When the water seems too deep.
When you think there’s just no way
I’ll be there for you night and day.”
when opening my eyes were ‘Ugh… I’m still here??’ I slothed out of bed, and was
silent through breakfast. I knew today we were going to Miha’s church. Miha is
an 18 year old girl who lives at Casa Shalom and is pretty much the one we go
to for direction. We were told to have a sermon prepared and some testimonies
to share with the congregation. Ashley was preparing a sermon, so I figured us
Umoja girls were covered and I wouldn’t have to speak. But at about 12:45
(church started at 1) Miha came over to our group and started pointing to people,
one of which was me. These would be the 5 people to get up and share some words
with the congregation. I did not want to believe that of all days, I had to
speak in front of the church today. The day I woke up in the worst mood I ever
had yet on the trip. I am very familiar with how people’s spirit is willing but their flesh is weak. But this day, my spirit was what was weak. And I thought there was no way I could do what was set before me today. Maybe this was in fact why God chose me. Because then I
realized my dire need of prayer – for the Lord to change my heart, and to fill
me with the words He wants me to say.
When I reached the front of the church, I looked around and
couldn’t help but smile. I am not doing anything scary, I’m doing what I came
here to do! Sharing what Jesus has done in my life, and that’s exciting stuff.
I looked to my right and saw a friendly man who would be translating my words
into Romanian. I looked in the front row and saw the pastor, who is from Sudan.
Just sitting behind him was a woman from the Congo translating for a man
sitting next to her in an African tongue. The word of God was being uttered in
countless languages under one roof. I
looked in the rows before me to my left and saw the faces of my world race
family. I saw Nathan Salley with a beaming smile, encouragement in and of
itself. I saw Tyler with closed eyes and knew he was praying for me as I stood
up there. I felt the love and peace of God through my brothers and sisters. And
counted it all joy as I began to recount what the Lord’s done in my life.
As I finished up and sat back down in my seat, my heart
flooded with thankfulness.
Thank you God for people all around the world who love You.
Thank you God for your ability to turn strangers into
family.
