Before coming on the World Race, I expected my ministry to be very set and structured. I expected to work with established organizations, Monday-Friday from 9-5. However, what I’ve experienced has been quite the contrary. At training camp, we learned the phrase, “life is ministry, ministry is life.” Ministry is not just 9-5, it is not just working with NGOs, ministry is not something that can be “boxed in.” Opportunities for ministry are all around us because ministry is LIFE.
I’ve been trying to embrace that – “ministry is life” – on my race, and, wow, what I’ve experienced has been incredible. My ministry, so far, has simply been meeting and interacting with individuals. It looks a lot like my normal life at home, except for my eyes and ears are tuned to the Holy Spirit’s guidance. So, as I’m doing simple daily tasks, such as buying water, eating at a restaurant or sitting in a café, I am noticing the people around me, getting to know them, and (hopefully) encouraging them.
I’ve met so many amazing individuals thus far and have heard a lot of powerful testimonies. I’m going to share with you some of the people God put in our path in Rwanda.
The first is Rotem. Rotem is from Israel and is traveling solo for 11 months (similar to me in a way). We met her at our hostel and quickly befriended her. We enjoyed many meals together, and even got to celebrate her birthday with her. Rotem is Jewish, but she was eager to join us for worship. She was very curious about the Christian faith and asked us questions and we got to share with her why Jesus is so important to our faith. She told us she just felt so loved and encouraged by us and that we were a blessing on her trip.
Next is Gratien. Gratien was our paddle board instructor and we quickly became friends. He picked us up at the bus station when we moved to a new town, guided us on how to get around, and blessed us with his humor and love of 2000s pop songs. He shared his life story with us and areas where he is struggling, and we got to encourage one another as believers. Gratien meets many foreigners through his job, however, he said he’s never met anyone who had impacted him as much as we had in just the short time we knew him.
Another is Nehemiah. Nehemiah worked at the local coffee shop, which we visited often (almost daily). He was a very talented artist and a natural leader. He has suffered a lot of pain in his life, yet still has honed such a gentle, caring soul
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Two young girls, Benediction and Grace. They’re sisters and we met them walking home one day. They were walking home from school and I noticed them approaching me very closely from behind. It turns out they wanted to touch my hair. Their English was limited, so we walked alongside one another, occasionally attempting to communicate (more like I’d say something and they’d laugh), but mostly just enjoying one another’s company. Then, the very next day, God put them in our path again. They spotted us on our walk home, so we did the same thing, walked, talked a bit, and enjoyed each other’s presence.
Last is Noila and Martin – a married couple who worked at the local grocery store, named the Dream Shop. They managed the bakery/meat section of the store (this was a very small store without several sections). Together, they made delicious pizzas, breads, and donuts. We visited the store often and every time we went, they were so enthusiastic and happy to see us. We’d talk about the day, share laughs, then go on our way.
It’s truly that simple.
These acts may seem small, but, oh how God delights in them. Opportunities like these were definitely not something I thought I’d be doing on the World Race, but they have been some of the most impactful moments. It’s been a wonderful journey getting to watch God work in such spontaneous ways, and it’s opened my eyes to see opportunities all around me.
What opportunities are around you? What “small acts” can you do to expand the kingdom? I encourage you to ask God to open your eyes to the people he has put in your path. Start with your daily routine: people you pass on your walk to work/school, the cashier at the grocery store, the barista at Starbucks, etc. Ask God how you can encourage those people, how you can serve/love them, and how you can show them Jesus.
