I’m not gonna lie. One thing I have learned on the race is that kids ministry is not my thing. Yeah, they’re really cute. They do and say strange things that make you laugh. But a lot of times, I have NO clue what to do with them, especially when we don’t speak the same language. And if you spin one kid around by the arms or throw them up in the air, you have to expect to do that with all the kids. I find myself just smiling awkwardly at them and giving an excessive amount of high-fives.
So far, every month of the race has involved kids ministry to some degree. Month four in the Philippines, we were placed at Kids International Ministries. Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely loved this month and this ministry. We had an incredible group of 15 strong women loving on some wonderful kids. You could see God at work in that ministry. There was an abundance of goodness and joy that came from His work in our lives that month.
But I was telling God in all honesty that I was not up for another month of kids ministry. “Lord, please, I need a break.” I would tell him. “I pray next month for a change. Something that is life giving. Something that is different than anything we’ve done before.”
At the end of our time in the Philippines, one of my teammates and I were talking about the next month in Vietnam- team changes, different ministries, and that we had no clue what to expect. She told me about one of the ministries in Vietnam was working in a café that employed deaf people. If you know me well or have read my About page, you would know that I love hearing, sign language and the Deaf community. So when she told me about this I got so excited, but tried not to set my heart on that. What are the odds, of ALL of the ministry sites in Vietnam, that I would be placed there? All I did was talk to God about it and then let it be.
When we found out our placement for the month, it wasn’t at the café. I was a little disappointed, but I knew we were in the same city as the café, so I could visit. That was enough for me. I just told myself I would camp out there during my free time.
The first day of ministry, we walk up to our ministry site and I stand out front, amazed. Our ministry placement was not only attached to the café, but the same people ran it. This café was a huge part of our ministry that month. We practiced conversational English with English language learners every night, but we also worked with the deaf employees making drinks and making new recipes for the menu.
Looking back, I am humbled by God’s faithfulness. Not only was Vietnam totally different from previous months, it involved ministry with a population of people that God has put a passion for in my heart.
Words cannot express how thankful I am for a ministry experience like the one in Vietnam. It wasn’t always easy, but it was life giving. He provided an abundance of time to spend with Him and opportunities for great conversations within our team and with the people we met practicing English.
This month He also made it clearer than ever before that He is calling me to work with people with disabilities after the race. In what way? I can’t answer that yet. All I know is that He is my Shepherd, I am his sheep, and I am listening for his voice.
“When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.” John 10:4
