Yesterday my team had a meeting with Steve, our host, about the new “house duties” aka chores that we will be in charge of for the next 3 months. I was a little taken aback when I heard that I was assigned to work in maintenance with some of the guys that live here. First off, the 3 dudes I will be working with speak less English than I speak Spanish, which is saying something. Secondly, when I think of ministry, cutting wood with a power saw or painting a fence is NOT the first thing that pops into my head. I began asking God why he would send me across the world to work in a garage with some sweaty boys, when I could have at least been put in the kitchen where I am somewhat familiar. Then I remembered a prayer that I prayed before I embarked on this crazy adventure; God break me down, and build me back up to look more like you. I wasn’t quite sure what the breaking part would consist of, but I knew it is a risk I was willing to take. As I began my first day on the job, something shifted. Between broken spanglish and a makeshift game of charades, Borris, Alex, Roberto and I began working together, (I got to use a dope power saw and I don’t think I’ve felt that powerful in a long time(: ) and in a few short hours a cute little picket fence began to emerge out of all the chaos. I cant fully explain it, but being able to work past language barriers, lack of experience, and makeshift tools to create something beautiful gave me such a feeling of satisfaction despite our circumstances. As I was processing the day, God began showing me that I am that fence. My circumstances are less than perfect. Pain, unworthiness, a selfish heart and fear are constantly tainting the way I view myself and the way I perceive Gods love for me, but this is not what he wants for me. Instead of something broken, God sees me as a work of art. A piece of clay in the molding process, constantly being refined and transformed to look more and more like my Abba.
The good lookin fence me and the dudes built^
Isaiah 64:8 “But now, O LORD, You are our Father, We are the clay, and You our potter; And all of us are the work of Your hand.”
Ephesians 2:10 “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”
I live for smiles like this^
Update: I now live at a YWAM (youth with a mission) base in Guatemala City, with my team of 5 and about 20 other people. Half of them are discipleship training students (DTS) and everyone pretty much only speaks Spanish with the exception of maybe 3. We are spoiled rotten on WR standards, with a hot shower and bunk beds with real mattresses AGAIN!! (adjusting to South Africa after this may be a challenge haha). I abso-freaking-lutely love every single one of the people that we live with here and I am beyond blessed to be able to spend the next 3 months of my life here <3. Around the base we do loads of chores, sick worship, amazing devos, and the staff has started introducing us to new ministries that are stretching, but oh so rewarding, more deets coming soon.
One of the many preciousas that stole my heart at day care ministry^
