Short Update: I have arrived in Tanzania after being away from my team for almost 2 weeks. I got to spend an amazing 6 days with my mom in Kenya, spend time with another team in Arusha, go on a safari, see the top of Mt Kilimanjaro, and now do ministry in Singida, Tanzania with my team for the remainder of the month. I must admitt this is the most I have felt like a tourist on the race; going from one place to another so quickly. But it has been great!
Many times in ministry during the race you find yourself wondering “what is the point of this?” You might be moving a pile of bricks from one place to another, you might be spending three hours in a church just simply sitting and seeing who walks in, hoe-ing a field of grass for hours just to not plant any new seeds, or visiting refugees in an IDP camp knowing you will never see them again. How can a few hours of silly work have an impact on someone else.
This happened to me most recently twice: one while we were on (what I like to call) a short term mission trip inside of the World Race while our parents were here, and also at my current ministry location. It was difficult for me to visit and IDP camp (Inter Displaced People) for a few hours when I am used to spending a few weeks developing and fostering relationships with those that live with/around me. Why put my heart into a few hours of ministry when I was never going to see these people again. I couldn’t invest like I normally would in a months time. What is the purpose?
During these times I had come to the understanding that God ALWAYS has a purpose for me every where I go, what ever I do, who ever I encounter. I may never understand or know why I am here or there, talking to him or her, but there is always a reason. This has changed my outlook on ministry from complaining and not wanting to be present to investing fully, cherishing every moment. It becomes difficult when you do not feel like what you're doing is purposful or you just simply do not feel like being there. This also over flows into when I return home. What will ministry look like in America? I will once again have to remind myself that there is a purpose and ministry in every situation, whether I understand it or not. This easily should become our motto for life.
