3 weeks in San Andrés, Colombia.
1 week in Medellin, Colombia.
32 Hours in a bus.
2 days in Ecuador.
My heart is full.
And overwhelmed.
In the best way.
It’s been quite the ride so far, with lots of twists and turns that our team didn’t expect over the last month, but we did our best to listen to the Lord and do what He called us to.
We sang in church, even though none of us are musicians.
We cooked for a crowd of 15, even though we aren’t chefs.
We gave facials and washed feet, despite the fact that we aren’t licensed estheticians.
We threw a party and we aren’t event planners.
We gave hugs, even though most of our teams’ love language is NOT physical touch.
We listened to the Spirit over our debrief and asked the Lord where he wanted us to be, and we became prayer warriors for men and women on the streets of Medellin.
The biggest lesson I’ve learned over month one in Colombia, is that God isn’t concerned with my credentials.
God doesn’t see what we are qualified for, and only place us in the situations that make sense, but instead, He asks us to trust Him fully by putting us in situations where we may feel insecure and unequipped and have to trust Him all the more.
Because it’s not about me, but it’s about the kingdom, and having open and willing hearts to be used wherever we may be needed.
This next month, we will be working with a non-Christian organization called Equasol which serves the poorest children in Quito through before and after school programs. They also serve with French volunteers who aren’t necessarily Christian. I don’t know much about the ministry yet since we officially start tomorrow, but today I realized, that I’m really nervous about it, and didn’t know why.
I think it has to do with feeling unqualified. We don’t know how we will be asked to serve this month and that makes me anxious. How do I prepare? Do I need to brush up on my English teaching, my (non-existent) soccer skills, my multiplication tables for math tutoring, or channel my inner Carrie Underwood for an entertainment segment?
And since we are working with French volunteers do I need to know French?! I was just starting to get the hang of “Hola, como estás?” But God has shown me that He isn’t looking for a professional teacher, athlete, tutor, actress, or singer to do His work. He is simply looking for willing hands to serve wherever the need is at. He will equip us with what we need, as long as we trust Him.
He is faithful.
May we not forget that He will not abandon His children. He won’t give us more than we can handle, but instead, will fill us with His grace, mercy, peace, and strength to do the work He has called us to.
Let us not be deterred by feeling unequipped, we are all fit to do the work of the Kingdom when we are filled with the Holy Spirit. It’s not about our credentials, those are just letters behind our name. The only letters that matter are that we are SONS and DAUGHTERS of the King, eager and willing to do the work of the Father.
“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9
I can’t wait to tell you about how unqualified I am for this next ministry, and how the Lord shows Himself faithful to equip me and my team for every good work.
