Have you ever had such a full week, the kind that doesn’t let you pause until Friday, and brings too many stories you didn’t know where to begin….This was mine.
Finally after four months in Asia the World Race has led me back to Africa, specifically my sweet, sweet Swaziland. So it began. Most of us joined a gym for the week with kick-butt aerobics every morning at 5:30. I walked the streets of Manzini smiling at the people. I prayed with my team. I had prophetic truth spoken into me. We’ve had briefings of Swaziland and it’s culture and people. We’ve been through Biblical teachings. We’ve enjoyed some familiar American meals and team time. We’ve gotten individual one-on-one times with good mentors who listen to God and pray for us. We had a great girl time with Lisa Black that I’ll probably bring up later. We’ve joined the First Year Missionaries that AIM has in the country for worship. I’ve spoken prophetic words of life over my brothers and sisters here. I visited the same hospital in Manzini that I stopped by two years ago and laughed with kids. We were taken through conflict to bring us to intimacy within our team and squad.
Shall I go on with the list or are you exhausted yet, too?
It’s been a hugely influential time, but the biggest lesson wasn’t taught by a preacher with a Bible. The inspiration didn’t happen after doing hours of charity. Jeanette, Mark, Kari and I were walking to a store down the street the first evening we were In Manzini. It was closed, like most things here do after 5, but after a successful stop at the ATM we headed back to our place. Walking along the sidewalk a man approached us with a smile. “Are you with Adventures in Missions?” Surprised he “knew” us we agreed. “I could tell who you were by your ‘Jesus light.'” Whoa, this is how I met Yule. Turns out Yule’s been friends with the missionaries and people from AIM who’ve been to Swaziland and set up the ministry here for a while. His smile and joy rubbed off onto all of us as we paused on the sidewalk for this divine appointment. He was telling us the people from AIM he knows and we were letting him know of our plans the three months we’ll be in Africa. He shared with us how he was heading home because he felt weak. Yule has been HIV+ for four years. We shared in the excitement and pleasure of running into each other. Before we parted ways Jeanette asked if it would be alright if we prayed with him before he left. His response, “Of course! There’s always time for prayer.” Of course. There’s always time for prayer.
Always time for prayer. I have this challenge going on inside of me. It’s kinda a battle called “Being verse Doing.” Most of my life I’ve tried my hardest to do the “right” thing. I’ve had the spiritual check list and marked off what I did proudly. It’s true that faith without works is dead (Read James 2:14-26), but it also mentioned the trust people like Abraham and Rahab had in God. How can you trust someone if you don’t know them? How can you know someone if you don’t spend time with them. Luke (10:38-42) told us that what Mary was doing was the best thing ever. She simply sat at Jesus’ feet, and this was ‘the only thing worth being concerned about.’ Though Martha was doing a good thing Mary was there doing the best thing. Aren’t we always striving for the best? Yet, I think most people, myself included, get confused. We get overwhelmed with our laundry list of activities and in a rush to get things accomplished and be productive we throw God onto that list. It’s not bad that we “do” it’s just not the best.
Being with God and in His presence has made me more fully alive. He wants the best for us and to be with us. Being in His presence. Being with Him. Being changed. Being used. Being as great as He made me to be. Being YOU! The YOU He knew before you were even born (Psalm 139:14,15) Of course there’s time for prayer. Of course there’s time to be with Him. And I had to hear that from a man with priorities better aligned than a task-driven American. Yule, a man physically dying but fully alive in the spirit.
