This past month and a half has been different from the first half of the race. The first few months my team was partnered with a ministry who had specific tasks that they needed accomplished. Last month, after to arriving to Montenegro (which is beautiful by the way!) We quickly realized that our ministry for the month was to go out and be an example of Jesus. That’s it.
We didn’t have scheduled preachings each day, no kids program to organize for, no orphanage or hospital visits, no small groups to lead. We were just simply told to go make friends. So we did.
Ministry in Europe has given me a glimpse of home. When I’m back in America, I won’t have a ‘host family’ and I won’t have scheduled ‘Jesus time’ everyday. I will go to work, I will have friends who believe in Jesus, I will have friends who don’t believe in Jesus, I will go shopping every few days at the grocery store, I will run into random strangers on the street, I will pass that homeless guy, I will answer that call from that friend who has been depressed for the last two years and I will listen to her again, I will have those hard conversations with my family, I will go to my friend’s kid’s dance recital, I will talk to my neighbor as he is walking his dog. I will live life.
Ministry isn’t about going to another country and ‘converting those poor souls’. Ministry is a lifestyle and that looks different for everyone. Some are called to go to India (like Courtney Huffman) and some are called to work at a job that others may think is pointless… but we are all called to live our lives. Some may never leave the country… or even the state… but that was never the point anyways.
As much as I do believe in sharing the gospel… I believe more in being an example of Jesus. I’m terrible at it most of the time, but every day I get better. Every day I learn something new and I attempt to apply it. Every day I fail, but I everyday I also succeed. This past month and a half has meant so much to me because it’s given me a glimpse of life after the race. This trip lasts for 11 months, but the lessons learned will last forever.
