Humbled yet again...

Right now, we are in day 3 of our local, week long mission trip. As a church, we decided to go to a local missionary here in the islands and help out with her ministry to the Chuukese kids of the Waianae coast. While still on our home island, it is different place and setting, something we are not used to for everyone since we all live near the city.

Now I have been on mission before, not many, but in different states, countries, and areas. But this was definitely a challenge. And in the role of a pastor, even more so than before. For me, mission work has always been me being part of the action, getting my hands dirty and getting in with the people head first. But for this season, I have to admit, that it has been more difficult than I can fathom right now, and it is hard for me because I cannot do as much as I would like to, or more to the point, as much as would make me feel like I was actually BEING a servant.

But then I see Monalisa. She is eager to show how much she trusts me. She falls into my arms to let me know that she has faith that I will catch her, that I will not let her fall to the ground. She giggles with the fact that I trust her to hold my hand and lead me around the playground and capture the ball so that we can win the game. She learns about faith and trust in Jesus through playing with me for just a moment, clings to me like a monkey for a piggyback and poses for a picture.

I am not naive. She may never know the lesson she has learned from the Bible today. But she has seen the love of Jesus through someone who would never normally have the chance if God was not in control. And she blessed a man who thought that he was meant to minister to a bunch of young men but instead was blessed by a little girl and her friends to that got to see the tender side of a man who loves to see children happy.

I cannot run around like I used to...touch football and capture the flag I am sorry to say are things I cannot keep up with as much anymore. But I can help support and encourage those who are ready, willing and able to do that kind of work for the Lord. It is not my time or my place to dictate what I need to do, it is simply the Lord who tells me where I need to join in. Sorry Lord for messing it up yet again, thank you Lord again for letting me experience it.