Heyyo,
Over the past few weeks, my team and I said goodbye to the charming people of Karakoram and made our way to the third largest city in Mongolia, you guessed it ERDENET. We made the backroad bus ride to Erdenet to serve our host church at their home location. Through the drastic difference in our ministry schedule I have had time to realize (with Jesus’s patient help & understanding) the why behind my mission trip.
Upon arriving in Erdenet, my team and I were welcomed by a fellow World Race Team – Reckless. First & foremost, bless the wonderful women of Reckless. They made the transition to Erdenet easy, breezy, and beautiful. When we arrived late in night, amazed at the sight of a stop light and unsure where we would be calling home, the lovely ladies of Reckless met us where we were, walked us home, and carried our packs up 5 flights of stairs. I am talking about tiny-human sized bags that are at least 40 pounds up staircase after staircase. That night, team Reckless showed us the undeserving, unwavering, and unfailing love of Jesus. They demonstrated what it means to be third.
God first.
Others second.
I am third.
I believe in my journey to become more Christ-like the “I am third” mentality is an pivotal pillar. In Matthew 22: 37-40 we read,“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” On the first day of my ~Race Journal~ (pending ™), while making my way to Georgia for launch on August 1st I wrote, “I want to make sure my heart and head stay where they are at now and remain focused on WHY I felt called to this – to serve God & His Kingdom, to love people, to be third, to experience sacrifice, to grow in community & intimacy with God.” To be third. That’s the why behind my mission.
Thanks to Team Reckless for the flawless demonstrated on what it looks like to be third I was able to walk into this new week of ministry with a heart ready to serve. We have been serving at a local coffee shop teaching English classes to children in the morning and adults in the evening. In all honesty, the majority of the students have wonderful english. The meaning I have found in teaching english class is to demonstrate Jesus’s love day in and day out. To show the locals they are seen, cared for, and loved simply because they are who they are. With literally no agenda, the past weeks have allowed us to meet people where they are and walk with them from there.
Through English class we have been able to pursue relationships with a group of passionate english learners. We were able to connect outside of the classroom on an early Saturday morning hike. The hike allowed us to simply do life with them. Not as teacher and student. Not as local and foreigner. But as friend and friend.
As I sit in our spot at the local coffee shop, mulling over the last few weeks I am perplexed. I am out here on this mission trip, motivated to serve others, and yet, I constantly feel I am on the other side of the table, being served to. Could it be that this table of service is not your standard rectangular board? Where I am on my side and you are on yours. Where one side receives what the other gives. Where this zero sum game takes place. If we all live with the I am third mentality, maybe this table is a circle. Maybe we are shoulder to shoulder (living life together), where the out flow and in flow of service is never ending.
Mongolia, it’s a privilege to serve you. Thank you.
Much Love Always,
em
Verses That I’ve Been Focused On This Week:
John 3:30 “He must become greater; I must become less.”
John 15:18-19 “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.
John 16: 33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
John 17: 14-17 “I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them for the evil one. They are not of the world even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.”
