I have this idea that a blog posted has to be about something grand, like a big lesson or epiphany of some kind. This isn’t anything like that.
Journal Entry 3-20-14 7:30am
God, be my vision today. Lift up my eyes to you and keep them there all day. Be my strength and words. Everything I am is yours. I love you, Jesus.
Journal Entry 3-20-14 3pm
It was our last official day of ministry today. First Deanna, Zack, Markelle and I went up a mountain to visit Lakshima. She is the only Christian in her village and house. She’s younger than 22, has a 4 ½ yr. old daughter and a husband. We went up to encourage and pray for her. Deanna shared Matthew 5:13-16 and shared words about being the light on the hilltop through the fruits of the Spirit. Zack elaborated on it.
I didn’t share. I wanted to.
I wanted to tell her that Jesus is worth it. He’s so worth it all. But I didn’t know if I believed it. I mean, I do, and I’d never turn away from him. But there’s something there. I understand what it’s like to be the only Christian. I know it’s hard. But she does it, I thought to myself. God is worth it! I’m still working on believing that. Thanks for the help, God.
After Lakshima’s house we visited a 70ish yr. old Christian woman who lives all her days on a straw mat on the dirt floor of her 5 ½ ft. tall house. She was unable to eat or even speak with us. She has a son that takes care of her…sometimes. I held her hands as Samuel (our contact and translator) explained to us that in the past when people have prayed for her she gets better for a little while but always got bad again. He explained that she is from a lower caste and people typically won’t touch her or talk to her. They have a hard time getting any food to eat…let alone food with the proper nutrients that she needs.
We prayed for her. Thanked God for her life, his love and salvation for her, his provision and protection. We asked him to give her comfort, peace, relief, rest and visions and dreams of Him. We didn’t pray for her physical healing. I rubbed and held her hands as Markelle stroked her face.
God loves her.
We experienced it.
We felt the Holy Spirit in the air. Our hearts broke for her, but also rejoiced because God is with her. No child of God deserves the situation that she’s living in. But in her need, she receives from God in ways unknown to most of us.
What a blessing for us to be the hands and feet of God today. My prayer this morning was, “God, be my vision today.” Man, do you answer prayers or what! Thank you, God. Thank you for being my vision and being my eyes and my heart and my hands. You loved hard through us today. You loved the unlovable, touched the untouchable and kissed the hands of the dirty. You never cease to amaze me, Jesus.
As we left the house she held my hands and looked me in the eye. I looked at her right back, and even though we didn’t exchange any words, we both knew. I kissed her hands, said “joyamasi” and we went on our way. I don’t really think that I left ministry today with a grand new lesson or epiphany, just an experience of love I’ll never forget. What a blessing. Thank you, God!
“God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him,
for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
God blesses those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
God blesses those who are humble,
for they will inherit the whole earth.
God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice,
for they will be satisfied.
God blesses those who are merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
God blesses those whose hearts are pure,
for they will see God.
God blesses those who work for peace,
for they will be called children of God.
God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right,
for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.”
Matthew 5:3-10
