So what does one do with a degree like this?

Dave and I have been fielding many questions recently about our program and the degree that we will be receiving, most likely prompted by Dave's pending graduation. Most questions go something like this..."So, what exactly is your degree in? Intercultural studies, uh. What do you do with a degree like that?" Well, the short answer is mission work. But to limit it to just "mission work" would not be fair. In fact, Fuller's School of Intercultural Studies is quite well known throughout the world and is one of the best of its' kind in the States and around the globe. There are people from all over world representing over 100 denominations. Such diversity creates a rich environment for learning. Over the last 3 years, Dave and I have learned so much not only from our classes and professors, who are amazing, but from our classmates. The experiences and wisdom that comes from the Fuller student body has been pleasantly surprising. We have made some good friends and seen many of them come and go by now. So where are these graduates going? Many go into the "mission field" with traditional mission agencies. Some have gone home and began working with or for their church's mission department. One friend is going to work at a Christian college training students going to serve or learn overseas. Others go to work for agencies like World Vision in stateside offices. And some teach. Needless to say, there are many options for someone graduating with a degree like ours. So now the questions becomes, "Well, what are you two planning to do?" This is the question of the hour, one that we have been thinking and praying over for a long time. The answer is not short but I'll try to summarize our tentative plan.

First, we will be here in California until at least next summer until Amanda finishes her degree and we complete our job with Fuller. Then, more than likely we will return to Michigan to work for a while and pay off some loans. At the same time we hope to be reconnecting with Mars Hill and raising support to return to Spain. At this point, that is the plan but we are not ruling out the possibility of staying in California for a while or moving to another part of the world. As mentioned earlier, this plan is tentative. So, that was a long answer to a short question and that was the condensed version! I hope it helps clarify things a bit.