I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow. 1 Corinthians 3:6
This scripture says that some plants the seed, others water the ground, but overall God gets the increase. In Vietnam, there are a lot of farms. There are rice farms, pepper farms, coffee farms, and more. It is a process to grow anything. Depending on what you are growing it can take longer than usually. By no means, I am an expert famer but here is my outlook on farming regarding the God’s kingdom:
1. Tiling the ground: Before you plant any seed in the ground, you want to make sure the ground is soft and pliable. This process can take a while depending on the condition of the ground. Some grounds are stony, too dense, or have a lot of weeds. How much time you put in foundation on the ground will determine the how well the seed will adapt to the soil. On the Race, the Expedition Squads are like the tillers of the ground. They go to unchartered countries to the small villages, tribal people, remote area before other squads. They put in the work to start building relationships, and removing stones and weeds that are hindrance and building blocks.
2. Planting the seeds: Sowing the seed in the ground is the next step. Most farmers walk over the soil throwing multiple seeds on the ground. This allows a higher possibility that at least one or more seeds will land on good ground to start the growing process. On the Race, Tiling and planting seed go hand in hand. While you are removing any lies out their lives, you are planting seeds of truth in their heart.
3. Watering the seeds: Watering the seeds will help grow. One the Race, you will encounter people that need watering to help grow the seed that was planted in their hearts. Some people are gifted in encouragement and exhortation. On the Race, you will meet people in different walks of life that need a little more encouragement of truth and hope. In this process, you are helping water the seeds that has been planted.
4. Harvest: God get the increase when a person turn their lives to Him. Some people only see the fruit, and not the process it took to get the person there. Without the previous steps the fruit would not have been produced.
Each part of the process is significant to each other. It is important to recognize where on the “harvest timeline” you are with a person. It is hard to expect a harvest from someone when their hearts still need to be soften. My expectation has always been harvest time! However, last month at the Center teaching English, I was a tiller and seed planter with my relationships. Relationship building is the key It is challenge that times because when I leave after a month and I might not physically see the fruit. However, I must trust that God will send more labors to finish what He started in their hearts. I had a heart check to put things back into perceptive. Now I see it as a privilege to water seeds that have been sown in by other believers. In the end, God gets the increase.
**A farmer in one of the Rice Farms in Vietnam**
