“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5
That verse came to my mind this week as we had the opportunity to go to a vineyard. We discovered that in Ukraine just about everyone in a smaller village grows grapes. They usually just have a trellis but we met a woman with an actual vineyard. It was in the field behind her house, and on our way walking back from church Sunday she invited us to come pick some grapes.
Every so often I have to do a reality check. I stop and take a mental step back to assess where I am and what I’m doing. They are happening more and more often. I have found them to be useful to keep me from getting used to being out here. Every day bring new experiences and adventures and I don’t want to become numb from being out here for so long. Changing countries isn’t as exciting when you are doing it for the 13th time. I remember in Africa, for example, I did one of these checks. “I’m on an island in Africa, swimming in the Indian Ocean with wild dolphins.” Being in the vineyard was another opportunity for one of my ever increasing checks. “I’m in a vineyard, picking grapes in the Ukraine…who does this?”
God has been pouring so many blessings out on me this year and I am doing my best to not let these moments pass me by. The more time I spend with Him and focused on ministry the more this happens. Isn’t it funny how that works? I was planning to just write a fun blog with pictures of the vineyard, but this verse and these thoughts came to my mind so this is the result. I hope you enjoy the pictures!
