Ok, so Mozambique was incredible. The people were amazing, the weather was great, and the scenario was breath-taking. My team stayed at the beach last month. We were in a small apartment. We pretty much had the life set up for us. We worshipped several times on the beach and it was great. Our ministry was quite different last month. Our contacts were an American couple named Rachel and Jason. They have 3 children (6, 2 ½, and a baby boy who was 5 weeks old upon our arrival). Jason also has a type of terminal cancer. They are a young couple in their early 30’s. Their main ministry is helping run a Bible college. Unfortunately, the college was on break while we were there so we were unable to take part in ministry there.
What did we do then you might ask? Excellent question.
We were able to come alongside our contacts and work at their house. We helped them move bricks that will soon be used to create a wall around their house. We also did some painting as well as helping watch the children so they could do things they needed to do… CONFESSION… At first our hearts were not in the right place. We were thinking this is not ministry. God soon showed us that the way we define ministry and loving people is not the same way that He defines it. God quickly corrected our hearts and brought us a joy in serving regardless of what we were doing. No matter what task or ministry we are given, we are ultimately serving God. So, when we are angry or negative while serving someone, we are not only dishonoring them, but also we are ultimately dishonoring God.
if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
“In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature[a] God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature[b] of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” – Philippians 2:1-11.
We are seeking to live lives that are following Jesus’ footsteps. Jesus gives us the perfect example of serving and humbling himself. We must never think we are above any task. I have learned that ministry looks all kinds of ways. Instead of trying to tell God how we want to be used, we need to just submit to serve him regardless. We must say “yes!” Not “yes, what are we doing though?” Just “YES.” That is what God taught me and my team in Mozambique.
We also worked some with another American coupled named Mel and Diane. They feed around 500 children daily. These children come from all over the community and this is often the only meal of the day that they receive. We worked with them on Wednesdays.
MORE PERSONAL? WHY, YES PLEASE!
God did a lot with me internally in Mozambique. God just showed me how to have joy in the little things. That is still something I need to work on, but God is continually growing me and teaching me. The biggest thing that God has been teaching me since Mozambique is just truly walking in the Spirit. I studied the fruit of the Spirit a lot last month. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” – Galatians 5:22-23 God showed me that there is only one fruit. It is not fruit. He showed me throughout the month that I cannot have love without peace. I cannot truly have self-control without patience. I cannot have kindness without joy and so on. Through God teaching me more about His Spirit, I also became more intimate with the Spirit. I talk to Him throughout my daily hustle and bustle. I am learning what it means to truly walk in the Spirit and I have never felt so closer to Him. God is a good God and he just yearns for our hearts. He is jealously waiting to walk with us daily. Will you seek to walk with Him more each day?
– David
