Expectations are a high standard to live up to in todays society. They wreck true reality and in turn you always fall short of what your are looking for. They make things turn into a un-accomplishment and sometimes even make us upset and frustrated.
Before my squad launched in September multiple world race alumni said that expectations aren’t going to get you anywhere, they just confine you to a box that God won’t work in and, I mean who are we to put God in a box.
Over my time being on the field God has lead me and my team by revealing himself in beautiful and powerful ways. I would be lying if I said that I never had exceptions going into any of those ministry opportunities, but whats cool is God still does what He wants regardless of our own worldly desires.
Last week Priceless got the chance to do ministry with Team NOW in Trujillo, Peru about 2 hours south of Pacasmayo. We stayed there for the weekend and even got to do some femin- ministry with the locals and within the two teams. One of the reasons we came down to help team NOW was to do a Beauty from Ashes night. This ministry is really cool and is done all over the world; especially in the world race community. Basically it consists of women empowering other women that don’t have a shelter to pull them higher by telling them what it means to be a women of God. It’s a beautiful thing to watch and more than that, to be apart of.
Before the night began we got the low down of what was happening that night and what we needed to do to help out. The dress code was skirts and dresses, very WR formal if you know what I mean. We were mainly told we were going to be interacting with the ladies that come by braiding their hair, painting their nails, massaging their necks, and giving them a face mask. We were free to tell them the gospel, make relationships, and just have fun. I was so pumped to get there and get my hands “dirty”, I love getting to just hang out with people especially by making them laugh with me about my own weird tendencies. We finished setting up after the taxi’s dropped us off at the church, then we waited for the ladies to show up so we could get the show on the road. We started by singing songs and dancing, then went on to play some games and that lead into a short sermon and a couple of testimonies. After all that they transitioned into all the spa day activities.
Now I am going to tell you my perspective on the night. As I was saying, I was pumped for the night and when the ladies started to come in I just chose a sit next to a couple of them and start a conversation with my best Spanish. I had noticed that one of the ladies there had two boys with her one that looked to be the age of 2 and the other 5. The lady looked like she could use some help, mostly because it didn’t look like she had had a break in taking care of her kids. I wanted to help out, but at the time, I was talking to some other ladies and I definitely wanted to stay focused on them at the moment so I just kinda forgot about the kids. While we were singing some songs one of the girls on the other team offered to watch them, I was very thankful that someone had noticed them and wanted to help. When we transitioned into game time more women came in and I had to give up my chair so naturally I went to go stand in the back. I was talking to some of the girls that had other duties that night and noticed that the girl who took the two boys needed some help so I asked and she handed them over to me. Thinking that this was only going to last a maximum of 30 minutes I started to go up and down two flights of stairs around the corner of the event room because the 2 year old wanted to play on them. It also kept him from running back to his mom multiple times. We had fun but at the same time these kids were not the easiest to take care of. You could tell they didn’t know what discipline was or even that they had a voice to talk with (they had been given everything that they wanted without them having to ask).
Side Note: this is not what I had in mind for the night.
After the 2 year old had gotten into stuff that he shouldn’t have and the 5 year old screaming on the toilet constipated I started to become frustrated. I was missing out on all the good things happening at the event. So I went to go ask for some help and/or a brake and no one wanted to switch with me so I went back and tried to ask God to calm my anger but all I could think of were my expectations; to have conversation with the women there and help out with braiding and painting nails. I was boiling over with the feeling that nobody saw me and that I wasn’t even doing what I came to do. About 10 minutes after this had happened one of my teammates comes around the corner looking for the toilet and asks me how I am doing. I frustratingly say,
“I can’t do this right now! I really want to go and see what everyone else is up to.”
She said, “ok let me see what I can do.”
After confessing the state I was in, I already felt much relief. Within 15 minutes two girls came to help out and I thanked The Lord silently.
As I walked into the small room filled with women I was filled with the Lords encouragement. Looking into each conversation being held in the room I just couldn’t wait to share the joy of the Lord with the ladies. So I sat down and started with my best Spanish to a older lady that was waiting to get her nails done. We talked about her family and how this was her first time at this church. Then I talked to a girl my age and even though she didn’t talk much I got her to laugh with me at my attempt to ask her questions in Spanglish. As I walked around with an attitude only the Lord could have given me I saw the mom of the two boys. She had a relaxed face, you could tell she needed to have a conversation with another lady that could see her for who she is and not a label. It made me realize that I helped out in the best way possible. God had the ability to talk to her through other women that night without any distractions because I handled them for her. I faced a second, in the eyes of the Lord, of total discomfort and in the end it was all worth it. I took a step back as I soaked in everything the Lord was up to while I was frustrated taking care of the kids.
I mean, wow, The Lord is good; I know He has always been good but I think there are certain times he reveals Himself in Holy ways that only change us in our core. He makes us rethink what we have been taught and know. More importantly what are purpose is in places and times like these.
I went to go take care of the 2 and 5 year olds for the rest of the night. To say the least it was easier this time around, my heart was filled on the Lords grace and mercy. The two boys were getting tired so I put the little one in a stroller and went in more circles than I could count singing “ what a wonderful name it is,” “thanksgiving,” and “how great thou art.”
My expectations caused me to get frustrated and upset at my reality and my ideal night didn’t happen, but the Lord intervened and intern I learned so much more. What are you holding expectations on that are unhealthy for you? Are you leaning on the Lord in your work place, church, and in your family?
Update in case you haven’t heard yet my squad got a route change. We will be staying in India for two months and then we will be staying one month in Nepal. I’m really excited. It’s also all squad month right now and we will be going to Ecuador right after this month for a couple days for a thing called an awakening. This is basically where a couple squads get together to worship and refill on the Lords goodness. Live y’all peace out
