Our first Send Me Now medical trip four years ago was to Moldova. It was not my first medical trip, but it was my first to Moldova and it was our first for GA Collegiate Missions. And it was one of the hardest trips I've been on. We did medical clinics all day, ate dinner outside of the church, did a service, and then fell into bed about 11 pm in our host home where we had no way of communicating with our host family... all to start all over the next day by about 7 am. There were no showers, no toilets (I mean, outhouses do NOT count to me) ... food and culture we were not used to ... and 10 days of it! About day #7 or 8, I told the missionary we would need to start clinic a little late because I needed some time to debrief with my team ... obviously that was not happening at 11 pm when we were hiking to our separate host homes. He reluctantly agreed (the man slept maybe 3 hours a night and I was screwing with his 18-20 hour a day schedule). I will remember forever, our nasty, stinky, tired team circling up ... no missionary, no translators, just the 12 of us ... and I said, "It's ok to be over this. It's ok to be tired of outhouses and baby wipes. It doesn't make you less of a missionary that this is hard for you. You do NOT have to like the conditions in which we are living." And there was this HUGE collective sigh. And much commenting that they felt so guilty that they didn't love it all ... or that they were ready to have a shower or a toilet. Serving is HARD! It's not always convenient. It's not always within our comfort zone. It usually costs us. Sometimes a lot. The key is not that we love the hardship but that we are faithful to the task. We don't NOT go because it won't be easy. We don't quit when the going gets hard.
I think this is what Jesus was getting at when he said to count the costs. He didn't want us to take lightly what He was calling us to.
As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go."
Jesus replied, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head." He said to another man, "Follow me." But the man replied, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father." Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God." Still another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-by to my family." Jesus replied, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God." (Luke 9:57-62)
I am a huge advocate that we serve best in the areas in which we are most passionate. BUT, that's not a cop out not to serve in other areas. After camping in wet tents in Niacargua for a week, bathing in a river infested with only God knows what, and having only an outhouse for a toilet ... I did express that I would prefer not to do such rustic trips again. Doesn't mean I won't. And I don't think the "hotel" we stayed in in Peru classifies as high maintenance digs since it didn't come with hot water or heat. But I will admit I was grateful for the bed and the indoor toilet. But even if it came with a tent and an outhouse, I would have been obedient ... colder, but obedient. I think we've grossly underestimated how honest Christ was with us about the life He's called us to. I mean. He did say ... take up your CROSS. He did say ... deny yourself, die to yourself. He did say ... you WILL be persecuted. He did say ... they're gonna hate you the same as they hated me. He did say ... count the cost. This life is not for the faint of heart or the fairweather committers. And it's HARD.
The head of the clinic where we held our medical campaign in Moho was a quiet little man. The second night as we were preparing to leave the clinic, Cassie and I commented to each other that we were sure he didn't like us. That night as we had our group time back at the hotel, John (our missionary) shared that Dr. Denis had called him to his office ... pretty sure he thought he didn't like us, too! When he got back there, Dr. Denis started asking John about his church and about our church and about the work we were doing. He said he wanted to be part of this church. John explained that his church was an hour away in Huancane and that they were hoping to be able to start a church in Moho. Dr. Denis said, "I will start the church. Let me do it." John was really caught off guard by this. John went on to try to explain that the church would not have a building like the catholic church in the square, but would meet in the home of those who believe. Again, Dr. Denis said, "I will do it." John kept trying to make sure he understood what he was saying. Dr. Denis kept insisting that not only did he want the church to begin with him ... but he wanted to be part of doing the medical outreaches like we were doing into other communities. Cassie and I mouthed, "I guess he doesn't hate us ..." In the same way the John wanted to be sure that Dr. Denis knew the cost ... God is calling us to know the cost before we commit. He's not in the business of "bait and switch" ...
(L-R: Dr. Johnson, Dr. Denis, John Grady)
It's hard to love when we feel like we're being cheated. (Don't get me started on how many people tried to circumvent the system at the clinics ... the last day, pretty sure we saw a few people for the 2nd or 3rd time)
It's hard to put ourselves out of our comfort zone.
It's hard to lay down our rights.
It's hard to surrender to God's agenda over ours.
It's hard to serve.
It's ok that it's hard .... and it's ok to admit it ... as long as we do it.
Praying for Dr. Denis, that he would be part of God's movement in Moho. Praying for the college students living in Moho this summer who can followup and disciple.
Praying for Katie tonight as she continues to serve many days into a long trip away from her husband, in a culture much different from home, in a heat that would have to be oppressive at best.
Praying for our Peruvian missionaries, the Gradys, raising two young boys in a city far removed from other ex pats, in a land overflowing with potatoes and rice, at altitudes hard on the body and the skin, away from comforts of home and family. Praying for the courage to serve even here at home ... when it's hard.
1 comment:
Amen sista!
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