It’s been a great first month on the field. Being a team leader is HARD.
Luke 12:48 says “Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.” When I got the opportunity to lead these men, God spoke to me saying “I trust you with these men.” And I’m really starting to feel the weight of that statement. With this trust, God has stretched me so much. Sometimes it’s exhausting, it’s demanding, and sometimes all theresponsibility drives me crazy. But at the end of the day, I count it joy because what. an. honor. The father looks at me, a son, and says “I trust you.” It makes it worth it.
The past 3 weeks of ministry my team and I was at an orphanage for children with HIV/AIDS and we spent our days sanding tables and painting playgrounds. At the end of the day I’d ask my guys what their favorite and least favorite part of the day was and the least favorite was a reoccurring theme. The lack of interaction and physical impact they were having on the orphanage had them questioning what their impact in the kingdom was.
I completely understood why they felt that way. When I was in Swaziland, Africa a year ago we were in the same spot, doing manual labor on a playscape. I remember asking questions like “Why am I here?”, “Is this the most I could be doing?”, and “Is this what I’ll be doing for the next 9 months?”
I knew how they felt.
Sometimes my job as a team leader can be pretty easy. Sometimes the best answer to give is “go to God.” Ask God “Why am I here?” and “Is this the most I could be doing?” And “Is this all you have for me.” Because chancesare He’ll answer.
It’s written several times throughout psalms “In my distress I called to the Lord, and he answered me”
Our God doesn’t leave us out to dry!
The Lord answered their cry with abundance.
(Jesus came so that we have life abundantly. (John 10:10))
The next day we get to the orphanage, and a group of 15-20 Australian high schoolers from a boarding school are there. Pretty soon after talking to one of the leaders we found out that the boarding school is a prestigious christian school but most all of them are nonbelievers. It was so clear that the Lord gave us them for a reason. They didn’t even know what it looked like to see a group of young Christians following the Lord, so throughout the week we got to spend time with them. Some of us shared our testimonies which led to more conversations about God the next day. One of the guys that was really interested in having a relationship with God received a bible from one of my guys.
Having them there with us was such a blessing and an answered prayer.
So to my fellow Aussies, thanks for teaching me your lingo, for the endless games of soccer, and for saying my Australian impression “isn’t that bad”.
Also, Australians don’t barbecue shrimp, they think that’s weird.
