We live in a generation of results. Tangible results are the only evidence that work has been done and lives impacted. When it comes to ministry it often looks like statistics, even the articles written on volunteerism and nonprofit organizations reflect the numbers. Below are the examples found in articles from the internet that can provide you the physical evidence that change has happened.
“In the first four hours Thursday, Dr. Jesus Miravete treated more than 120 people. Many had burns on their feet from walking in plastic sandals on the steaming highway.” Mexico’s Volunteer Nurses, Doctors Pitch in to Help Migrant Caravan, USnews.com
“They have managed to plant as many as 4 million saplings and the effects of it can be seen already.” Meet The Brazilian Couple Who Turned Barren Land Into A Forest By Planting 4 Million Saplings, indiatimes.com
“Nearly 1.2 million volunteers packed more than 333 million FMSC meals in 2017. More than 90 percent of total donations go directly to feed kids.” Feed My Starving Children, guidestar.org
I’m coming home in 53 days. I have family, friends, and strangers excited to hear what I accomplished while serving the least of these the past year. Before I left many said, “Rachel, you’re going to change the world.” Although I think the world, and Jesus, changed me more than I changed anyone, I think I made an impact.
But it’s not the way I have a feeling many expected.
I have no numbers.
I have no stat sheet to prove my shooting percentage, my turnovers, my assists, and my rebounds after my game.
I don’t have some outrageous count of the people I healed, the trees I planted, the playgrounds I built, the children I fed, and the people I brought to commit their lives to Christ.
I have none of those.
Instead…
I have names.
I have faces.
I have stories.
It’s Linda and Zyda, twins in Panama that just desired to learn English and make some new best friend.
It’s the pimp I met in Costa Rica and the conversations we had about Jesus. It was showing him what a friendship looks like and offering him other ways to provide for his children.
It’s the elderly woman who was too sick to leave her smoke filled hut in Nicaragua. The tears that rolled down her face as I held her hand and prayed that once her son got out of jail he would come to know the Lord and make better choices if only for his own safety.
It’s A, the eight year old Honduran boy my heart can’t stop thinking about. As soon as I came through the back gates all I heard was, “Raquel! Raquel! Play! Play!” because even if I just desire for him to have a chance at a good life, he just wanted to enjoy life with people that care about him.
It’s Faith, our hosts daughter in Malawi, who at the age of 23 runs her own church. It’s a young girl with big dreams that just needed continued words of encouragement for when village rumors destroy what she has worked so hard to build up.
It’s Maggie, the lady down the street I’d go get fritas from in Zambia and ask how she was doing. It’s praying with her and her family that they keep radical faith through troubled times.
It’s Owen and Koskona, two well behaved young boys in Swaziland chasing the Lord when others their age are getting into fights.
It’s the little boy I taught English to in Cambodia. It’s his giant, welcoming smile every single day and the way he had me sing him worship songs the entire way home as he rode on the back of my bike.
It’s all the women at the cafe, rescued from the sex trafficking industry in Thailand. With joy radiating off their faces in the new light of freedom that they’ve walked into. Being able to converse with them while not hiding an ounce of shame.
It’s the youth in Malaysia. Each face welcoming foreigners into their club practices but desiring strong community and intentional friendships that share laughs over chicken feet, stinky tofu, bubble tea, and board games.
The night Jesus prepared to leave his disciples he gave them a new commandment.
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” John 13:34
To love another seems simple, doesn’t take much effort, and can do without causing harm to you, yet does it make a difference?
Is the time I spent playing with A or encouraging Faith or praying with Maggie or conversing with the women at the cafe… will it make any difference in this world?
If you’re strictly into numbers then the World Race is meaningless and I have heavily disappointed you.
However, as a follower of Christ, as someone who has committed to attempt to model myself after Jesus’s life I am learning that life isn’t all about the numbers. I’m learning that physical change and work isn’t always the greatest impact for a community. I’ve learned how to change and help a community by vision, prayer, and encouragement. I’ve learned loving my neighbor has brought smiles and joy to many along the way.
At the end of the day Paul tells us in his letters to the Christians in Corinth what is the strongest trait of Jesus that survives.
“And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:13
Don’t get me wrong, I love the numbers. I often deem them necessary for nonprofits and organizations. Setting goals is a wonderful, wonderful thing. A way to track if you’re succeeding at doing more than you’ve done before. However, I think it’s important to see and reflect on our progress that doesn’t involve tangible results.
Have you talked to your family recently? When was the last time you encouraged a co-worker? Have you bothered to get tacos with your friend or roommate and really asked how things are going?
We are called to love each other. Unconditionally and with intentionality. It’s a big lesson I’m learning on the race. Not to not care about the numbers but to look beyond and realize the difference isn’t always on paper.
No numbers.
No statistics.
Instead
Names.
Faces.
Stories.
And lots of, lots of love.
Much love and many blessings,
Rachel
Thanks for all the continued support and prayers. I cannot wait to meet up with whoever is wanting to share more! The journey is coming to a close and I cannot wait to be on American soil again. Soaking up every bit of what’s left of this adventure!
