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So…was it worth it?

It’s 3 a.m. Sunday morning, and I’m walking across the border from Zimbabwe into South Africa (with only one shoe on, but that’s another story). All I can think is, I’m so relieved! I’m sure glad that part of the Race is over! ….So, was it worth it?

At first thought, there’s a loud “NO” resounding in my head. Considering the immense difficulties of and cost in dollars and time in travel there and back (and while there)…the short time at our ministry locations…the non-visible results of my team’s ministry…. My mind says NO, NO, NO, it wasn’t worth it.

Ironically, my time in Malawi was the most physically comfortable location of all the African ministry places we’ve been so far. The air in mountainous Zomba was relatively cool and fresh, we had electricity and a tin roof over our heads, and we enjoyed the tasty cooking by Rose, Pastor Gama’s wife. But even with the physical comforts of our living conditions, my head still says “IT WASN’T WORTH IT!”

So then I stop asking my head and begin asking God.

God, was our trip to Malawi worth it?

The fruits of our ten-day ministry of preaching to pastors went relatively unseen from my perspective. I missed the spiritual urgency of teaching at our church in Mozambique, and the desperate zeal it birthed within me. I missed the orphans of Swaziland and the compassion of Christ I discovered for them and their dying nation. My heart simply did not connect with the ministry we had around Zomba, but I did it anyways; though I couldn’t identify the fruits of our labors and monies and time, I did it out of obedience.

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” (Heb. 11:1)

Aaahhhh, I see, God. So it was all about faith, was it?

I HOPE that our ministry around Zomba produced spiritual fruit.
 
I HOPE that it brought a little more of the Kingdom of God into the kingdoms of men.
 
I HOPE that it lit more flames of heavenly fire in the warm heart of Africa. (the name Malawi literally means, flames of fire)
 
I HOPE that it will echo throughout the area by empowering those pastors to be Christ and share His salvation with their nation. …
 

…Now, faith is being sure of what I hope for from our ministry around Zomba.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
We were involved in ministry for a mere ten days in Malawi. Each day of preaching was to a new set of pastors in a new church in a new district far away from the others we visited. Ten days is too short a time to understand results from a ministry of encouraging the church. …
 

…But faith is being certain of what I do not see: the lasting spiritual results of the work God gave us to do around Zomba.

 
Can I be certain of those hopes?
Can I be certain our trip to Malawi was, indeed, worth it when measured in results for the Kingdom of God?

By faith I can be.

Now, faith is being sure of what I hope for our ministry
around Zomba, and certain of the spiritual results there that I do not
see.

It was worth it.
 
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