I have been consumed by the love and servitude that these people have for their visitors. I wish that we could adopt these tendencies in America. I haven’t shared much about our door-to-door ministry because we haven’t gotten the chance to experience it until this week. Basically, it is a spirit-led walk through Namatama that we go on in teams of two. I got to go with Sarah and Dennis to a few houses to pray over women and hear about the challenges in their life; it was fun to just spend time focused on loving them. I learned so much from door-to-door ministry this week! One incident stuck out the most to me because it was a beautiful picture of the way the Jesus loves and served his people. On my way to our first home, I stepped in a mud puddle and it sucked my foot and my shoe into the puddle. I wasn’t bothered by it and I put it back on my foot and walked to their home. They invited us to sit and grabbed a bench for us to sit on when we arrived. Directly after I sat down, one of the women brought a bucket of water and helped me clean the mud off of my dirt and shoe. I thought that even though the gesture was so simple, it was such a beautiful example of the way I want to be striving to serve the Lord every day. Honestly, it has effected my entire week as I’m spending lots of time thinking about ways I can serve the people around me when I get back to the United States. God is opening my eyes to see his call for service in my life and in the life of every Christian. It is so simple to serve people while I am on a mission trip because it’s our main goal to serve and love the community we have been placed in. But at home, in America, serving those around us is still so important. The Lord calls us to clothe the naked, feed the hungry, and heal the sick in his name. This was convicting for me, honestly. He commanded that of us regardless of where we are, though. Serving others does not always look like taking three months off of school to do missions work and be uncomfortable. Sometimes, for me, it might look like sacrificing some of my time to sit with someone who just needs to talk things out. It might look like cleaning my house after my mom has had a long day. It could look like spending time loving my siblings even when they just want to fight with me. For someone else, it might look like making meals or even repairing a house. It might look like spending time with someone who feels lonely. As Christians, God gives each and every one of us a burden and a passion to be vessels as we build his kingdom on earth wherever he places us. Serving others just means I am putting others before myself. I am so thankful for this realization early in the trip because now I can ask God for guidance on how to serve no matter where I am-especially when I get home!
