Here’s the thing about ministry on the World Race. You don’t get to choose it. It chooses you. You report for duty before the L0rd with a big “yes, Sir” but it never really feels that way. G0d is gracious in partnering with us in our lives.
Alyssa spoke the other day that she’s learning that her time really isn’t her own and as I shook my head puzzled. G0d said to think again and I realized that’s the new mindset I’m coming to terms with too.
What’s this month’s mission field in my heart, G0d? I ask.
Giving full control over to G0d-of my time, my finances, my friendships, my life.
Me extending a wholehearted invitation for that big man upstairs to come deeper into my story/everyday.
Vietnam has been exhausting. I wake up tired, spend my days tired, have tired conversations, run tired runs, read about J3sus’ ministries tired, piece through my tired thoughts, and go to sleep (sometimes on the beach) tired. But the thing about following a good, good Father is that I don’t have to submit to the exhaustion. I can smile through the yawns, explain to my students that thinking up bizarre and creative questions for them is pretty draining work, and push on knowing that He’s got one heck of an exciting day planned for me if I keep going to Him each morning asking for more. And then continuing to ask for more amidst a two-hour lesson that felt like an eternity. And then when I want to become addicted to coffee instead in order to survive. And instead I’ll ask Him again to show up, to take control of my thoughts headed in a “not so Paige” direction, and He’ll come and do more.
Instead of sitting back and being timid this month I’ve decided you will always be able to find me yelling “COME DO MORE.”
With these university friends as we use Google translate and broken bits of language to ask them their dreams, fears, and what they love. And come in that way that you can meet people right where they are at, let me be patient too, that willing to listen, that eager to share about what J3sus did for us.
With these elementary students as we teach them English with our rusty knowledge on adjectives, pronouns, diction, and grammar. And just come do more and bring those big ole smiles eager to learn, show me You’ve never left my side and that You are teaching alongside me.
With that game of cards gone wild with competition, so fun and so new. And come do more in a new environment to be the gospel, instead of always speaking it.
With those students who come back each and every day ready to seek new information and knowledge, those students who actually just want to spend time with us regardless if we teach them a lick of English or not. And come do more in the ways I see mission work, that there’s not a time frame for when I’m “on” to evangelize or “off.”
For those of you reading this who REALLY know me, you would tell other’s that I am always seeking the more out of life. But actually, it is time I let G0d do the seeking. There’s always been a selfish inclination in me (even before I knew that J3sus was worth living for) that I plan the best life for me and in that I miss the mark, the opportunity, that X marks the spot that was intentioned for me to be, every single time.
So if you can take a daily lesson away from Paige’s time on the field, know that G0d isn’t a drill sergeant, He’s not ruthless and mean with what He asks of you, and if you ask you will always receive. He encourages the asking, not the statements of doubt, anger, or discontentment. Me telling G0d, I am tired, beat down, and not motivated this month is a worthless thing to fixate on before His throne. But me asking the Father to COME DO MORE, an actual invitation to infiltrate further into my life not only on the hard days, but every day in between, gives Him the leverage He needs to propel me in the face of miracles.
I just want more, G0d. Come do more.
Love, Paige
