Even Through Paperwork

We made it to Lira and have been in ministry for two weeks now. When we met our contact, Pastor Johnson Ogema, he told us about ten different ministries we could get involved in. We were excited to hear how busy we would be. So for the past two weeks we have been “working” with these different ministries. The thing is that in African culture, they see us as guests and want to serve us. Therefore we don’t feel like we are serving much. But here’s the thing… we have the option of how we want to look at the situation. We can say we really don’t have a purpose here. We’re not physically impacting anything. I want to go home. OR We can say I’m not here for myself. The Lord called me here for His glory. No matter what is seen or what is not seen, I am here to proclaim the Name of Jesus through love in actions and words…no matter how big or small.
 
To be honest, when overseas on missions it can be easy to get caught up in looking for the big things happening. I’m guilty of it. I’m guilty of looking for God’s glory to be displayed but with the attatched, “This will be a good story to tell.” Forgive me, Lord!
It’s easy to get discouraged doing a ton of paperwork as ministry and think “I can do this in the States. What kind of an impact is this really making?” But I think the ugly, underlying thought is, “There is no way this is a good story to tell people back home.” It’s an ugly thought. It’s gross. It’s embarrassing. It’s true.
 
Is it about our stories? Is it about what our hands have accomplished? It’s simple for Western Christians to hop on a mission trip. But we have to remember the sole reason why we are called to the ends of the earth. Were we called out for a good story or for the testimony of Jesus? Were we called out for ourselves or for the glory of the Lord? If we truly embrace that we have been called to the ends of the earth for the glory of the Lord, then we will embrace every ministry set before us. Even if the ministry is simply paperwork, we must lean on the fact that the Lord has called us and we do EVERYTHING for His glory.
 
What if we stepped back and had a heart check? A lot of the time as a team we say there is no ministry here because we’re not actually working. But there is always ministry. We walk down the street and see a beggar who may just need an ear to hear her out. We see a cripple who needs the Healer. We see the small woman who needs someone to help her carry the massive sack of cassava on her head. We hear the stories of people who survived the outrageous war that ended only five years ago and are in need of encouragement. These things should be simple. They may or may not make great stories. The point is that there is ministry. Could it be our unbelief that is now getting in the way? Are we refusing to see the ministry now because we don’t believe that the power of God can bring freedom?
 
Do we say there is no ministry because there is no good story? Do we say there is no ministry because of our unbelief? Oh God, forgive us! What would happen if we threw off the cloak of pride and said, “Not to us, but to Your Name be the glory.”? What if we burned the cloak of unbelief and stood firmly that nothing is impossible for God? What if we walked in total abandonment to the raw authority that Christ has given us through His blood shed on the cross? We may or may not see it, but things would happen. I did not come across the world for myself. I wanted to selfishly change my mind and stay home, but the Lord spoke to me and said, “I’ve called you to go.” So now I again refuse selfish ambition. It’s for Him to be glorified in the earth,  whatever that may look like. He wants His glory to fill even the smallest of things. His glory WILL cover the earth like the waters cover the seas. That means even in paperwork His glory will be seen.  Even in a “Hello. How are you? I’m fine.”, as we pass strangers on the road, His glory will be seen. It means even when we don’t see the sick being instantly healed, we still stand on the fact that God is the healer and He is still on His throne. In that unshakeable faith, His glory will be seen. He is holy. He is worthy. This is not about us and our story. This is about Jesus Christ and His testimony being glorified in the earth…even through paperwork.