Ministry isn’t always what you expect it to be, but it is always perfectly what God has planned for you.
My first month on the Race was spent with an organization called BEAM. In our first two weeks we spent our days weeding and laying a water line on the property. After getting over my resentment to the yard work, I learned of our host’s intentions with such tasks. The goal was to bond our team closer and fill us up spiritually for the race. So once we made it through the weeks of weeding (which had grown back a lot by time we left), we got to help with a program called life skills.
Life skills is a program that takes place in the township of Mamelodi for people over the age of eighteen to teach them about God, themselves, and essential skills for getting a job. At the end of the program they take a basic math assessment and when they pass the test they interview for a job at a large chain-clothing store called Mr.Price.
For the first few days of life-skills we just simply participated and helped where we could with the program. Ministry was just doing what was asked of us the first few days, learning and following the program. However, a few days in we were given an assignment where we had to partner up with someone in the class that we had drawn their nametag at random. The name I drew was Maria. So during our break time, we were supposed to get to know our partner and what they believed their purpose was in life. As we got to know each other I learned that Maria was a mom to four children and was trying to find a way to be a good role model for them by providing well for them. Her ultimate dream is to be a chef and the job she is attempting to get at Mr.Price is basically a way to start striving for better for her family. During the first few days of life skills she grew her relationship with the Lord and became more determined to guide her family well.
While getting to know her I also got to know her son Alex, whom she brought with her to life skills class because he was too young to leave at home. As the class went on throughout the day, Alex started to get stir crazy like a typical four year old would and it started to distract Maria from learning. So quickly ministry changed from helping with life skills to simply playing in a field with Alex. We didn’t do much besides skip, spin in circles and chase each other around. At first I felt like I was slacking on my job by playing in a field, but it was exactly where God wanted me. God changed up my view of ministry this month, from weeding to playing in a field, I thought surely ministry was supposed to be more epic and dramatic, but everything on this race has been used for His good. Playing in a field made it possible for Maria’s dream to become possible.
I wish I could tell you I knew for sure that she got the job, unfortunately I don’t. However, each day it was hard to leave my new friends. On the last day, we took a picture together, afterwards Maria told me that the picture would be added to the family album. I learned more from doing what I believed was the small task than I ever imagined. My idea of ministry was wrecked, but from here on out I know that there is no task too small to serve the Lord and we never know the impact our actions could have.
I’m currently in Gaborone, Botswana working with kingdom cities church, so more updates to come!!
