Yes, I named this blog I Am Guilty. For all you Lauren Daigle fans out there, cue the music! Here’s a youtube link if you have no idea what I’m talking about: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wt5X91ciE6Y
*****************************************************************************************************************************************
Does God ever have you wait? And I mean really wait, for a long time, on something you desire. And you start to think to yourself, “Gosh. It this worth it? Why must I wait so long? When will this ever end?!”
My team and I have been waiting. And goodness, let me tell you right now: IT. IS. HARD.
Back in January when our squad was going through training camp, our coach Tim Dilbeck often stated his favorite motto, “Life is ministry; ministry is life.” It’s a great motto – it’s short, easy to remember and would look great with a trendy water color background reposted on Instagram.
However, I didn’t realize how much I would come to rely on the truth of this motto and to say it with confidence every single day to get through. When Tim explained this motto, he encouraged us to change our perspective of how we view ministry. I am guilty of viewing ministry as only: overseas mission trips working with orphans, medical mission trips working with homeless and those in poverty, street outreach to prostitutes and sex trafficking victims, building wells and churches in impoverished communities etc. I am guilty of defining ministry and mission trips as only serving those in the lowest positions of society.
I had put ministry in a box with big words written on the outside that labeled who ministry was for: homeless, poor, starving, diseased, crippled, elderly, wounded, isolated, etc. But you know what? None of those labels fit me. Not one of those described me. So, I was already unintentionally separating myself from those who I think desperately needed ministry from those who I thought didn’t need ministry.
People who “look” like they have their life together through their Facebook, Snapchat, and Instagram profiles didn’t get put in my ministry box. I didn’t think they needed ministry. I didn’t think anything I said or did could be used by God to be effective in their lives because it just looks like they really don’t need it. They have it all, right?….
I am guilty of being blind to see that God can use me and you in any possible way He desires to do ministry. Ministry is for EVERYONE. Ministry is for you. Ministry is for me. Ministry is for the poor Indian girl living in a slum. Ministry is for the wealthy businessman on Wall Street. Ministry is not limited to one’s income, race, sex, age, career, family, location or anything else.
“Life is ministry; ministry is life.”
My team and I have not gotten plugged in with a nonprofit or organization here in Rwanda. I was ashamed to let my friends and family back home know that we weren’t working with an established company. I was afraid that people would say I was failing at connecting with people. I was fearful that my supporters would regret praying for me and sponsoring me financially. I was scared to let people know that the Lord was having our team wait – I thought people would see that as laziness. I was not trusting the Lord to change people’s perspectives as of what ministry looks like as He was changing mine.
***************************************************************************************************************************************
At the beginning of February, my team booked to stay in someone’s guest room through Airbnb. We live on $10 a day per person, so we were trying to save money with lodging. Unfortunately, the Airbnb fell through. The guy contacted us and said he sold the place and had nowhere for us to stay. However, we had already paid and were not able to get all our money back.
As we were sitting at a coffee shop praying about what to do about lodging, we met a woman seated in a booth behind us. We told her about what this year looks like for us, and she connected us with a couple that actually did the World Race in 2011 and now they live in Kigali. They so graciously offered to host us while in Rwanda and have been a wonderful blessing to our team.
Meet the Webbs. Below is a picture of Wes, Shay and their adorable son Micah. They let us stay in their spare bedroom and provided meals, hot showers, a washing machine (Yes! A real washing machine in Africa!) and sweet conversations. We are so thankful to have met this amazing family. I pray that we get to connect again in the future.
Here is a picture of Tiyo, the Webb’s guard. His wife and 3 children live an hour away, so he goes home every weekend to see them. He helps with projects and chores around the house, guards the property Monday – Friday and brings so much joy to the Webb family. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Tiyo without a huge smile on his face.
Lastly, this is Grace. She is Micah’s caretaker Monday – Friday while Shay works as a teacher. Grace has 4 girls and a good husband who works as the Webb’s guard on the weekends. Grace is a fabulous cook (yes, I’ve gained about 5 pounds because I can’t stop eating her food), a natural at nurturing and a soft-spoken woman. She loves to serve and to share about her beautiful family.
*************************************************************************************************************************************
We have been blessed to have a nice home to stay in and sweet company to be surrounded by. Our team has grown a lot individually and together as we are learning what it means to follow the Lord – whether walking through slums or slowing down and seeking the Lord’s presence on the couch in the Webb’s living room. We are learning to follow the Lord’s voice. When the Lord says Go, we Go. When the Lord says Wait, we Wait. It’s hard. And not many people may understand it, but that’s okay. Our desire is to glorify God in all that we do.
Today, we are leaving the Webb residence in Kigali to go to a city called Gisenyi that sits on the edge of Lake Kivu. On a map it shows that Lake Kivu separates Rwanda from the Congo. We don’t have any ministry opportunities set up, but that’s not stopping us from going. We believe the Lord is calling us to go to Gisenyi and so we are listening and being active in our faith of following His voice. Am I nervous? Maybe a little, but if there’s no risk involved it’s not nearly as fun!
“Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts…” Hebrews 3:15
