Through Student’s Eyes: Discerning through Placements
Megan Devries: Edudeo Ministries and Indwell
“Does God’s will for your life just feel like a puzzle you just need to figure out?” was one of the first things Jon Berends asked us in our first lesson at Act Five atop the Wentworth stairs. We were looking down upon the city we would grow to call home over the eight months that followed. I thought to myself, that’s exactly what it feels like. A puzzle.
Growing up, like many do, I had lots of ideas of what I wanted to be when I grew up. From a chef to a firefighter, a farmer to a teacher, many things appealed to me. As I neared the end of high school, I had it all planned out: school, placement, job. Three easy steps to reach my future. As the months went on, I continued to lose certainty in my plan and I ended up at what seemed to be God’s plan for my next step. It was Act Five.
Throughout this year, I have come to learn a lot about discernment. I have discovered that discernment isn’t an instantaneous process. It is not: ask what you should do, and proceed to receive a clear answer. Early in the first semester, we got to listen to a panel of three wise teachers in the city, John, Nina, and Dena. They offered to us the idea that there might not be a “wrong” option among the possibilities before you, and that you might not hear direction from God until you are heading off the path He has for you. Throughout this year, I have learned that discernment can be a slow and sometimes painful process. This is not to be done alone but in a community with others, with those who know you well and those who don’t.
Discernment also happens through trying things, seeing where your gifts lie, and determining how you can use them. A beautiful way we do this in Act Five is through placements. Throughout my placements, I had the privilege of working at two different not-for-profits in the city: EduDeo Ministries and Indwell. EduDeo is an international development organization with a focus on the expansion of Christ-centered education worldwide through supporting their global partners around the world. Throughout my time at EduDeo, I got to work with and shadow a variety of teams, including the Walking Together program (teacher training), the International Partner team, and the Key Relationships team (donor relations). Through this, I got to be a part of strategy calls, calls with partners, conversations with Canadian school partners, as well as other aspects of the behind-the-scenes of international development.
The second half of my placement was with Indwell, an affordable, supportive, and community-based housing and health care provider based in Hamilton with buildings all across Southern Ontario. Indwell seeks to support tenants in their health, wellness, and belonging. Throughout my time with Indwell, I had the privilege of shadowing a woman named Jess, the regional director for Hamilton-Peel; attending meetings, visiting programs, meeting tenants, as well as performing a variety of other tasks.
Throughout these placements, I have learned more about myself and my interests. For example, I love working to positively impact systems that are negatively impacting individuals and hearing stories. Throughout my time in placements, I have been able to discern my steps following Act Five, including the area of study I will pursue in university in the fall (International Development). I feel more confident in where God is leading me.
