My expedition to Zambia last year (October 2014) was through my church. During the preparations, my trip leader decided that we should bless all the missionaries there, so she asked our Overland leader for a list of the AMT students and to ask the missionaries on base what they want or need from America. Most of the requests were simple things like coffee or sour patch kids. I remember one family needed new bath towels because theirs had been stolen. We divided up the requests amongst our team and bought a bunch of stuff. We also divided up the names of the AMT students and each wrote a couple notes of encouragement to them. When the time came for us to hop on a plane, we each had at least one extra piece of [large] luggage, which were full of gifts for the missionaries.
Fast forward, now I’m a missionary. If an expedition team offered to buy me stuff, I really don’t think I would ask for anything. My thought process back then was, wow these missionaries sacrifice so much, the least we can do is buy them a bag of their favorite candy. But now being on the other side, I don’t think of it that way at all.
In the last month, I’ve had several people thank me for “my service” or applaud my boldness. I understand what they’re saying, and those kind words are very appreciated. But at the same time, I don’t think of it like that at all. I felt a Divine call on my life. So I followed. I read the Great Commission, so I went. All I’m trying to do is be obedient. And truly, it doesn’t feel like a sacrifice to me.
To see the sweet, wonderful smile of Kenita defy her attempts to hide it as we pray for her, love on her, and tell her how beautiful and loved she is. She will NEVER forget that day.
To see Victor’s whole face light up as he learns that a white person has been through exactly what he is going through and that with God’s help, he can get through it, too. To hear that as we shared Scriptures with him, he was being relieved of pains in his stomach.
To hear about how the woman in the middle (I can’t remember her name) was attending church every week and praying for her husband (the man sitting to the right) to come to know Jesus. We shared the Gospel with him, and he did. To also hear about the strength of her faith; she said he used to be blind, but she prayed for the restoration of his sight.
To see the joy in this little spitfire elderly lady, who would randomly start dancing out of happiness.
To see this man’s hunger for the Word as he flagged us down to ask us a question about a Bible verse.
To see the hunger of these people for the Word, as they shared Bibles with one another and took notes, even asking us how to spell my name before I preached so they could write it down. To have three women at this Bible study ask to pray for salvation, despite the fact that we didn’t do a Gospel message or invitation.
To witness the true power in the name of Jesus as people are healed and delivered from demons. To see the change in people as they learn how much God loves them and that they can have a personal relationship with him. To experience their fire and passion as they ask prayer for boldness and courage to share their faith in their village. The list goes on and on.
There is nothing that I am giving up that could ever compare to the joy and blessing of reaching the lost. It’s not a sacrifice.
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit – Matthew 28:19
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. – Acts 1:8
And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction. – Matthew 10:1
When you become one of my ministry partners, you get to share in the blessing of and take partial credit for stories like these, as I serve as your hands and feet serving as God’s hands and feet. Please jump on board. Contact me or click “Partner” at the top of the page to learn more.
The Living One Blog 