Logistics: A complex mixture of numbers, pain, and joy
When I arrived in Mongolia I prayed as normal to start my month. I asked God what He had brought me here for and what He had for me this month. His reply:
Get Chinese Visas
That’s it? Really, nothing more? Nope. That’s it. Get Visas.
The next two weeks I spent running around Ulaanbaatar nonstop balancing team meetings, sending emails to leadership, and visiting the Chinese Embassy.
The Chinese Embassy. Let me paint a picture:
Imagine a wall. Like the great wall of China strong and steadfast. Now, picture a variety of vicious and dangerous beasts clawing and growling as they jump and attack the wall trying to get over to the other side.
Ok, maybe a bit metaphorical but the embassy was packed with Mongolians pushing and shoving trying to get visas. Our squad leader literally was bit on the arm because the crowd was so rowdy. This was my past two weeks. We would show up early in the morning, wait to get in, and then deal with the employees behind the counter as we tried to explain our situation and get approval for our visas. Then, in the afternoon, Mel and I would talk through plans of what to do if we didn’t get our visas, or if we did, with the Squad Leaders. Then we would go back to running around the rest of the day to make sure paperwork was completed for 23 people. (184 pages total). Finally, there would be a rest day. Maybe. Sometimes rest days also included a team meeting in the morning to talk about normal team stuff. Then an afternoon of rest before getting back to the grind the next day. Welcome to the Visa process.
For 10 months Melanie and I have been working on Logistics. It’s hard work. Sometimes it’s a lot of work. But at the end of the day, I am very thankful for being able to do this job for our squad. It’s hard not getting to be with your team and share in the ministry they are doing in the country. Or missing out on adventure days or casual days with friends to make lodging payments. When I visited church on Sunday I got to see the back room where my team laid down new flooring, added furniture, and decorated the walls. I was greeted with “Hello, I don’t think we’ve met yet. What’s your name?” In those moments it hurts a little knowing that you weren’t a part of the relationships and the work your team was doing the last two weeks. You couldn’t be, you were working. But then, when everything falls together, you see God provide and you’re left with this:
They can do what they do, because you do what you do.
My team doesn’t get to lay new flooring if they are running around printing off paperwork. People don’t get to pray for healing and see new believers added to the family if they are standing in line for 4 hours. People can’t follow up with friends they’ve met during outreach if they are in a meeting talking about travel plans and lodging the next day. But, because Melanie and I do what we do, they get to reach out to and love others. There’s moments when you feel left out, but then there are also the moments when you realize that this IS your ministry. This is why we do what we do.
You came here to get Chinese Visas
For two weeks, I did nothing but eat, sleep, and get Chinese visas. Even here we watch miracles happen everyday.
I forgot my passport photo when we went to the immigration office. The next day the embassy said I needed a photocopy of my passport which I only had because I forgot my passport photo the day before. Thank You Jesus!
While waiting in line, a security guard walks straight up to us taps us on the shoulder and brings us inside right away. We find out everyone must be present to drop off their passports. We quickly call everyone, and we had enough time to get everyone through the line before the embassy closed. Only because the security guard came and got us (He never did this again)
Bradley met a friend from LA who helped us get into the embassy the next day and again we all got inside in time to have everyone apply for their visas before they closed.
While walking down the street Melanie and I couldn’t find a print shop anywhere. Melanie prayed and asked God to show us where to go. As soon as she finished praying we turned and saw a sign that said PRINT SHOP!
All the little details that had to happen for the entire squad to walk out of the embassy with visas… they happened. And usually without us even knowing they had to happen. God just worked every step out before us.
This has been my year. It’s been amazing, and my faith has grown so much just from seeing God work in logistics.
In Cyprus debrief fell through at the last second before God provided an amazing new place for us to stay when we couldn’t find anything before.
In Israel they literally laughed at us when we tried to find a place to stay “No one in Israel has housing that cheap”. Then, a wonderful Christian family called and said they really felt God saying they should have us stay at their hostel for the week at a HUGE discount.
In Kyrgyzstan debrief wasn’t working at all with no place in budget with enough room for our squad. I met with a friend I made in Kyrgyzstan who owned a real estate company. After praying I felt God ask me to just take him to coffee and talk to him about his life, NOT logistics. We talked for a long time about Baku, His work, His family, and His life before at the end talking for 2 minutes about logistics. He offered to do everything He could to find us a place. So, I waited. All the way down to two days before debriefing I waited and then my friend called and said He had found someone who would house us at over a 50% discount with enough room for our entire squad. AND THEY WOULD COOK FOR US!!! (any meals we don’t have to cook or find are a HUGE blessing on the race)
Even little things like God saying, “someone forgot something” So I turn around and go back to find someone left a water bottle or a phone behind.
EVERY step of the way GOD has cared for us. Logistics is the blessing of working with Him to watch how He does it. Let me tell you… He is GOOD at His job. No one else has a way of finding deals and provision the way our God does. Again, and Again, and Again. So, if you ask me if He can do it? Yes. Period.
When there is no way. He makes a way.
After getting our Chinese Visas, Melanie and I had a new problem. Lodging in China. We found that a lot of places won’t accept foreigners or at least, all the places cheap enough for our budget don’t accept foreigners. The government wants foreigners to stay in nicer hotels, so they have a good impression of China. This is actually very thoughtful and honoring to visitors even though it’s not very friendly on our budget. But again, we couldn’t find a place.
Exasperated and lacking energy from the last two weeks at the embassy. Melanie and I prayed. God do you really want us to go to China? Mongolia seems so much easier to just stay here.
I brought you here to go to China. I have something special for you. Remember what I have already done. Don’t worry, I will take care of you and make it clear VERY quickly.
At the beginning of the race, I doubted when God said things like this. I stressed. A lot. Trying to find a place to stay or where to go.
Now? Well, sometimes I still stress. But I don’t doubt whether He can. I have a whole list of ways He has been faithful to remember.
The next morning, we woke up and in 30 seconds, seriously right after Melanie opened her laptop, there was a new house on Airbnb. We contacted the owner. He said he would love to have foreigners. We booked the housing, in budget, for the most amazing debrief location ever. DONE. 30 seconds.
Talk about making in clear very quickly. And suddenly, Mongolia is over.
Today, we head to China. I have done nothing in Mongolia except logistics. We got Chinese Visas. We booked housing. Now, we head to China.
Sometimes life is busy, and work is hard. But even if your job is just crunching numbers or looking up hotels online, God is still present. Your work is still filled with purpose. My team doesn’t get to do the ministry they do if I don’t do my job.
I’m not here on the race if you don’t do yours. I’m here because there are people back at home working 9-5 jobs who decided to spend a few hours to support my trip. I’m here because you work. I’m not working this year, I have no salary. But I’m here because you do your job.
I want to say Thank You. Thank You for doing the simple things. Thank You for your work.
God cares a lot about us. He also cares about our work. Ministry and evangelism aren’t all the world, or the church, are made of. The church is also made of teachers, businessmen, logistics, artists, musicians, doctors, construction workers, and even the unemployed.
Don’t overlook each other and appreciate the beauty of each piece of the puzzle. We each have work to do. And it is GOOD work. God cares just as much for your work as He does for missions.
He cares about YOU
How can you invite God into your work today?
With Faith, Hope, and Love
Nathan
