…for the worker is worth his keep. – Matt. 10:10
Sequential gears changing in rapid succession, turbo at max boost, and the engine screams as it accelerates into the corner. Driven hard with enough guts to enter the impending corner the driver brakes late, gaining on the field. Reaching the apex of the corner after a few rev-matching downshifts, the driver bursts forth in acceleration pusing the car to it’s limits heading into the straight. Approaching top speed, traction begins to slowly give way and the driver reacts, starting to saw at the wheel. Correcting left as the back end goes right, then immediately correcting right as the back end flanks left. It is now a battle just to maintain the envisioned line and keeping the car on the track. The driver is losing control.
This was dream that my teammate Bekah had (not including the finer details) recieved from the Lord and felt God had given it to her for me. The words that perpetuated her mind were, “you’re the driver, but you don’t have control. You have the guts to go into a corner hard, but lack the consistent self-control and focus for the direction in your life.” She gave me some epic feedback; telling me that I am spiritually driven, but not always knowing where to apply the drive. And to boot, she had scripture to back it up (God knows my heart for context and cars)!
“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I best my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.” – 1 Cor. 9:24-27
If you ever thought God doesn’t truly know you on a deep intimate level, then I am here to testify against that train of thought, haha. And I am truly grateful for the courage and willingness that Beks displayed obeying the Lord. This dream of hers (she says she rarelt remembers a dream) spoke so directly to my life. I came into this month full throttle, stoked from manistry month in Cape Town and high on the Holy Spirit. Yet, this month’s ministry was a struggle for me. Being it few & far between, lacking in time actually spemt doing ministry, and more time spent in limbo waiting for opportunites to show, or our rides to show up, I grew frustrated. It felt as though I had no where to apply my drive, and with not knowing where to apply it, my drive began to dissipate. Ministry ops went from being exciting to rather taxing. My well was running dry. I couldn’t see how evangelizing for only 2 hours in the morning, and that’s it, would be effective. Or being asked to just grill (braai) out at the youth conference for the day and that was it. I still struggled with organize books and tsking month end inventory for Bana Ba Letsatsi. I could not see the purpose of the minut jobs. How were all these tasks Kingdom work?
In wrapping up ministry, many people of Botswana have come forward to express what has felt like an over-abundance of gratitude toward our help provided. Ma Morris (Bana Ba Letsatsi director) and some of her staff oozed with joy in how we have encouraged them and spoke truth into everyone there. That, there first experience with the church was wonderful and they would like more people from the church to come back. The church staff continually were appreciative of our small help here and there, and I was being reminded by one man on the evangelist team that, “You have been here for a purpose.” I was like, dude, I have struggled to see it, struggled to find my lesson in it all, and struggle to be in the Spirit. With my thoughts on life after the race and looking forward to be reunited with Romania, my vision was clouded But, hindsight has been a beautiful thing!
Though ministry here wasn’t the greatest on the race, God still moved. Though I grew less attentive to the Spirit, God still spoke through me. Again, many people came to Christ, relationships were established on the Rock! Wanning Christians were encouraged and rejuvenated. Our church teams in the bush gained boldness to speak what the Lord has laid on their heart. Fear and doubt were cast off and my boy Baker (translator in Gumare) had a never ending smile on his face as we left. He said we were his encouragement and inspiration to speak more boldy of Christ in his community. Wow, God showed me the worker is definitely worth his keep. There has been a purpose for being placed in the okavango delta. He has paid me in witnessing fruit being bore and seeds being planted
!
The question of what to do with my future caused me to veer to & fro my whole life, with this month being no different. I have pursued many different routes in my life trying to seek out His will for my life. Bots has taught me that its not always about the route you take, for that is not the focus. Its not seeking out God’s will, for who am I to understand it. Rather than seeking it out, I should simply seek to do His will. No matter where on the track I am, my focus must be to do His will. Wherever I am at, on whatever part of the track, my direction and focus must be to DO His will, to Live Shema. The circumstances are of no matter, the command has never changed. I leave this evening, after an epic over night safari where a lions roar woke me at 4am, and I begin the long journey back to Jo-burg. From there we flyout to Romania, and back to where it all started!!!!! Woot! Stayed tuned for a little history and source of why my heart has always been in Romania!
WR Fun Facts
:
– Hippos sound like Bowser laughs!
– Elephants, though gigantic, are ever so sneaky (they pop out of nowhere)!
– Cold weather has never been so welcoming in my life! No bugs!
