I want to talk about what two full months of manual labor can do to a girl.
Let’s start with our first month in Europe. Ukraine: month eight. Holy smokes I was so excited to finally get to Europe. This continent was one of the major reasons why I signed up for my route. Coming into Europe from Africa was one of the best experiences I’ve EVER had. My team and I have a new appreciation for quilts, hot showers (with running water), washers, DRYERS (huge deal), coffee makers, etc. these were all big deals. Things you may not realize how awesome they are until you don’t have them for months.
I remember getting off the plane and feeling the windchill and almost cried. Keep in mind we missed winter completely. It did my soul so well feeling crisp, cold air. My spirit was renewed and I felt an automatic second wind. I remember distinctively the lord telling me “erinn, here are some comforts for you. Be blessed and keep going hard!” Gosh it was so clear and such a sweet gift. I don’t think I realized how much I missed and how much I needed being in a first world country.
All this to say, I was in love with Ukraine from the get go.
Ministry in Ukraine looked quite different from any other ministry I had done in previous months. We were located in a town called Kelantan, just an hour outside of Kiev, working at a summer camp for kids. We had the privilege of preparing the camp for kids arrival. There was much to be done and we were eager. I was especially excited for manual ministry because to be honest, I needed a break from people. I’m human.
The first few days of ministry were so great. I got to plant corn and onion. And I’m talking from scratch. We dug up trenches for each row and literally laid each individual seed in the ground (and we had over 1,000 seeds). We prayed over each seed we dropped for it to become many then after a days hard work, we would worship in the field. It was a very cool experience. And a couple weeks later we got to see the sprouts!
My big prayer over the last few months has been to see God as a father versus some higher being that I talked to. I wanted intimacy with him. A deeper relationship with Him. Connection. Personality. Know in my heart that I’m loved well by Him.
Well, cropping can jumpstart those deep thoughts and Holy Spirit was prompting prayers like crazy. Planting crops made me reflect on the Gospel. Planting the seed and waiting for the harvest. It was incredible. Although the work was hard, the reward was sweet.
After planting came the grunt work. At this point in the month, I can’t lie, I was ready for people but I knew I still have a good three weeks. We cleaned cabins, sanded and stained wood floors, washed bedding, built an entire ropes course, painted everything that had any amount of paint on it. We even scrapped paint off old benches for about 9 hours a day for three days straight.
By the end of the month, I was over it. Rejoicing for the next country. Romania. I was excited for Romania. I knew coming in that this would be another manual labor month but new country, new scene, new work– it was gonna be good.
Ministry in Romania was interesting to say the least. It was very similar to Ukraine- My team and I were again located at a summer camp prepping the camp for their first set of campers. This camp had not been touched in about eight months. We had our work cut out for us. About three days in, I was questioning God on why the heck I was there. The big project I got to work on was to clear out a forest to create a pathway. Yep. It was hard. Actual blood, sweat, and tears happened while clearing out those trees. I was angry. I didn’t want to be there but as tough as it was, I sought out the Lord.
Looking at the forest from the outside it looked green, full of life, untouched. But once we got inside and started cutting down trees we realized there was so many dead branches. So we started cutting and clearing and pruning. For about a full week we worked on this project. And behold, the Lord again showed me the metaphor of clearing out the dead to bring life.
THIS IS WHAT HE’S DOING IN MY LIFE!
As I scrapped paint off these benches and cleared a literal forest, I kept asking God WHY. Why am I doing this right now. His reply was very simple: “you’re helping it get to its original state”. Never did I expect to see the Lord while scrapping away the old, cracked paint or a pair of cutters.
It was profound. It was intimate. It was clear. He was answering my prayers so deeply and I didn’t even realize it yet. This was the month I began to learn the real power of prayer. Not just over myself but interceding for others. These are the months that God began to change the way I think, the way I viewed the world and my place in it. These are the months that we began to DTR (define the relationship). These are the months that I decided to give up my own strength and allow Him to give me his. Let me tell you it was life giving.
I learned more about being a daughter and what that actually means. And in that, I learned who He is calling me to be. Shaping me back to my original state. Pruning me. Clearing out the dark places inside to bring light and so much life. Once I allowed Him to work, the fun happened! God allowed me to open my dream box and talk to him about the plans he has for me. I have so many dreams and I have no doubt in my mind that they will come to life in ways I NEVER thought imaginable.
I am thankful for these months of manual labor. Although they have been a struggle, I look back and can see what the Lord was and is doing. If it wasn’t for those months, I would not have had the time to think those deep thoughts. Our time together was sweet.
If there’s one thing the race has taught me it’s that you can do WHATEVER YOU WANT. We get to make the choice. I now know what will bring me lift and what will bring me life and I cannot WAIT to find out more of what God has in store. The truth is- life with Jesus is the best decision I have ever made. Saying yes to Him has been so much fun and has brought so much life. My heavenly Father loves me and he loves you.
I challenge you to do pray a big prayer today. Whatever that means to you! I can bet you anything it will be life-giving.
