One of the biggest things about doing ministry in 11 different countries over 11 months is the overwhelming sense of urgency. Taking out the days of travel that you encounter you are truly given less than a month in each country to do your ministry. Some may feel that this is a long time, but before you know it the month is over and you are closing up shop. You’re say your good-byes to all the people you have developed relationships with, exchanging contact information so you can keep in touch, and asking each other how you can pray for one another over the next year.
This month as a team we learned that the view of what our ministry is to look like may not be the same view that God has for us. On Februaury 11th about a week and a half into our ministry my team leader and friend, Leisa, and I were able to talk out a lot of our fustration together and realized that a lot of the things we were feeling were the same and that we needed to talk to the team about what fustrations they had as well.
Feedback that night was one of the most interesting nights that we’ve had in some time. We all as a team talked together and honestly asked each other how we felt and what fustrations we had with the ministry. It seemed like for many of us God was speaking. It seemed like He was speaking to all of us that very day. At the end of the night after talking late we all came to realize that instead of going to God for what our minitrsy was we all looked at what was in front of our face and thought that it must obviously be the people of the aboriginal community.
Even though a part of our ministry is the aborginal people in the Mossman Gorge community God showed up that night and reavealed to us that the main ministry for us was and still is for the building up and repleneshing of the leaders and the missionaries called to stay here for a more extended time. The community has had many different missionaries come and go in this area. They have become very accostumed to people coming here and then leaving shortly after. For us building relationships have taken a lot of time to develop here with the people and before we know it we will be just one of many other missionaries packing up and leaving.
God has a plan for this community. He has given a heart for His people to some amazing people and we are blessed to be a part of their lives. God has shown us that is our time here is to rise up and speak life into them, encourage them, and lift them up in our prayers daily.
Please pray for the people that God has called to be a part of this community long-term.
– Janice-Pastor
– Clive and Linda
