Before leaving for the World Race, I asked God for a passage of Scripture to claim for the three continents A Squad is going to. Romans 8:35-39 was the passage I felt for Central America.
I was intrigued when I discovered that my team, Mighty Love, would be serving along side Team Agape.
Mighty, Agape Love…
I was excited to see how God moves through us…touching our hearts more deeply with His love so we can share it with the people around us…
I know everyone says not to come into the Race with expectations. (ah, yes the e word) but I guess I did…
I pictured more “dramatic” ministry…I pictured myself flowing seamlessly from life at home to the life of a World Racer…i imagined all the bad habits or lack of intentional living and meeting goals to fall away as I left American soil…
…but it didn’t. And in some ways I’ve struggled with that…
I (along with various others from our teams) have spent a lot of my ministry time at a daycare/pre-K with 3 and 4 year olds. I try to help the teacher with craft projects, play on the playground, and eat lunch with them.
Sometimes they come whisper secrets in my ear, or tickle my neck, or just wrap their arms around me in a tight squeeze. They laugh at my attempts to say spanish words, they laugh when they learn how to say English words, and they laugh when I naively say “si” because I thought I understood. 🙂
I enjoy mornings with them…but sometimes I have wondered if they actually really need me…if I am making a difference…if they can sense love and know it’s from God…
After daycare, we go to the special-needs center to help prepare and feed the residents their noon meal. Most of the residents have cerebral palsy and/or other neuromuscular conditions. The ages range from two to thirty or so.
The first day was hard…I didn’t really know what to expect and my heart struggled to understand…
God, what is Your heart towards them? Such total dependence on others…loss of freedom and choice…abandoned by family…
It was confusing. It was messy. I wanted to pull away. I didn’t know how to love them…and part of me felt like whatever love I give might go unnoticed.
Somewhere in the spoon-feeding soup to them, trying to sing “Jesus Loves Me” in Spanish, and holding their hands, God softened my heart…and spoke through a little boy curled up in my lap…
I delight in lavishing my love on you, my Daughter, and on every heart I have created. Sometimes my love is rejected, but my love continues on. As you delight in the smiles and hugs from these precious children in response to your love, so I delight in your response to My love for you.
My love is not swayed by rejection or lack of response. Just as your love for these children, each precious and valuable, should not be withheld.
Do not judge the value or greatness of an act of kindness by your standards, but by Mine. Be faithful to what I ask of you. My love is more than enough to do the rest.
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I’m thankful for the way God has been revealing His love this month…in tough team talks, in ministry, in personal time, in worship, in heart-to-heart conversations, in random beautiful hearts on Antigua’s streets…
Again, thanks so much to each of you for your support in this journey. Please continue to keep Team Mighty Love and A Squad in your prayers.
May His love bring joy to your soul today. 🙂
