Right now I am sitting on a porch listening to the peaceful sounds of nature and the calming melodies of the band "Explosions in the Sky", what a stark contrast between last month and this one.
Last month we were just outside of Manilla in the Philippines. We had just gone through the blind-siding situation called 'team changes'. It definitely threw me for a loop and I felt so deflated at the daunting task of starting again from square one. But I knew/know that the Lord was present in the decision-making. Some of my previous teammates were placed with existing teams. Clark, Anton and Cathy were adopted into new 'families' that, from an outsiders perspective, seemed almost tailored to suit them.
As for Cheyanne, Laura and I, we were blessed to be able to stay together and create a new team with 3 women previously from the team "fire-starters". Jackie, Sarah and Meg made the team complete. There are six of us and we call ourselves Shiloh- which means 'gift of God'.
Everything seemed like a reckless whirlwind of chaos the day after the team-changes, We traveled from Nicaragua to Miami then on to Los Angeles, from there we flew to Hong Kong and then to Manila. I really have no idea how long it took. I slept sporadically throughout the flights and ended up getting to Manila very crazy-eyed. (or at least more crazy-eyed that usual)
Our ministry last month, although sometimes vague and hard to nail down, was quite exhausting emotionally, mentally and spiritually. Our team stayed in the San Buena slum. We lived in a small 'house' with an absolutely amazing family of seven. Our team of 6 swallowed up the majority of their house, even to the point that they had to move the dining room table outside. Each day was a mix of confusion and miscommunications with which ministry we were supposed to be doing. Our ministry was often a bit foggy, in the afternoons we would go around our 'neighborhood' and have bible studies with the ladies of the community. On wednesday and thursday evening we went to kids and teens groups. When it got closer to Christmas we went caroling around various neighborhoods. We went in order to raise money for the school which reaches out to the kids in the community that can't afford school.
Our ministry last month, although sometimes vague and hard to nail down, was quite exhausting emotionally, mentally and spiritually. Our team stayed in the San Buena slum. We lived in a small 'house' with an absolutely amazing family of seven. Our team of 6 swallowed up the majority of their house, even to the point that they had to move the dining room table outside. Each day was a mix of confusion and miscommunications with which ministry we were supposed to be doing. Our ministry was often a bit foggy, in the afternoons we would go around our 'neighborhood' and have bible studies with the ladies of the community. On wednesday and thursday evening we went to kids and teens groups. When it got closer to Christmas we went caroling around various neighborhoods. We went in order to raise money for the school which reaches out to the kids in the community that can't afford school.
The month was filled with smog, dirt, and smells that would turn even the most iron clad of stomachs. The noises were comparable to Chinese water torture. I don't remember a time that there was quiet. There was consistent harmony of dogs barking, roosters crowing, people fighting, babies crying, trucks driving, horns honking. All of this was accompanied by the competing stereo systems cranked to their highest potential. All of them blasting out various songs that usually end up in the 5 dollar bin at Walmart. One of the big winning songs was Gangnam Style, which we unfortunately heard probably ten or more times a day.
One of the days, after we had finished bible study, we took a bit of a tour of the village. Our guide skillfully wandered in and around small shacks and areas of metal nailed together- someone's home sweet home- the worst was when we walked under a small opening and into a walkway that led back to people's homes. It was a small tunnel not even tall enough for me to stand. I'm 5' 2". Even in midday it was so dark that it was difficult to make out where to step. I couldn't see what it was, but there were things dripping and there was a small trickling stream that smelled of a various assortment of human excrements. As we walked through the tunnel there were little wooden ladders that led up to small openings where there were homes. In many of the rooms we passed there were a 2 or 3 people gathered around a small old tv. As we walked through, I battled the overwhelming rage against injustice. I could barely stand to crawl around there for a quarter of an hour, how could people LIVE like this for hours on end, on a daily basis? Was this real life?
The rest of the month was a mix of numbing culture shock combined with indescribable peace and trust in what the Lord is doing. Our 'ministry' was sometimes unorganized and hard to pin point. Many of my teammates became discouraged and frustrated with the lack of structure and vision. Through those situations I began to relearn the lesson in the story of Martha and Mary.( Luke 10:38-42) Martha was upset because there was work to do and Mary was listening at the feet of Jesus. In the end, following and listening to the Lord is paramount. Jesus says in vs. 42 "Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken from her."
