Monina Mitchell, 26, was never planning on being a pastor's wife. After immigrating to the U.S. from Cambodia at age six, Mo lived on the same block in Lynnwood, the 200th, for almost two decades. Then a year ago, her husband of two years, Pastor Scott, 33, felt God was calling him to Everett to build and launch the mission there. It wasn't the news she originally wanted to hear, and it's been quite a year. We sat down with Mo at Mars Hill Everett's first services this past Sunday to ask her just what this last year has been like.

Mars Hill Blog: How does it feel becoming the "pastor's wife" and stepping into that?

Mo: You know, I don't know yet. Scott's been doing a good job just kind of covering me. I really freaked out when Scott told me he wanted to be a pastor. I was really seeking God out, saying, "What's my role, God? What do I do?" … and I really felt God telling me, "Number one, you're my child. [Then] you're Scott's wife and you're Hadassah's mom. Period. That's your role as a pastor's wife. It's no different. You're gonna love your husband well and your child well." And so that, to me, was a huge relief because I [had] thought, Oh my gosh. I'm a pastor's wife. Do I have to do all this ministry stuff? Do I have to take on more loads and stuff? And you know, I've talked a lot with Hilary [Tompkins, Pastor Steve's wife] and went to this [pastors' wives retreat] where Grace Driscoll was teaching about being a godly wife and stuff. And that confirmed so much about what God was calling me to as far as being a pastor's wife. It's not about what I do outside the home; it's about how I serve him and Hadassah inside the home.

What types of changes have you noticed in your husband this year? How's he different?

Oh my. "How has he different?" Scott's a hard worker, he's always been a hard worker. But to see the passion in him now and what he's doing … it's been amazing to watch [tears up] see? It's really been amazing to watch. He's really passionate. He knows in his heart, in his soul, that this is God's called him to, and he's doing it and he's seeking God in everything that he's doing. He's taken every step with Jesus, he's not going on his own, he's seeking counsel in every decision that he makes. And I know this because I'm there at home and he's making those phone calls and has those conversations and it's really cool to watch him become the leader of our home. I mean, he's always been a leader, but he's definitely taken that next step. … I'm just overwhelmed with what God's doing. I'm so honored to be a part of what God's doing, just being Scott's wife and seeing him succeed in the way that he is, but only by God's grace. Our circumstances with Hadassah and everything, he's been able to do all of that and still maintain what God's vision is for him and what he is to do, what God has set before him.

What circumstances are you referring to?

Just this last year, she was born three months early, she's got a few complications with a club foot and her feeding tube and stuff. … Hadassah just turned one. She's a handful, she's changing quite a bit, and I'm still learning. Scott's been able to love us well and work well, and I'm really impressed by it. We don't feel neglected. We're first, ministry is second. And I love that he takes that seriously. I don't know, I feel like I'm in a dream world, to be honest. I feel like, Is this really happening to me? He's definitely matured a lot, and I can't explain how, but he just has. Just in his spirit, he's so much softer than he's ever been, but then again, that comes with maturity—but that's him taking seriously what God has called him to. … He has changed so much in such a short time.

What was he like before?

He was a little more rough around the edges—you know, like when you're first married, you're still getting to know each other and you're still working out your kinks and everything. But this last year, God has just ironing him out. And it's been great because he's moldable … to God. God's changing him. [Scott] is saying, "Whatever you want, God." And he's doing it. And he's always been so gracious to me, he's a patient man. Because I'm very stubborn, I'm very hard-headed, and I stick to what I know, even when it's bad. And he's patient to correct me and come alongside me. … It's just been amazing to be loved and to be shepherded well. I was just talking to someone yesterday about this, [saying] "I'm truly blessed to be with Scott. He's everything and more than I've ever dreamed, prayed, and asked for." And I am, I am truly blessed by him. I don't know, I love my husband. He's my best friend. We laugh, we giggle, we play. Being married to your best friend is the best thing in the whole world.

What are you praying for, for the church?

Definitely have been praying for the city a lot. And the people that obviously God's called us here for, and making ourselves available and our home available. We host a lot. But mainly, I pray for how I can come alongside my husband and help him.

What does "come alongside" mean?

To me, serving him well in the ways that he can come home and be relaxed and feeding him well, making sure there's beer in the fridge, making sure sex is regular—I don't know, all those wifely duties. And just try not to get in his hair too much. … I don't want me to be a stumbling block for what God's called him to. I want to truly be that helper, to come-alongside him to make things easier for him. I want to be that restful place for him because everyone is going to want something from him outside of the home, his time, whatever—he's a pastor now, and I guess that means people want more of your time now or they just want more of you. I don't know, I don't know what any of that means yet. I just want to be a good sounding board for him, a place of rest, that's what he needs. [And at this point, her mother-in-law, Vivian, eagerly cuts in—] Vivian: She's just an amazing young woman. … I've noticed how both of them have grown in the Lord through their time here at Mars Hill. The Community Group has just been so important. I have watched my son pour out himself and allow God to be poured into him, so that's a big difference. But he could not do it without his helpmate. And Mo is a wonderful helpmate.

Mo and Hadassah

Follow life at Mars Hill Everett through their site, Facebook, and Twitter. Mo was interviewed by staff editor Holly. Eric contributed the graphic.