So far this month has definitely kept me on my toes. It started out with a brief bout of Malaria and kidney stones (I may write a more detailed blog on that experience later!). And this past week, we traveled 3 very bumpy hours in a hot, sweaty van to the village of Mvuha. I had no idea what to expect (a common theme on the world race), but I as I hopped out of the van I was immediately welcomed by the picturesque scene before my eyes.
To my right, a small river below and mountains above. To my left, two gigantic and beautiful mango trees. These trees provided our glorious shade to set up camp under. We were quickly greeted by a pastor and his family, who were absolutely delighted to have visitors to help begin construction on their new church.
After spending only a few days with Pastor Lucian, his dear family, and several other pastors and church members, I realized that there was a big difference between them and me. Every person we worked with had so much passion for God and spreading his truth. They were actively doing all that he could to let others know about him. And they are so excited to do it. They jump for joy when singing of his greatness. They sing war cries in victory. They sing and dance with smiles of love on their faces.
I can just hear some of my loved ones saying, “Liz, you travelled across the world to tell others about God. Give yourself a break.” Yeah, I did, but I would be lying if I said that 5 months of this hasn’t worn me down a bit. I lost my passion. I lost sight of why I am here and why this mission is so very important. It is so easy, even while on the world race, to live life going through the motions, reading my bible, saying my prayers and just think, “Ok, I’m good. I’m content. I don’t need to do anything else because God loves me.” He does love us, but he also loves those who don’t know of him yet. And we are his main form of communication.
To paraphrase what my dear friend and teammate, Lydia, said while speaking in church yesterday:
We who know the truth of the gospel have something precious. It is everlasting life. It is living water. It is something that so many people are seeking for, thirsting for, aching for. We have the answer in our grasp, and instead of sharing this beautiful gift with every possible person– we sit, sipping on our water. Comfortable. Content. Complacent. When the living water should be bursting forth from us like a wellspring.
John 4:14
“But whoever drinks the water I give him will never be thirsty again. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
What I am trying to get at here is that God has a purpose and a vision for your life.
Yes, you.
A part of that, undoubtedly, is bringing Him glory and sharing His love and mercy with others. Ask Him what that looks like for your life, and I am sure He’ll lead you.
As I write this, the words of a Dave Matthews song keep repeating in my mind:
“You gotta do much more than believe if you really want to change things.”
It is so easy for us to sit back and say how horrible the world is, how lost people are, and simply say, “that sucks.”
Let’s do something.
Let’s love.
Let’s share the beautiful and amazing truth of freedom.
I pray for passion amongst believers.
I pray that we will go from being believers to passionate Christ-followers.
