As we prepare to leave Sri Lanka, I am realizing that this may have been a month more about resting in His presence more fully and learning how to equip our teams better with tools like prayer, worship, inner healing, etc. rather than having constant ministry hosts and contacts. It has been a great month of coming together as beautiful, strong women of G-d seeking to be intentional not only with ourselves but also the community around us.
Other teams had amazing experiences with believers in their cities whereas our team represented the church in our mountain village. We were able to build relationships with locals who were a bit jaded by the tourist community. Every day we were asked if we were leaving tomorrow and I think it genuinely surprised them to see we were in town for 2-3 weeks. Some even asked why we would stay so long and our response was simply to get to know them and their culture while loving on and helping the community. One friend we made treated us very well ensuring that we would be able to enjoy an Easter service in English and then treating us to their company whether hanging out in a cafe or planting trees in the community. By the time we left, the locals knew us and most asked us to stop by before leaving to ensure we were sent off with the best hospitality in our travels. Our days were filled with spending time with the Lord, asking where He would have us go that day or who we would talk to, and then of course what adventures awaited.
Easter 2018 service
All in all this has been a great gender month and I am excited to return to my original team to fill them in on all the adventures. People have asked how the two teams have compared and I said they are like apples and oranges because they are both great! simply different from one another. I look forward to also bringing back some ideas on how we can be a better team from here on out because this month has shown me a different way of working together and having team unity. Plus it will be good to see the guys again and hear about how they have grown as men of G-d this month. We ladies need to be honoring of them and their journeys so I am grateful they got this time together same as we got ours.
I know we are to hit the ground running when we get to India next month so this has been nice to sit back and enjoy G-d’s creation in a gentler introduction to this cultural region. 🙂
