After these first two videos, my excitement for making more grew exponentially. I couldn’t wait to get through month three so that I could make another.
When we arrived at our ministry site for month three in Nicaragua, we met with our contact and he went through the list of options for serving: bible studies, children’s ministry, activities with the live-in rescued girls, etc. Then he said, “But one of the most urgent things I need is a video displaying what is going on in this ministry to show at our annual fundraising event back in San Diego. This is the only fundraising event we do all year.” All eyes from my teammates were on me and they quickly volunteered me for the job. “Oh, Ashley would love to do that!”, they said fervently. My excitement for the job quickly outweighed my lack of qualifications.
I felt guilty each day as I filmed and edited. It felt weird to be enjoying myself so much. I watched as my teammates held babies, changed diapers, prepared meals, and orchestrated crafts for the women in the day program. It felt weird to be using my new found hobby as ministry. Wasn’t I supposed to be sacrificing and serving by doing something that was hard? Wasn’t I supposed to be exhausted at the end of the day because I pushed myself beyond my physical limits to show that my strength was from God? It just felt wrong to feel so good.
Through each frame of the finished product, I came to a new understanding of ministry. God wants our hearts, our passion, and our love in everything we do IN and FOR His name. Ministry was never meant to be some daunting task that we complete to check off of our list of “good deeds for The Lord”. Service was never meant to come from obligation or guilt. Find something you love. Find something you are good at…AND DO IT.
For the privacy of the women and children in the video, I was asked not to post it on the internet. I am happy to email it to you if you are interested in what God is doing, and how you can help, at Breaking Chains ministry in Nicaragua.
