The last few weeks in Sri Lanka have been filled with adventure and growth. Week one here we had a squad debrief. All 41 of us lived in a hostel during this week and discussed the past two months and talked about our vision for the coming two. It was a great time that involved some much-needed rest.
After debrief we set out to different cities in Sri Lanka with our new teams. This month is manistry month, meaning my team is made up of all men. We are currently in Pottuvil / Arugambay doing a few different kinds of ministry. A lot of what we are doing is building community and then inviting people into that community. This allows us to pour into both locals and travelers in the area.
This past week in Arugambay I was in my morning devotion rereading the story of Abraham offering up Isaac as a sacrifice to God (Genesis 22). Most of us know the story. God calls Abraham to offer up Isaac to him, and in obedience Abraham takes his son into the mountains, ties him up, and picks up his knife. At the last moment an Angel commands Abraham not to lay a hand on Isaac. Instead God provided a ram that had been stuck on a nearby branch as a sacrifice. Since that day there has been a Hebrew proverb that says, “On the mountain of the Lod, it will be provided.”
That morning I decided I was going to hike along the beach to go climb this massive rock that could be seen a good distance away as you round the corner of the bay. I grabbed my bible, pen, and paper and set out to go worship God on top of this mountain (really just a big rock) that overlooked the ocean. I had a few of my teammates start this journey with me until we made it around the corner of the bay and they saw how far we still had to go, but I was determined to go climb this thing so I continued on.
After another five minutes of walking I came across a beach side fishing village. As I was walking through I was joined by a local and we started into conversation. Being that few foreigners walk on this part of the beach he was concerned as to where I was headed. When I pointed to the big rock up ahead his eyes got big and he warned to watch out for elephants and crocodiles. Without going into to much detail, it turned out I was about to walk onto safari land.
I talked with my new friend a bit longer and he offered to give me a ride to the rock and show me around. He had explained that he knew the area well, and I was still set on making it to this rock so I hopped on the back of his moped. After a few minutes he parked on the edge of a road and we set off on foot again. We ascended the rock and sat on top for over two hours marveling at God’s creation that was before us. Elephants, monkeys, and peacocks were strolling all around this area. Rather than getting to worship I ended up being able to talk with my new friend who is a Muslim, which enabled me to share my heart with him on who Jesus was.
At the end of the day, after making it back safely I reflected on what I had gotten to experience. At the beginning of the day I had set out to climb a physical rock, but as I reflected I realized I had actually been called to go climb the Lord’s mountain. I had set out to go worship, but rather God sent me on a safari with an opportunity to introduce his son, Jesus, to one of his children. My sacrifice was myself that day.
As it says in Romans 12:1, “And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice–the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.”
ps.. I promise not to hop on the back of mopeds with strangers anymore.
