Our last week in China we found out that we were going to be working with a sports ministry in Cape Town, South Africa. My entire team was excited to be able to work with street kids by teaching them Soccer and Surfing; my entire team except me.
I immediately felt like I would not be used, I don’t know how to play Soccer or Surf, nor would I like to learn. I came into South Africa feeling discouraged and immediately feeling like this would be my “bucket month” of the WR.
All around me I saw everyone having fun, enjoying themselves and looking forward to what was in store for the month, while I was sitting there dreading for ministry to begin… On our third day in Muizenberg, Geershom from Volunteer South Africa came to talk to our four teams; I was in for something I didn’t expect.
He opened up with the question, “What can I offer?” This of course, had been what I was asking myself since finding out our ministry. “Well Geershom, WHAT CAN I OFFER?” I thought to myself. He then proceeded to say we might not know how to play soccer or surf, but we can love.
I can love? Of course I can. That’s why I am here… I am not here to play soccer or to surf… I am here to simply love. A smile, a hug, words of encouragement, ears to listen, a shoulder to cry on… Yes, that is what I am, thatis what I can offer.
Geershom shared Luke 21:1-4 with us, “And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury, and He saw a certain poor widow putting in two mites. So He said ‘Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all; for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God, but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had.”
These verses are usually used to talk about money, but Geershom used them to explain his point that we can use what comes from our heart, not from what comes our of our talents. If our heart is in the right place God will use the little that we can offer.
So what can you offer? You may not be able to speak in front of large crowds, you may not be able to entertain children, you may not be able to play sports, but God has given you the ability to love, and He has given you the ability to show it. Take what He has given you and share it, even if they are two mites. Those two mites are worth more than you think they are. God sees their worth. So I ask again, what can you offer?
