So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. (2 Corinthians 12:9)
Today I was reminded on how I am very ill equipped.
Ill equipped for life.
Ill equipped for squad leading.
Today I was able to do laundry.
Laundry in Haiti requires:
- a large bowl
- powder detergent
- spicket
- strong arms
I was hoping to be alone while doing laundry today but I was joined by 3 Haitian women who work for Mission of Hope and were washing bed sheets.
As I went to dump out the suds, feeling like I cleaned the clothes to the best of my ability, they thought otherwise trying to communicate with me through hand gestures demonstrating the proper technique. Fail. Let’s just say they took my clothes from me and washed them better.
Again, later in the day I was excited to make some microwave popcorn I was generously given by a teammate a few weeks ago. I walked into the kitchen with 10+ Haitian women preparing dinner and they all stared at me. I walked towards the microwave only to realize the power was out…I turned around to 10+ Haitian women laughing. Let’s just say I did the walk of shame out of the kitchen. Fail.
It’s a real good thing that God says through our weaknesses his power is shown. So I can boast in my weaknesses because then God can work in and through me. God already had a plan to equip me though I am ill equipped. I know I probably overuse the phrase, “God doesn’t call the equipped, He equips the called.”
Though I don’t doubt I was called, I do doubt my abilities of living outside of the United States. Let’s be honest, our lives are pretty cushy and nice. I was not equipped to hand wash clothes, or pay attention to if the power is on or not. Good thing with God it doesn’t matter if I’m equipped. I know in these small moments I find myself in I can boast in Him. I can laugh at the fact I’m not strong enough to do my own laundry and be grateful that God provided women who graciously show me how. I can be grateful for electricity and not take it for granted. And I can hold my head high and walk back into the kitchen and pop my popcorn.
I foresee many days ahead where I will feel ill equipped to lead a group of 40+ gap year world racers. It will force me to continue to be God-reliant than self-reliant. I don’t want to do anything outside of the power of God, especially when it comes to leading. And for that, I am grateful that I am ill equipped.
