In a few short days, our team will be wrapping up our time in Zimbabwe and heading into Zambia.
Over the past few weeks in Chinhoyi, we’ve had the chance to work with our ministry hosts in a few different ways.
We’ve spent time teaching in schools, helping with Bible studies, building a church playground and doing street evangelism, among other things.
The Lord has taught me so much this month through ministry and through daily life. He’s been speaking to me about finding joy in the ordinary, everyday moments.
Earlier this month I read a quote by one of my favorite authors:
“Twinkle lights are the perfect metaphor for joy. Joy is not a constant. It comes to us in moments – often ordinary moments. Sometimes we miss out on the bursts of joy because we’re too busy chasing down extraordinary moments. Other times we’re so afraid of the dark that we don’t dare let ourselves enjoy the light. A joyful life is not a floodlight of joy. That would eventually become unbearable. I believe a joyful life is made up of joyful moments gracefully strung together by trust, gratitude, inspiration, and faith.”
-Brené Brown
Joy is everywhere, everyday if we’re willing to give up waiting for extraordinary moments and soak in the ordinary moments the Lord gives us for everything they’re worth.
This month has been full of extraordinary moments of joy. But it’s been bursting with moments of simple joy.
It’s in moments spent chasing a lizard around our room trying to catch him, only to admit defeat and name him instead (You can call him Pancho).
It’s having every word you say repeated by crowds of children.
It’s in fitting twelve people into a truck meant for five.
It’s in spider hunting.
It’s in throwing banana peels at each other.
It’s in a day where the water is running and the power comes on.
It’s in saying “skrt” and hitting the woah in the middle of a sermon to the delight of hundreds of kids.
It’s in taking an impromptu run on the way home from ministry.
It’s in listening to music and dancing in the kitchen while making chicken stir fry for people you love.
Joy is everywhere and everyday.
Without further ado, I’d like to share with you some of my favorite moments of simple joy from this month. 🙂
We love you, Chinhoyi. Thanks for sharing so much joy with us.
