Drink Deeply
“Ministry,” as you might call it, occurs daily here in Antigua, Guatemala. We teach ESL, paint orphanages, comfort malnourished children, and visit hospitals. We pray for the Guatemalans and petition God for this city. Even on off days we share our passion for Christ with those placed in our paths.
Underlying all of this is another ministry, and it is, perhaps, our most productive – if you will. It is comprised of six people, and it has taught me more than 1,000 days of “doing” ever will. [I say this not to belittle the outward aspects of ministry by any means, but rather to exalt a big part of what sets us apart from the many do-gooders in the humanitarian realm.] These people are my family. They are my brothers and sisters in Christ, and we share a bond that will never be broken. We have eternity, and it is from this family that I have learned community.
True community. Not a country club, swim team, sorority, or cheer squad. The kind of community that comes from agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose. It comes from not being selfish and not trying to impress others because our only boast is Christ. It comes from humility, thinking of others as better than ourselves, and taking a genuine interest in them. Above all, it takes having the attitude of Christ. [Philippians 2:1-11]
It is not easy, nor is it always comfortable. We have to be willing to be stretched, molded, and transformed into God’s image. We have to invite Him into our every activity. We have to stop limiting Him to Sundays and Wednesdays – to songs and prayers. He is in our orphanages and our ESL classes – true. But He was also in the lagoon as I floated and tanned. He is in our inside jokes and His joy fills our laughter. Life is ministry, and in that lies our community. We each have it – it is only a matter of asking God to reveal it and allowing it to change you.
We are not perfect, and this is not human nature. However, it is worth the sacrifice. In fact, nothing in which you gain so much can even be considered a sacrifice.
That being said, it is my pleasure to sit outside in sunny, beautiful Guatemala and write you these words. It is my joy to miss you and long to see your faces. I can say this because the Spirit of God permeates this place, my heart, and my team. More than anything, I say this because I have drank deeply from the well and experiences true Acts II community.
You are a smart girl.
This is very good. I look at my experience on the World Race and see the team/ community aspect as the hardest, but the most rewarding thing I have done!
Jeff (Oct 08 WR)