By Laura K.
My name
is Laura, and I am an expert at procrastinating packing. I can think of a million other things
to do, such as clip my fingernails, stare at a wall, write a packing list, type
my packing list into a google doc, watch the shows I've missed on hulu (no,
it's fine - I'll just have it on in the background), tell my roommate a funny
story I've just remembered, go to Target for those last couple things I need
(for the 7th time today), bake cupcakes... to name a few. Procrastination is a not a good skill to
have - especially if one has a big trip coming up.
In just a
few weeks, on June 13 to be exact, I am packing my bags and heading to Uganda
for the summer. I will be spending
my summer serving Jesus at an orphanage run by Rafiki Africa Ministries. Volunteering at an orphanage is
something that God laid on my heart a long time ago, but I didn't ever actually
expect to go. Thanks to prayer and
google, I was connected with a ministry that has been praying for nurses and
teachers to come as short term missionaries. As a kindergarten teacher, I was excited to hear that I can
be a blessing to these missionaries.
I don't want to do missions work for me - I want to go for Jesus.
I teach
Sunday school here at Hope CC, and when I told my Sunday school kids about my
trip (and after we clarified that the orphanage I am going to is probably not
going to be exactly like the orphanage in the musical Annie) I told them there are three main reasons I am going to
Uganda. I will tell you the same
three reasons:
1. To tell people about Jesus
2. To teach children
3. To see what God is doing in
other parts of the world
I'm
thrilled, scared, nervous, anxious (the good kind), and excited to get on that
plane in a couple of weeks. I
can't wait to meet these precious little children that I have been praying for
by name for so many months. I
don't know what God has in store for me, but I'm excited to find out. I'll be keeping you updated each month
here on the Women at Hope blog, but you can also follow along on my personal
blog: merrydays.wordpress.com as I venture out on this
summer missions adventure.
God loves
the fatherless, and throughout Scripture we find encouragement to care for
those who cannot care for themselves.
Psalm 82:3 says, Give justice to the poor and the orphan; uphold the
rights of the oppressed and the destitute." Matthew 19:14 says, "but Jesus said, 'Let the little
children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of
heaven.'" 1 John 3:16-18
says, "By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we
ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in
need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in
word or talk, but in deed and in truth." James 1:22 says, "Do not merely listen to the Word and
so deceive yourselves. Do what it
says." Wow - easier said than
done. But, I guess that is the
point. Loving others, showing
mercy, taking care of those who need us to come along side them at this
juncture in life - it takes intentionality. It isn't going to happen by accident. Obviously going to Uganda isn't the
only way to show God's love, mercy, and goodness to others. But I am really grateful for this
opportunity to serve the Lord with the gifts, passions, and talents that God
has given me. This isn't a two
month and your done gig though. I
also need to be intentional in living that sort of life here in the States.
This
spring I was part of the Women at Hope's Beth Moore Bible study on the book of
James. I learned a ton, and
through the Bible study, God really affirmed His call on my summer. James teaches a lot about social
justice issues. He teaches the
importance of providing for those in need, looking after the orphan and the
widow, and loving others. The
orphanage that I am spending my summer at is a small orphanage. It opened its doors just a couple years
ago and right now cares for 13 children.
I questioned whether I should be going to such a small orphanage. In Beth's teaching (I like to think
we're on first-name basis. I think
she'd agree), Beth reminded me that it isn't my job to save to world - that is
God's job. He is big enough for
it. (I definitely am not) My job is to love those God puts in my
life, and these 13 orphaned or abandoned children are definitely people God has
put in my life for me to love.
My mom
laid down some ground rules for my trip.
Two of which include: I have to come home, and I'm not allowed to bring
any children back with me. I know
it is going to be hard to come home.
I want to fully love these kids with Christ's love, and when it is time
to say goodbye, I'm not sure how I'll be able to handle that. But I have been reminded that even
though it might hurt - it is worth it - to share Jesus with people who need
Him, and to bring support and encouragement to those who need it.
I enjoy
reading missionaries' blogs. I
love travel, I love learning about other cultures, and I love learning about
what God is doing around the world.
Katie Davis is a missionary in Uganda. In her blog, The Journey (kissesfromkatie.blogspot.com), she reminds us that we
can't save anyone. That is Jesus'
job. But we can love with abandon.
First
Corinthians 16:14 says, "Let all that you do be done in love" and
Ephesians 5:2 says, "And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself
up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." I have been thinking about this
lately. What does it look like to
love with abandon? What will it
look like for my summer as a short term missionary in Africa? What does that look like in my job as a
teacher in a low-income area of the cities? What does that look like in my relationships with my friends
and family? What does that look
like as a part of our church community?
So I ask: Will you join me this summer on a journey to love with abandon? Wherever God has you... living in
Christ's love and striving towards selflessly loving others?
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