I was spit in the face…. Okay so not literally with drool or saliva or like New York did to Pumpkin… but with words and dirty looks.
This month we are with Deliverance Church Southlands in Nairobi. I love love love it. Ministry is different every day. Ministry can consist of going to speak to children at schools, visiting people with disabilities, practicing with the church dance team, teaching English, preaching, music ministry, door-to-door evangelism and a plethora of things.
Door-to-door evangelism. The mere thought of it makes me shudder. I’m reminded of people back home who go door-to-door trying to sell Tupperware, blenders or encyclopedias. I’m not selling anything-just putting my heart on the line in hopes that people know of God’s love.
In the few times that we have gone out for door-to-door ministry, most people have been very receptive. They have welcomed me in their homes, offered a cup of tea and I have had the opportunity to pray with such amazing brothers and sisters. Many of the times the people I have met have been more encouraging than I could have ever been for them.
Yesterday was different. People shut their doors on us. People gave us dirty looks. People ran in the other direction. When asked if I could pray for a woman, she said, “What makes you think that your prayers will be heard and not mine?”
Their words and actions felt as degrading as spit in my face.
The very first day of door-to-door ministry, our dear friend from the church, James said, “In doing this ministry we are like Jesus-just trying to show God’s love to everyone and if we are persecuted we are blessed enough to be even more like him.”
I looked down at my dirty feet in my Chacos (my Dad calls them Jesus shoes) and I thought, “Hmm. I am like Jesus today! He is allowing me to be his hands and feet. I will not be discouraged. God I can’t do this without you. Show me your love and show me how to love them like you.”
The day did get better but it was just a humbling way to learn that when Jesus lived it wasn’t all peaches and sunshine.
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 about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” -2 Corinthians 12: 9-10
