I am not a big fan of public speaking. Even last year as a teacher, when my principal came to evaluate me, one of my students called me out because my chest was getting splotchy. This is very common when I have to speak in front of people. Another thing that usually happens is that I forget to breathe! When I was a 9th grader, I had to give a report to our church about how our summer church camp had gone. I’m pretty sure nobody understood a word I said because I was talking so fast because I had to get it all in one breathe. Because of this, I live a life that usually steers clear of getting up and talking to a bunch of people. That was until I got to Africa last week. Our ministry is preaching, preaching and more preaching. They have thrown in a little basketball ministry, teaching at a nursery school and some door to door evangelism…but for the most part, we preach. So far I have preached twice. I have worn high-necked t-shirts so that no one would be able to see if I was getting splotchy. I stood behind the podium so that they couldn’t see if my knees were knocking. I asked my teammates to mouth the word ‘breathe’ if I made eye contact with them. I had it written out basically word for word. I was prepared…right?! As I was sitting, waiting to be called upon to talk, Michael called me out for my leg shaking. I was terrified. I started praying…and several verses started coming to mind. Matt 11:28 “Come to me, all who are weary and heavy burdened, and I will give you rest.” Rest, I was needing some of that! Hebrews 13:5-6 “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you,’ so we say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.” He’s going up there with me. I don’t have to do it alone. Philippians 4:13 “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.” Classic right? We all know this one…but man was it powerful thinking that at that moment. Isaiah 55:11 “so is my word that goes out from my mouth; it will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” God was going to be with me and give me strength. All I had to do was ask. God was going to accomplish what needed to be accomplished with or without me; but because I was willing, He was going to use me. I will admit that having to pause for an interpreter helps me remember to breathe. No one will ever know if my chest got all splotchy. I can tell you though that I had peace standing up there speaking. I had confidence that God was going to give me the words to say. AND HE DID! He is stretching me in new ways…but he is right beside me to catch me if I fall. There was one hiccup though. The second night when I approached the podium, I said, “Good evening,” and Arnold, the interpreter stared blankly at me. That’s not a good start. Apparently they don’t say good evening in Kinyarwanda. They only say good morning and good afternoon. Arnold improvised for me. Preaching is not my new calling in life. Trust me. I am thankful for the opportunity to learn how to be more confident speaking in front of people because I feel certain that will be something I encounter again. I will tell you that the saying ‘practice what you preach’ carries a little more weight than it used to. No pressure…
