El Roi

 “And he said, “Hagar, servant of Sarai, 

where have you come from, 

and where are you going?”

Genesis 16:8

April 2021

Celebrating my one-year anniversary!  Can you believe it has been a year now since I came back to the states due to the pandemic?  I find it hard to believe that a year has passed already.  Very thankful for all of you in the ways that you have supported me during this past year.  When I heard God tell me at the Women’s Retreat in January 2020 about living once again in the U.S. to do life with my Family, I wasn’t quite sure how or what that would look like.  But what an adventure it has been so far!

I am so grateful for all the fun, laughter, and good quality time I received this past month with my family.  I spent Easter weekend in Grove City with Dad and Maureen.  What a blessing to be able to celebrate Good Friday, hearing Dad give the message and going to an Easter Sunrise Service and singing the Easter hymns.  You do not realize what you have missed until you have it once again.  I got to see Rylie play softball, which her team won and to spend time with Bryan, Britt, Rylie, and Morgan.  Celebrating Rachel’s birthday and hanging out with Theo as he was home sick.  Ryan, Haylie, Eli, and I got to hang out for a long weekend while Brenda and Mark got to spend the weekend away.  Being part of the excitement and support as Mary Jane has started her YouTube channel, The Secondhand Gem as she shares her tips on the various projects, she does for her Secondhand Gem store located in Somerset, PA.

Rick Warren was a guest on a podcast I listen to and he was talking about the ministry of presence, especially when people have lost a loved one.  What he shared is true that in times of loss there are no words that can comfort but presence, just being there is powerful and comforting.  

 

In Genesis 16, Hagar flees from Sari because of how Sari is mistreating or abusing Hagar who is pregnant.  As Hagar is in the desert the Angel of the Lord meets her.  He asks Hagar where she has come from and where she is going.  The question, where have you come from is asking to share your story.  Sharing our stories allows us to be seen, heard, and understood.  It brings us validation.  The question, where are you going is asking what is your plan?  Do you have a plan or are you running aimlessly?  Did Hagar have a plan beyond escaping Sari?  Did she have a plan beyond getting to Egypt?  Was Hagar just running aimlessly?  Did the Angel of the Lord meet Hagar at the spring, a place of refreshment and rest to give Hagar time to process by sharing her story?  The Angel of the Lord saw Hagar, heard her story, and understood her plight.  By listening and just being with Hagar, He validated her.  How many of us feel unseen, unheard, and misunderstood?  The Lord God (El Roi) is the One who sees, hears, and understands you completely.

At the beginning of one session, I was told that I would probably not be able to help him with what he wanted
to talk about regarding a staff conflict because up to this point no one has been able to help him to resolve this issue.  But God heard him, saw him, and understood him.  God gave him a verse that challenged him.  The guy told me at the end of our time that that was what he needed to hear and if he obeyed God in this challenge, it would be the answer to his problem.  I met with someone who was prepared for our session by bringing a list of things she wanted to talk through.  Her list had many hard, challenging, difficult and sad things that she has walked through and is still walking through.  She was talking so fast as she was reading her list that at the end she sighed deeply.  What heavy burdens she was carrying and of those around her along with the weight of guilt because of what she had and others she worked with or served did not.  God spoke to her as His beloved daughter and the gifts and blessings He wanted to bestow upon her.  By the end of our time, she shared how comforting and powerful this time has been for her.

In debriefing a couple, we were finishing up their timeline over the last two years, they shared how helpful and beneficial this was because they didn’t see the big picture of all they had been through.  What they were feeling and thinking made more sense considering everything.  They felt a release of weight they had been carrying.  God met them at Common Ground retreat center, asking them, ‘Where have you come from and where are you going?”  As we wrapped up our time together, the couple shared that the dense fog that had settled over them was starting to lift.  How they heard God’s voice in what the next step is for them, which was not what they had expected.

One thing that I keep hearing over and over is how their session has been very helpful.  The ministry of presence and creating a safe place for people to share their stories has been powerful and comforting to them.  And that I get to be a part of this ministry, a front row seat to see how God is working in the lives of His people.  I am in awe of God, like it says in Psalm 8, how majestic is our God that He is mindful of us and cares for us (paraphrased).  How is God mindful of you?  How is God caring for you?

Safe Place Ministry has launched a monthly live webinar training.  I was asked to lead the webinar on Transitional Stress at the end of March.  I had four ladies who participated the live webinar, which they were all missionaries who were in transition themselves as well as serving in member care.  The training is for anyone who is going through a transition not just for missionaries.  If you are interested, you can buy the recorded session https://safeplaceministry.org/events/.  If you do purchase the training, I would love to hear your feedback from it.  This month, April 28^th, my colleague Mark Cote will be presenting on Building Resilience.  Safe Place Ministry has also launched its first workbook called, Pillars of Personhood, which are core values that help us to understand our relationship with God, self, and others.  I have read through the workbook and highly recommend it.  In May or June, I will be doing another webinar on Medical Agility.

BCM Peru update:   Marlon has shared with me that they have a group of missionaries who are interested in the various trainings I had offered to do.  The plan is to do one training per month starting in April.  I am planning on doing the first training on Transitional Stress since I already have the information and just need to translate it.  Very excited as we move forward in equipping this amazing group of people who minister to children, sharing the Gospel message all over Peru.

Thank you for those who have given so generously and have joined this partnership!  God is good all the time.  I have reached my goal in raising at least $25,000 for this coming year 2021.  If God is laying on your heart to give, please do as there may be expenses or ministry needs that arise.

Donate Online:
https://www.worldoutreach.org/783

Mail Check:        (Make check out to WOM, in memo: Shannon Eaton #783)
World Outreach Ministries, Inc.
P.O. Box B
Marietta, GA  30061

Bill Pay:
Use same information as a check

PRAYER REQUESTS

Praise the Lord for Easter Sunday!

Praise the Lord for family time!

Praise the Lord for watching Rylie’s softball game!

Praise the Lord for reaching my financial goal for the year 2021!

Pray for church community.

Pray for training with missionaries of BCM Peru in May.

Pray for wisdom and discernment as I meet 1:1 with people.

Pray for Kids Alive DR retreat April 23^rd-24^th.

Contact Information:

Shannon Eaton

5055 Stacey Drive Apt. 1604

Harrisburg, PA  17111

(724)967-1437

 

Email:  shannon.eaton76@gmail.com

Facebook:  Shannon R. Eaton

Blog:  www.shannonreaton.blogspot.com