We did 2.
Last week, we were supposed to go to a school to do drama's and connect with some little kids.
Cancelled.
I personally invited 6 people to our sledding outreach.
None of them could make it.
This was how last week went. Everything we planned seemed to go the opposite way of what we were expecting, and nothing was solid. It was a tense week for our team and a very stretching time.
So on Saturday, during our sledding outreach, while I was having fun, I had a moment where I just kind of stopped for a second and got incredibly frustrated. I was homesick, tired, and nothing had gone according to plan. I started to think how it was a wasted week of ministry, and my thoughts went all kind of places.
One thing I've learned on DTS: If you truly want to grow, find the question in the thought, then find the answer in the question.
One of the little kids we had met on the way invited me to go with him to the newly discovered tunnel. "Why not?" I thought.
I went with him, and we went through the tunnel together to the other side. Then we went back and found his friend, and I went with him through the other tunnel which was filled with freezing cold water. Then we came back and met up with the other boy, and all went to the other side. When we got there, we started walking around, exploring, and having fun together.
Then I had another moment where I stopped and looked at the kids. They were beyond thrilled that someone was taking the time to hang out with them. Just the fact that someone had said "Sure, I'll spend time with you!" had made their day.
Then I felt God say to me, "Why are you consistently putting the ministry I've called you to in a box?"
Hearing the voice of God can be a very awkward thing.
As I looked at the kids, I realized that the week wasn't wasted. It just wasn't what I had decided my ministry was going to be that week. That was who I was supposed to be reaching out to right then. That was where I was supposed to be.
It's something that I've been challenged on all outreach. People see the pictures of our sledding outreaches and think it's just all fun and games. And to be honest, the first time we did it, I thought it was weird. But that has been one of our most effective outreaches. Honestly, our most effective outreaches have been where we just hang out with people.
See, here's the problem with us humans. There's the ministry that we've decided is our ministry, and there's the ministry that God has for us. If we're being honest, all of us put His ministry in a box at times. It's going to happen. But there's a question that we all have to answer at some point.
Are we willing to let God destroy our box?
In 2 and a half weeks we will be leaving Cahul for Chisinau, Moldova for a 2 day team goodbye trip, and then a 4 day debriefing in Kyiv before we officially graduate. The day after graduation, I will be on a plane back to the states. One of the things I felt God speaking to me before DTS was that missions was about what God was calling me to do right now. And I am really focusing on that right now. As I struggle with homesickness, I am fighting against loosing focus on this trip. This is where God has me. Approaching the finish line in ministry should always represent a chance to finish strong, not run from responsibility.
However, the balance is that there is a constant calling to missions which will continue beyond this trip. DTS can never just be about DTS, because then it becomes an experience that makes us feel good. So while I am focused on the trip, I am not ignoring the fact that I will have a life after DTS, and preparing myself for that life.
We have some exciting opportunities ahead in these last couple weeks. Tonight, I am helping lead an all night prayer meeting. We will be having a "Campaign For Life" event at a church soon as well, along with a couple evangelism outreaches.
God will move in these last couple weeks.
And I have no doubt that He will destroy every box that is holding me back from the ministry I've been called to.
Time to finish strong!
