Coming into the World Race I had a lot of expectations. They tell us right off the bat at training camp that expectations will do nothing but get you into trouble on the race. They push you into believing that "missions" is about working in orphanages, holding babies, healing sick people, standing on mountains in Africa dancing with locals and a variety of other things. Missions, or as I like to call it, being the hands and feet for Christ, can look like this. But often it does not.
Let me tell you about door to door ministry. It's where you go around the village or town you are in and ask people who are out and about if they care to talk, and eventually you bring Jesus into the conversation. Basically you could be helping someone carry something, passing out brochures or pamphlets, visiting an old woman who lives alone, or anything else you can imagine. This is exactly what we have been doing in Romania. Let me tell you, I was not excited about it AT ALL. It is hard, stretching and exhausting. You are physically trying to help the people in any way you can with whatever they need, but also talking about the gospel with them.
After the first few days here I was SO frustrated. I thought, "Lord this is so not working. We aren't being effective. And honestly, where are all those poor Romanian babies I wanted to hold?" I had expectations that what we were doing would feel big and powerful. That people at home would hear the stories and cry over how touching the things we are doing are. But I didn't feel big and powerful, I felt like I was wasting time and was angry because this "mission" was not what I had expected. I felt like everything we were doing was small and that it wouldn't make a difference.
But I was wrong.
Isn't the whole world and pretty much every aspect of life made of up of the little things to make something greater? One body is made up of millions of cells and numerous organs. A city is made up of many, many people. The world itself is made up of so many people who in the grand scheme of things seem "so small." A giant tree is made up of thousands of tiny leaves. A revolution is created because of many small ideas that were turned into small actions that led to big action.
Why would this be any different? The Lord uses small acts every day to change the world.
I have been being, for lack of a better term, a huge brat.
Who am I to think that I am too good for this kind of ministry? I am serving others and that to the Lord has always been something big. I am one person who is part of something bigger. I may not be changing the world drastically by stopping war or saving orphans. But in Romania I am painting staircases, teaching english, picking up trash, cleaning out houses, washing dishes and passing out fliers. I am helping those who are already loving God so well. I am loving on people through small acts of service. Jesus knows that these have always been the big things.
If you're a stay at home mom who is constantly kissing skinned knees and making home-made meals, or a dad who may not make a lot of money but hugs his wife and kids every day or the girl who serves coffee every day with a smile on her face or the boy who mows the neighbors yard just because…don't worry. These ARE the big things.
You see, the small things make the big things. Nothing would exist without them. So today I am humbled that Jesus honors me with the small things. And tomorrow if my act of service has to be cleaning out a smelly fridge (which it very well may be) I will come back, read this blog and know without a doubt that the small things matter.