As we ARE on a missions trip, aren't we supposed to be DOING consistent, planned ministry?
This was a challenge for me, where is the boundary in service to God.? Can you ever DO enough?
Obviously not.
This brought be back to a conversation I had with a friend of mine back in the states in 2011. We had been discussing the culture shock and the confusion I had felt from getting back from a 3 month missions trip to NewOrleans. I told him that I felt that the difference between ministry and my life at home was hard to juggle.He then said he didn't exactly relate and challenged me to throw off the box of 'ministry'. He described how he strives for consistency in his relationship and walk with The Lord. He doesn't focus on whether or not he's DONE ministry each day, but rather, he lives in accordance with the will of God in his every action.
One of the days, after we had finished bible study, we took a bit of a tour of the village. Our guide skillfully wandered in and around small shacks and areas of metal nailed together- someone's home sweet home- the worst was when we walked under a small opening and into a walkway that led back to people's homes. It was a small tunnel not even tall enough for me to stand. I'm 5' 2". Even in midday it was so dark that it was difficult to make out where to step. I couldn't see what it was, but there were things dripping and there was a small trickling stream that smelled of a various assortment of human excrements. As we walked through the tunnel there were little wooden ladders that led up to small openings where there were homes. In many of the rooms we passed there were a 2 or 3 people gathered around a small old tv. As we walked through, I battled the overwhelming rage against injustice. I could barely stand to crawl around there for a quarter of an hour, how could people LIVE like this for hours on end, on a daily basis? Was this real life?
The rest of the month was a mix of numbing culture shock combined with indescribable peace and trust in what the Lord is doing. Our 'ministry' was sometimes unorganized and hard to pin point. Many of my teammates became discouraged and frustrated with the lack of structure and vision. Through those situations I began to relearn the lesson in the story of Martha and Mary.( Luke 10:38-42) Martha was upset because there was work to do and Mary was listening at the feet of Jesus. In the end, following and listening to the Lord is paramount. Jesus says in vs. 42 "Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken from her."
As we ARE on a missions trip, aren't we supposed to be DOING consistent, planned ministry?
This was a challenge for me, where is the boundary in service to God.? Can you ever DO enough?
Obviously not.
This brought be back to a conversation I had with a friend of mine back in the states in 2011. We had been discussing the culture shock and the confusion I had felt from getting back from a 3 month missions trip to NewOrleans. I told him that I felt that the difference between ministry and my life at home was hard to juggle.He then said he didn't exactly relate and challenged me to throw off the box of 'ministry'. He described how he strives for consistency in his relationship and walk with The Lord. He doesn't focus on whether or not he's DONE ministry each day, but rather, he lives in accordance with the will of God in his every action.
Through Christ, our very lives are ministry.
In everything we do and everywhere we go, everyone we meet. We should be like Mary and listen to the Lord. Stop feeling the guilt that satan brings when we aren't 'clocked-in' at a ministry.
The point is that my focus was wrong, we were getting fulfillment out of the ministry instead of out of Christ. The closer we are to Christ the less ministry we'll DO and the more our lives will reflect him, therefore engraining ministry into who we are; so that we, as christians, can BE the ministry.
It is crucial that we walk in line with what the Lord is calling us to do on a daily, hourly, and minutely basis. We need not focus on the the feel-good, do-gooder activities that are typical for missions trips. We need to zoom out and see what Jesus sees. The hobo we pass on the way TO ministry is quite possibly the very person we need to be ministering to. This is by no means an attempt to bash organized ministry, but in fact only to encourage myself and others to seek to do the Lord's will in everything we do, in ministry and out of it.
If your at the grocery store…
The movies…
Out to eat…
Shopping…
Vacationing…
At work…
At the beach…
At the club…
On a date…
Feeding the homeless…
On a flight ….
At home…
Gardening…
In all the things in your daily life…
Are we consistently and constantly seeking opportunities to show Christ's love and redemption to the broken world all around us ?
