This
is the story of our fourth month. You
see, for team Illuminate, this was our ATL (Ask The Lord) month.
During this month we were not automatically set up with contacts,
instead we were encouraged to Ask The Lord to guide us to new
contacts; people The
World Race could aid and uplift in partnership.
Before
we launched from
our debrief location, my team decided to begin
our month with a prayer walk.
We left with
this verse in mind, praying its promise would cover our month.
When they were but few in number,
few indeed, and strangers in it, they wandered from nation to nation,
from one kingdom to another. He allowed no one to oppress
them; for their sake He rebuked Kings: Do not touch my
anointed ones; do my prophets no harm (Psalms
105: 12-15)
We headed down the main road,
according to the suggestion of one teammate, and later turned off of
it by the idea of another. Unexpectedly a strong sense of home swept
over me.
Dust rising up from the gravel
of this side road powdered my feet. Ivy rambled in the ditch, its
leaves covered in dirt, its blossoms opening to show clean faces-
freshly blooming in the morning. A sand colored brick wall stood on
one side of the road, all but hidden by tumbling roadside weeds. On
the other side of the road lay a field where cows grazed daintily
around windblown trash. The sound of morning doves fell softly over
the backdrop of traffic rumbling by on the main road. Cars and
motorbikes dodged potholes as they passed by to on their way join it.
All at once we realized that we had
stopped walking and were all looking at the same place. That place
was Samuels’ House. Venturing up up it we began to look for some one
to ask about it. Who were they, what did they do? It looked like some
kind of school.
It turned out that the person who
ran it was expected in the next 20 or so minutes, so we sat down to
wait. Still wrapped in a sense of home.
That day we began to talk to our
first contact. It turned out he was running a christian based
preschool, and he had been looking for help- although ideally more
permanent than racers. He checked out our organization and then
showed us around- even treating us to a Korean style lunch (complete
with kimchi!) In the end we made friends- as well as a contact. Not
only that, but he directed us to a church where we were able to
connect with more people.
This is kind-of how our entire month
went. Each city we went to we found more people to talk to. It was
wonderful to get to meet so many of our brothers and sisters. To hear
about their hopes and dreams. About their struggles and answers to
prayer. To see them pouring into each-other, lifting up the name of
the Lord in their own tongue.
We watched a Christmas play in
traditional Khmer costume, the angel Gabriel appearing much more
imposing in gilded armor than in a downy white robe! We enjoyed an
impromptu symphony by orphan kids using traditional instruments. We
helped teach kinder-gardeners Christmas carols (complete with dance
moves!). And sang carols ourselves in a bar in a red light district.
As with every month this one had a
theme. Although there was plenty to observe, plenty of reasons to
praise, there was not a lot for me to do. I
had very few responsibilities and none of the things I thought
I was good at had been needed in ministry. No one needed Me
for what I could contribute out of my own skill set or strength. Then
I realized one night that in and of myself I am Powerless
in ministry. In
and of myself I can not draw anyone to God; No sweet words or
convincing arguments I could speak, nor anything I can pour out of
myself, can draw a person to life in God. If anyone is
to be touched through me it has to
be by God.
Spirit calls to spirit.
I
can not
be a missionary by myself.
