When I arrived in the Atlanta airport there was this quotation from The Lord of the Rings that started to ring in my head:
“(Samwise) ‘This is it.’
(Frodo) ‘This is what?’
(Samwise) ‘If I take on more step, it’ll be the farthest from home I’ve ever been.'”
I couldn’t say that I was very scared leaving, nor did I have any doubts of what I was going to be doing. One thing I did know, if I took one more step, it would have been the farthest from home I have ever been. I had no idea what to expect, so, I left my heart open for what God was going to do. I know that many days lie ahead of me on this journey and that God has many things in store for my heart and my squad mates. This month has been just an example of what is to come this next year of my life.
Teammates. So far, God has been at work, in ways I never expected! My team has been so vulnerable with each other and we have all shared our testimonies with one another(which everyone has gone through some pretty rough things that are not easy to share). But it is clear that God is working in each of our hearts and that God is using us to speak life into each other. We have gone through some similar things and those who, by God’s grace, have overcome these obstacles can be there and lift up those he have not yet overcome those things. God sure is at work among my team!
Ministry. Ministry has been a wonderful thing. We are working with this group of 11 boys that range in age from 10-18. Although there is a language barrier I can see God among them. I had the chance to go to church with some of them last Sunday. Just examining them you can see that they are engaged, having a wonderful time and are diligently listening to the sermon. The preacher there was full of fire, and worship was led with enthusiasm and a monstrous love for God. One of the boys wants to be a pastor and is looked up to as a leader by the other boys. At times he will preach for them! But ministry, what ministry looks like is Monday through Friday starting at 2PM we have 2-3 classes, about 30 minutes each, all about building them up in Christ, as well as teaching about life skills and showing them God’s world. Also, ministry looked like hanging out with the boys, doing worship with the boys, playing soccer with them and teaching them what it means to be a man of God(and then eating s’mores with them). It has been incredible hanging out with these boys and my team!
These past few weeks has been a blessing, but God has more things for us down the road which is The World Race. To end this I just want to finish the quotation from earlier:
“(Frodo) ‘Come on, Sam. Remember what Bilbo used to say,”It’s a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there’s no knowing where you might be swept off to.”‘”
And I have been swept off my feet.
