Upon our arrival at Antioch, I learned about the daily lives of the people here and how they have to dig holes in the sand in order to access tiny, underground springs for water. These holes that they dig are basically open wells that are easily contaminated and cause all kinds of health problems, but this is their only option. This community is next in line for a safe water well, and they were eager to share their need for safe water while educating me about their struggles.
I have never, in all my life, been to a location as remote as where we were yesterday. In order to reach the small, satellite churches of Inhassunge UMC near Quelimane, our travel plan was downright insane. The Inhassunge area is completely isolated, blocked by an ocean and rivers on three sides. To reach these villages, we rented motorbikes, which were loaded onto a very full and precarious ferry boat. After crossing the river on the ferry among throngs of people, we arrived safely on the other side, unloaded our motorbikes, and headed into the jungle. We drove for a good hour, passing coconut groves, vast rice fields, and trees full of wild monkeys.
My team of travel buddies left for home this morning while I stayed behind in Maputo in order to continue up to Quelimane tomorrow. I was surprised when I got back to my room and found myself tearful and sullen. I'm sure it had to do with the fact that it was 6 in the morning, I was emotionally exhausted, and it has been a long journey thus far, but also, I was already missing my travel companions.
And then it happened. Our hearts, in that dank and stuffy conference room, began to be strangely warmed.
In our church, we are in the midst of a sermon series about defining moments. It's been really inspiring in lots of ways, but also kind of awkward for me because when I think about these examples of amazing people having defining moments in their lives that are given from the pulpit, I think about my fits and starts and how I love tripping all over myself. I think about how I tend to stick my foot in my mouth and say inappropriate things much more often than I make inspiring speeches like MLK or Moses. I have a dream...that some day I will have a filter between my head and my mouth...
So, as I sit here with 20 minutes to spare before departing for this super-duper important trip where I will be escorting our bishop around beautiful Mozambique, signing new documents to solidify our partnership with our Mozambican brothers and sisters, and essentially beginning a new chapter of ministry, I think, "this is a defining moment, Sarah", followed quickly by, "don't blow this, Sarah."
But then I think about how I'm really lucky that God tends to choose a bunch of jerks and screw ups to do God's work on earth. I mean let's be honest, MLK was no saint, right? A rough personal life. Moses? A murderer. In fact, it wouldn't really be God's work at all if we were already perfect; it would be OUR work. I think God actually likes choosing jerks and screw ups because then it becomes incredibly obvious that God is truly an amazing God. It's like God intentionally chooses those people who need the most work (read: prostitutes, tax collectors, sinners), and uses them just to prove a point: I'm awesome. You're not always awesome. I got this.
This is oddly soothing.
I say all of this to say that this is truly a defining moment in this ministry. I'm so, so, so excited about what God is going to do in us, through this trip, for this partnership And this jerk is incredibly grateful for being chosen.
So, as I sit here with 20 minutes to spare before departing for this super-duper important trip where I will be escorting our bishop around beautiful Mozambique, signing new documents to solidify our partnership with our Mozambican brothers and sisters, and essentially beginning a new chapter of ministry, I think, "this is a defining moment, Sarah", followed quickly by, "don't blow this, Sarah."
But then I think about how I'm really lucky that God tends to choose a bunch of jerks and screw ups to do God's work on earth. I mean let's be honest, MLK was no saint, right? A rough personal life. Moses? A murderer. In fact, it wouldn't really be God's work at all if we were already perfect; it would be OUR work. I think God actually likes choosing jerks and screw ups because then it becomes incredibly obvious that God is truly an amazing God. It's like God intentionally chooses those people who need the most work (read: prostitutes, tax collectors, sinners), and uses them just to prove a point: I'm awesome. You're not always awesome. I got this.
This is oddly soothing.
I say all of this to say that this is truly a defining moment in this ministry. I'm so, so, so excited about what God is going to do in us, through this trip, for this partnership And this jerk is incredibly grateful for being chosen.
This is a generation of people who don't care about rules and regulations and procedures and hoop jumping and "hairballing", but who are instead looking for genuine, authentic connections to a real God whose primary concern is the outsider.