Change.
To alter something.
To provide a new meaning.
I have thought of myself as an agent of change for a good while. Social work classes, Bible studies, life in general, these things have combined and given me the perception that I am a person to seek after positive alteration.
Then I found myself in a part of the world where a vast
difference is needed. Or so I thought according to my American standard.
difference is needed. Or so I thought according to my American standard.
My eyes took in countless faces of lives lived in absolute
poverty and this heart for change I have pounded with a fierceness with which I
am unfamiliar. A deep yearning presented itself within me to provide an
improvement in living conditions: clean and readily available water, sanitary
sewage systems, nutritional food, safely built homes, steady income, clothes
that fit, shoes with soles, trash cans, you get the picture. Armed with two
large tubs of a protein-pasta mixture to pass out to the hungry community, a
pain seared through me when I realized that this dinner would last until maybe
tomorrow in their bellies. Then what? What could I do? How in the world am I
supposed to make a difference when all I can do is give a fleeting handout? I
cried to God, literally. “You brought me here, and I don’t see what change could possibly come from this.”
poverty and this heart for change I have pounded with a fierceness with which I
am unfamiliar. A deep yearning presented itself within me to provide an
improvement in living conditions: clean and readily available water, sanitary
sewage systems, nutritional food, safely built homes, steady income, clothes
that fit, shoes with soles, trash cans, you get the picture. Armed with two
large tubs of a protein-pasta mixture to pass out to the hungry community, a
pain seared through me when I realized that this dinner would last until maybe
tomorrow in their bellies. Then what? What could I do? How in the world am I
supposed to make a difference when all I can do is give a fleeting handout? I
cried to God, literally. “You brought me here, and I don’t see what change could possibly come from this.”
“What do you mean by change?” -God.
That one threw me for a loop. What exactly was I expecting?
I’m still trying to raise my own support to be here, how can I possibly expect
to provide for a nation?
I’m still trying to raise my own support to be here, how can I possibly expect
to provide for a nation?
Then, in the typical fashion of the Lord, He spoke through
someone. A lady from the community introduced herself and began just spilling
her story. Lollie told me how a few years back, the area where we were standing
was one of the most dangerous places to be, both for visitors and locals. It
was a place of kidnapping, purse snatching, violence, and all sorts of things.
Enter in missionaries. The message of Jesus and His unlimited forgiveness was
brought to this community. Now, people come and go freely with no worries, neighbors
trust one another, children play while their voices roll through the dirt paths.
Safety and peace reign. CHANGE. Darkness to light.
someone. A lady from the community introduced herself and began just spilling
her story. Lollie told me how a few years back, the area where we were standing
was one of the most dangerous places to be, both for visitors and locals. It
was a place of kidnapping, purse snatching, violence, and all sorts of things.
Enter in missionaries. The message of Jesus and His unlimited forgiveness was
brought to this community. Now, people come and go freely with no worries, neighbors
trust one another, children play while their voices roll through the dirt paths.
Safety and peace reign. CHANGE. Darkness to light.
The homes are still just as broken, jobs just as hard to
come by, money just as scarce, food just as needed, etc. The difference? God’s
love and presence is abundant. People there know they belong to the family of
Christ. They know first hand the power of His name. His life is invigorating in
that town. Jesus is Lord.
come by, money just as scarce, food just as needed, etc. The difference? God’s
love and presence is abundant. People there know they belong to the family of
Christ. They know first hand the power of His name. His life is invigorating in
that town. Jesus is Lord.
Defining change took on an all-new meaning to me in that
moment. I cannot fix the problems of the world. There, I said it. I can however
speak life into death. I have been brought to the other side of the world to
bring about a change in the hearts of the hurting. I will breathe joy and peace
into the nations through the telling of God’s story. People will be liberated
from a life of fear, depression, guilt, and all sorts of hardships because God
has put His light inside of me. All I need to do is open my mouth and let Him
pour it out.
moment. I cannot fix the problems of the world. There, I said it. I can however
speak life into death. I have been brought to the other side of the world to
bring about a change in the hearts of the hurting. I will breathe joy and peace
into the nations through the telling of God’s story. People will be liberated
from a life of fear, depression, guilt, and all sorts of hardships because God
has put His light inside of me. All I need to do is open my mouth and let Him
pour it out.
Now I cling to a new meaning of “change.” I can be a true
agent of change now.
agent of change now.
Their physical needs? Well, they have mansions, feasts, and perfect
bodies with no pains awaiting them in heaven.
bodies with no pains awaiting them in heaven.
As I continue to learn all new definitions for things I will
make sure to type some of them out for everyone to read. This is a journey for
sure…thank you for coming with me!
make sure to type some of them out for everyone to read. This is a journey for
sure…thank you for coming with me!
