Every time I come home from a mission trip I notice a change
in me. This time however, it was a different kind of change. This
time I didn’t just glance across the surface. I wasn’t distracted by all things
new- culture, food, cuteness of the children and beautiful smiles of the
people. Like a knife cutting through the flesh, it went deeper and I saw “real
life” in Kenya. Coming back to visit
this familiar place for the 2nd time, was good for my soul. Aw the value of consistency-it is good! I recognized people and many remembered me! I
saw the progress of their hard work between visits (four years earlier). I saw
their love for the Lord Jesus and recognized spiritual growth in both the older
children and the adults. Washing clothes in a bucket, wearing shoes with toes
cut out, eating the same thing out of the same bowl every day, waking up to the
beat of a drum at 5:00am, going to worship the Lord before walking up the hill
to school….this is their life- and they
are joyful and content! How they
serve. How they smile. How they love. How they respect their elders. How they
are so grateful for what they have. How they don’t complain about the fly on
their forehead. How cow poop on the trail is no big deal! How they depend on
the crow of the rooster instead of being annoyed with it. How they don’t live
by a “to do list” that controls their every waking minute but instead take each
day at a time. How they can be content by leaning on the side of their house,
made of mud, for however long and never think, “I’m so bored!” How they greet
EVERYONE they pass by. How they don’t complain about walking 2 hours (in the
rain), to hear someone talk about Jesus-but are grateful for the opportunity! How
they live on Kenya time and enjoy the simple life. How knowing Jesus
has changed them-this
is what I noticed.
Before Jesus ascension, His words were plain to the
disciples and now to us. “You will receive power and will tell people
everywhere-Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria and to the ends of the
earth." Acts 1:8.
On June 9th, 2013, I left home burdened for the
people of Kenya …my Samaria, to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
On June 21st, 2013, I came
home burdened for the people in Cypress, Texas…my Jerusalem- my neighbors, my
family, my Cypress, my Houston, and my Texas-to have a personal relationship
with Jesus Christ. If I can stand in a market place in Kenya and participate in
a skit that shares the love and forgiveness of Jesus Christ, the Messiah, the
Son of God-shouldn’t I share the same message in the market place here, in my Jerusalem(?);
just a thought. One thing’s for sure; I want people to recognize the unconditional
love, joy and peace of Jesus Christ- in
me. (and you!)I want people who are
hopeless, to have hope in Jesus Christ. I want people who are lonely, to know
they have a friend in Jesus Christ. People who are broke, to understand they
can be rich in Jesus Christ. I want people who need healing, to find it in
Jesus Christ. I want Christians to believe what they read in the Word of God is TRUTH. I want them to live it and share it.
This past Sunday morning, I introduced my Bible study message by
carrying a globe in a plastic bag over my shoulder. The analogy; God did not
create us to carry the weight of the world, but He did create us to love the
people who live here.
Today, look past the surface; look deeper into the lives of
those around you. Get to know your neighbor by name. Pray for you Jerusalem
(the place where you live), that when people see your love, they will come to
know His love for them.
“For God so loved the World, that He gave His only Son, so
that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God
did not send his Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it."
-John 3:16-17
God loves you! God loves your neighbor! God loves your
enemy! God loves your relatives.
God loves…THE Whole WORLD! Tell someone that God loves them-TODAY!
