hanlon then explained how our idea and His idea of goodness may not be the same, keeping in mind that God has greater plans than the plans we plan for ourselves.  But I really enjoyed hearing from Mrs. Hanlon about how she pushed through and was strong in midst of a trial. I also felt encouraged by the way she was strong enough to ask God for strength and wisdom in times that felt difficult. It just reminded me of how we are not alone in our trials, and how God is with us all the time, even at the worst times.

Mentor Meeting 4

In this reading of Ephesians 4 I found that the passage focused on the unity people can find in Christ, in the "one body" the "one spirit" the "one Lord" and the "one faith."  Looking at verses 1-6 it talks about how those who come to Christ are the same. "As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. ² Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. ³ Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. ⁴ There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; ⁵ one Lord, one faith, one baptism; ⁶ one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all."

This passage tells us that God equips people and guides people, "there is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called", verse 4. I also learned about Gods abundance of gifts, and grace and mercy in verses 4-7, "there is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; ⁵ one Lord, one faith, one baptism; ⁶ one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.⁷ But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it." However, I did have a question, if God's grace is abundantful, or if His grace never runs out, why does God sometimes let unbelievers go down their own path? Has He given up?


This passage reminded me of how people are united in the body of Christ when a person comes to know the Lord, as I stated previously. This passage also reminded me of like a child grows to be an adult, we are called to grow up in our faith."
 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking", verse 17. We are responsible people as well, with responsibilities,  ^"to be made new in the attitude of your minds; ²⁴ and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
²⁵ Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body," verses 23-25. We are also people of words, but we should be careful of how we use them, we should use them with intent to build each other up, "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen," verse 29.

This passage demands that I grow up in my faith as I mentioned before and that I act responsibly. I should also move forward without looking back at my old life, "You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; ²³ to be made new in the attitude of your minds; ²⁴ and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness," verses 22-24. I should also be more wise in the way that I use my words, it is very easy to break people down, to create arguments with, say my sisters, but this passage tells me that I should be an example to my sisters and work on building them up instead. I also need to leave behind my bitterness and my anger. I need to be more forgiving, in the understanding of people make mistakes, I make mistakes, but I should be forgiving.

This passage basically prompts me to like I already said, to build others up, be more forgiving, and be kind and gentle.

This passage prompts me to ask God for wisdom and the strength to use my words in a more positive way knowing that I have two younger sisters who look up to me and repeat with their mouths the words that come from mine.
Lord, I ask that you will give me the patience this week so that I may use my words to glorify you and build my friends and siblings up. I also ask that you rid me of my anger this week as I am feeling the pressure to do well on exams and assignments in these next few days. Be with my spirit also so that I may not become bitter and discouraged, Lord I ask that you help me be strong and kind to others this week.
Amen

Smart Goals
1) I saw Gods abundant grace in the passage, I saw His glory and His fullness as well in the unity Christians can find in Christ.
2) I saw God's grace this week as I felt a sense of peace in the midst of a crazy week
3) This week I read Matthew 1 the family line of Jesus, although it is sometimes skipped over, I understood the importance of Jesus' family line

Mentor Insight
This weeks question was where have you experienced God's love? Mrs. Hanlon told me that she sees Gods love most when she spends time in the word. The first time she heard the Gospel, it was a very real and revealing moment for her, she understood how much God loved her and how much God loves all His people. She also said that she has experienced God's love through the gift of people. People are everywhere, all different types of people, and God gifts us with special people who are there for us in hard times. Those special people who can be such an encouragement. This is where she has seen God's love throughout her life.




Mentor Meeting 5

In this sixth and final meeting Mrs. Hanlon and I worked through Ephesians 5 where the passage spoke about walking in love and transforming from walking in darkness to walking in the light.

In Ephesians 5 I read about Christ's love for us and how His love for us can be a motivation. Ephesians 5:1, "Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children." The passage talks about Christ's love for the church too in verses 25-28, "Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish." The passage also says that the Lord is the light, people once walked in darkness but He is the light in our lives, "Therefore do not become partners with them; 8 for bat one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), 10 and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord."

This passage tells me that people are motivated by God's love in verse one, and that as people we should reflect God in the way we relate to people by showing them love and grace as well. The passage also talks about how we once walked in "sexual immorality and impurity" "but then Christ shined His light on us" verse 14 and we had clarity.

This passage demands that I live in obedience to God, "Therefore do not become partners with them; 8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light," (Verses 7-8). The passage also demands that I discern to the Lord what is good and pleasing, "and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord." This is really encouraging as I am a people pleaser, but now I realize that it doesn't matter what people think of me because I shouldn't be trying to please but I should be pleasing God. I should also be filled with the Spirit in the way I relate to people, "And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart," (verses 18-19)

This passage changes the way I relate to people as I should be imitating Christ. And knowing that I mess up, that I am not perfect, and that I have done things I have regretted I should be asking Christ to be in me so that I can work on being more gentle toward others. I should be submissive and humble, not seeking to be right all the time but seeking peace. I should also give thanks to God.

This passage prompts to pray for others, to ask the Spirit for humility, and to seek loving relationships with others. "And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart." But this is hard and God knows that I am not perfect and that I have made mistakes but He is also aware of my struggles and He is there in the midst of them.

Smart Goals
1) I saw Gods grace and love in this passage as it was repeated
2) I saw Gods grace this week as He gave me the courage to ask a friend for forgiveness this week. It was hard but I knew that the Lord was with me, and in the end, I was forgiven.
3) I didn't read in my Bible this week, I fell behind schedule. But I will catch it up sometime this week.

Mentor Insight
Mrs. Hanlon said the importance in sharing Jesus comes in the need to share Jesus. They need to know-people need to know of God's love because without Christ, there is no hope.  The power of God comes in the reading of God's word-in the Gospel where His love was revealed. Mrs. Hanlon experienced God's love through a friend in what happened to be a hard time for her. She was in a time of despair but through her friends wisdom, she had hope. So ultimately, we can only receive hope through the love of our Father.