When we arrived in Africa, my squad and I stayed in Johannesburg for two nights at a hostel before heading to ministry for this month.
The last night we were there I was sitting outside by the gate of the hostel with a squad-mate when a guy comes out of his room holding a beer shouting;
“I WANT TO SPEAK TO THE AMERICANS! “
As I’m thinking of every possible route I could get get away from this guy, he started up a conversation with us, asking us how long we were staying to what we were doing here. We explained that we were on an eleven month missions trip, and that the guys would be leaving to Botswana to help build a roof for a church and that the girls would be helping out a church called Manna.
“Building a roof in Botswana? Those people are rich, you should be building a well in Kenya! Kid’s are carrying buckets of water thats heavier than they are every day there! You guys are wasting your education, you need to go home and get more money then come back to help.”
Calm down, Taylor, I thought. He’s just drunk. I raised my voice, saying, “Well, actually, I’m using my education because I studied child development and I’ll be helping kids, and I’ll be glad to build a roof or whatever they ask me to do!”
Going into ministry, I kept thinking about that conversation and those kids carrying water in Kenya; and how I’m just one person, I can’t help all of Africa, and how even with a squad of 45 we couldn’t help all of Africa. I’m just here to better equip people who can help, who can continue to spread the word of God here. I decided that I would be happy to do what ever that looks like this month.
So when I’m in the garden at Manna Church pulling weeds, I’m not just pulling weeds. I’m saving the leeks, the cabbage and the beets, so Manna can us those vegetables to continue to feed the children in the Children in Distress program.
When I feel silly learning the Hoedown Throwdown by Hannah Montana for Manna’s Christmas play, I think of the 1200 people that will be attending and wonder if it could be anyone’s first time at church. The play ends with the birth of Jesus. Maybe it’s someone’s first time hearing that story, and maybe it just sparks an interest to know more.
I’m not just throwing a Christmas party for orphans, I’m throwing a party of a life time. I’m taking all my energy and dancing with the kids, hula hooping, and talking about Jesus. I’m letting the older teens be kids again and play Simon Says while I hold the infant they are looking after. I’m reminding them that God loves them and they are capable of what’s ahead. I’m giving the workers a time to relax and remember that they are not alone.
I can’t help everyone, no matter how hard I try. And this month in South Africa, we are just here to equip others to continue Gods work here – and that’s enough for me.
Jesus needed help when he was here on earth to better the Kingdom. If Jesus needed help, then we need to help each other now. We can’t better God’s kingdom with one person with lots of money. We need each other, and we need to continue to do God’s work that he has for us. And I’m okay if God just wants me to pull weeds for an entire month, or if he wants to send me to build a well in Kenya.
