Living the Gospel

Today was my first day back to work. So many people were excited to hear about Africa. I didn't realize so many people knew about it, but people kept asking. I had tons of hard questions: what was the biggest thing you missed, what shocked you, what did you love most, what was the hardest?

It was actually great to think about those things. It's part of the process of coming home. I have so much rattling around in my heart that I need to find ways to get it out. So questions are perfect.

I think one of the biggest things I realized was that sometimes people expect you to do "really big things" on mission trips. Sometimes even the people going expect to do "really big things" and accept nothing less. If that is what happens, GREAT! Praise God.

But what if it doesn't? What if your peace rallies are cancelled because violence breaks out? What if you can't finish a dormitory because it's a huge job for a two-week trip? What then? Is your trip a waste?

I struggled at some points on the trip because I was upset that our plans were changing. The things we had planned to do were falling through. God was shutting doors. But we asked ourselves, "Okay, now what?"

We began doing little things: talking to people we meet at the markets, on the streets, in church; evangelizing to children and giving them a place to have fun, eat, and learn about God; helping a little boy get to hospital; cleaning a baby girl's wounded arm; laughing and playing with orphans.

I realized we were truly living out the Gospel. When Jesus came, He didn't come and do all this "big" stuff. He talked to a woman at a well, He healed a sick girl, He taught on a mountain top, He changed water into wine at a wedding. I bet the disciples were like, "Okay Jesus ... when are we going to get to the big, powerful stuff? When are we going to crush our oppressors and take back our cities?"

But Jesus was faithful in the little things. He found worth in doing the "small" jobs. He found joy in helping those who needed help or needed hope.

So, when I feel Satan telling me ... "You didn't do anything huge in Africa." I'll remember that it is the little things that can change people's lives ... and if I am faithful in the little things, God will give me more to do when the time is right.

Pray that I continue to uncover the feelings this trip stirred up.