As I look back over the Race the times that stand out most to me are those in which people chose to just “be” with me. No agenda, no motive, just taking time to enjoy each other’s presence. A few special memories are flooding my mind and I feel all warm inside as I type this with a smile on my face.
Liz Benson and I laying in our bunk beds in complete darkness belting out “He Wants it All” by Forever Jones in Mae Sot, Thailand.
Aaron and I sitting in the living room plotting how to survive the Indian heat, making up nicknames for each other, and talking about counseling stuff.
Hannah and I sitting on a bench in Nepal basking in the beauty of God’s creation that surrounded us and sharing what He was teaching us about our own beauty and His love for us.
Riding bicycles through the streets of Siem Reap, Cambodia with Briana.
Crying on Sydney’s shoulder in Swaziland as she rubbed my back and spoke life over me.
Swapping secrets on a rooftop in Dominican Republic with Casey.
Snickering with Malorie under a shade tree about the cute guy named Ice Cube and his precious little cousin Kitty in Swaziland.
Riding in the back of a van and cracking up laughing talking about memories connected to old 90’s music with Jenn.
Learning and dancing the merengue and salsa with Shannon and Smith under the stars on the balcony in Haiti.
I’ve learned a lot about myself on this journey and one thing that stands out most as I begin thinking about going home is how much love and joy I feel when I get the opportunity to hang out with people just “being.” Not glued to iPods, iPhones, tablets, or laptops on wifi. Not planning the next big adventure. Not trying to figure out how to be more unified. Simply the joining of two, or three, or four, or however many hearts and loving each other exactly where we are emotionally, spiritually, mentally, and physically.
Sometimes just being with people, meeting them where they are and taking an interest in what’s important to them, is the best ministry that can ever take place. Last week Kacie and I met a man named Paluna as we were walking around evangelizing. We sat with him and maybe four other people on the porch steps of a little neighborhood store and found out that he really enjoys football (soccer). As we shared about who we are and answered their questions about baptism, salvation, and love I wondered if we’d ever get to hang out with them again. They seemed like such a cool group of guys searching for truth. At the end of our conversation we invited them to church Sunday morning, and Paluna invited us to come to a football tournament that he and some of his friends were hosting on Sunday afternoon. Kacie and I said we’d try our best to make it. Thankfully, we were able to go to the game yesterday and it was sooo much fun! We sat on a little cinder block wall and learned all about the things Paluna and his group, the Black Lions, are doing to try to uplift the community. We talked about the importance of kids growing up with both parents in the home, having positive options to fill their time, standards and expectations of “good vibes,” and relationships. He shared his vision for the future of the community, and once the game started he explained it all play-by-play. Haha, such a guy! Paluna and his friend Orlando took such great care of us and were so excited to introduce us to all their other friends and neighbors. It was like we were the cool kids on the block because we were with them. We laughed, sang along with the DJ, danced, and ate jerk bbq chicken necks. But the coolest, most special part of the whole afternoon was when Paluna said, “I’m so glad you ladies were able to come. I didn’t know if you would and this means so much to me. The church people around here would never come to one of our games. Thank you.”
Ministry isn’t confined to reading from or quoting the Bible, singing songs, praying, or sitting in a building. Sometimes ministry is doing like Jesus did and hanging out with the tax collectors. Some of the people we’ve met and talked with here in Jamaica have been in the middle of drinking a beer, smoking a blunt, braiding hair, or just shooting the breeze in the shade. Paluna and the guys at the store that day were doing several of those things, but that didn’t keep us from stopping and loving them. Had we walked right past them because they were smoking we wouldn’t have had the opportunity to tell God’s Truth, go to the awesome football match, share His love, learn about what they’re doing in the community, or be encouraged to “keep doing what you’re doing.” It’s not anything that we’re saying or doing but the Holy Spirit working through us. Who knows just how much more open Paluna and the other guys will be to coming to church and giving their lives to Christ simply because we took the time to “just be” with them.
I encourage you to slow down, take a deep breath, and just be with people. It may not mean much to you, but you’ll never know how much of a difference it means to the person you’re with. It’s those moments that people took the time to “be” with me that have sustained and enriched me on this World Race journey.
