Albania was not what I was expecting. When I was told we would be helping out with a summer camp, I imagined I’d be leading activities, building relationships with campers, having bible studies, performing fun skits, talent shows, camp fires/s’mores and just talking about life with people passing through. However, I didn’t really have the opportunity to do any of that. Instead I was put on guard duty at the gate, picked up sheep poop, lime washed the entire camp/pig farm 4 times and cleaned up camp facilities. It was a bit frustrating at times because I didn’t picture “World Race” ministry looking like this. I thought it was suppose to be exciting and adventurous all the time! Instead God gave me a little wake up call this month and put me behind the scenes of camp life. The first 2 weeks I guarded the gate in the blazing hot sun surrounded by hundreds of flies and watched the camp I desired to be apart of take place. At first I didn’t mind my duty, but after 3 days of sitting at the gate, my attitude went South and I wanted to do something “Meaningful”. I vividly remember sitting there on the 4th day being so frustrated with the ministry I picked up my purple fly swatter and went BUZIRK, smashing flies left and right. By the end of the day I literally killed 650 flies! The next day I kept a negative attitude and shared my thoughts with some of the squad. That day I learned I wasn’t the only one murmuring… about half the squad was! On the 5th day I woke up for morning shift at the gate and immediately noticed how hot & humid it was already. After three hours of sitting in my sweat, I finally stopped trying to do the job on my own strength and closed my eyes and prayed to The Father.
“Father I really don’t understand what I’m doing here, but have grace on me. I want to serve you!”
Within 15 minutes of saying that prayer, 3 of the campers came over to talk with me during their free time; in which they brought me ice cream, chips and a chocolate filled croissant! All I could do in that moment was smile, laugh, eat and thank God for his grace.
Through all of this I learned 3 things…
#1 Philippians 2:14 “Do ALL things without murmuring and disputing:”
#2 I Thessalonians 5:15 “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”
#3 Luke 10:16 “He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much”
To emphasize on those verses I will just say a few things. Murmuring brings forth NO fruit. Thanksgiving makes for a joyful heart, especially when your not thankful. And lastly if I don’t honor God through the simple task of opening a gate… How can I possibly be trusted with something far greater?
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. (?1 Corinthians? ?15?:?58?)
(Guarding The Gate… we aren’t posing or anything)
(Where had my quiet time with God in the morning during Guard Duty)
(What A fly swatter looks like after 650 kills!)
