This last week we dove head first into ministry. My team was assigned as the Serve Team and ATL group. This means that we are in charge of shopping for, preparing for, and cleaning up after breakfast. Shopping for 42 people is not the easiest thing in the world, so my team has appreciated the grace given by the rest of the squad (especially when the boiled eggs were frozen and the hotdogs proved to be an unknown meat). We make breakfast everyday, but three times a week we do ATL also. ATL stands for “Ask The Lord” which basically just means we ask God if there is any specific direction or person we should talk to or pray over.
Since our ministry is usually only around the house, grocery store, or nearby streets, it has been a little difficult finding joy in the little serving opportunities. While the rest of my team was out praying over the R3d Llght Dlstrlct, doing construction, playing with orphanage kiddos, etc my team was at Macro (ie Sams/Cosco) trying sample chicken and piling our shopping cart full of bread and eggs. Its so easy to compare to the “big” ministries. Its so easy to feel like I’m not contributing. For Pete’s sake, I make ramen noodles everyday at home, what was the point of flying 7,000 miles just to make more?
But there is a point.
And the small things do matter.
Over the past few days my team and I learned a few key things:
1. Our ministry is our squad. While they are out in the city becoming broken for what breaks Him, we are able to welcome them home with open arms for a shoulder to cry on or an ear to listen. Since we are able to become rooted in our own Spirit as we serve their needs, we are able to pour back into our squamates and remind them who they are and why they are here.
We get to be the rock on which our squad can rest because our foundation is being set on Him.
2. We are being made servants – just as Jesus was. We are His hands and feet. We are the Mary that rests at His feet rather than get distracted by the works. Not only do we get to be obedient in the mundane, but God also promises that obedience in the small leads to faithfulness in the big. Through this season of rest in God, I believe that He is preparing something unimaginable for my team. I believe He is preparing a mountain we are going to conquer.
We get to serve and humble ourselves for something bigger to come.
3. God doesn’t look at the size of our ministry, but rather the size of our heart in doing our ministry. Someone once told me that God doesn’t always ask us to save a monumental amount of people, but instead just make a monumental difference on one person’s life. Even if it seems unimportant and mundane, all can be used for the glory of God. The question is how’s your heart in doing it.
We get to show God’s love in the “insignificant” little things by our posture of joy in doing them.
Sundays, however, are the very best day. Hands-on serving His children. Every week, my team goes to the Monastery to teach kids English. Though none of us were prepared for it and have no idea how to teach English to a language unknown to us, we all embraced it. We had to get creative, but we figured out they love drawing. We finally would draw various things (pencil, airplane, notebook, circle, etc) and write the word down. They copied it exactly. Ashlynn and I had the 5-8 year olds and, despite the language barrier, they understood. Past the alphabet and songs and numbers, though, was a classroom full of joy, curiosity, and innocence. I spent 4 hours with these children and I love them already. No language can separate a supernatural love and I can’t wait to demonstrate and share that with these children.
Lesson learned this week: no matter if I’m cutting fruit, teaching kids how to say “hello”, or prayer walking the city, it all is for the glory of God. Even in the mundane or “small” things, it all matters and can be used for the Kingdom.
My weekly schedule:
Sunday: teaching at the Monastery
Monday: Sabbath
Tuesday: ATL/market for fruit
Wednesday: ATL
Thursday: Macro/market for fruit
Friday: Teaching Day
Saturday: Adventure Day
-A
