“Firsts” can be scary. Knowing you will face the unknown is so daunting.
When I stepped through the terminal for the first time ever onto the Airplane departing from Atlanta, my stomach flipped. I knew I’d love it, but my only fear was that I didn’t have control over the situation I was about to face.
“First” seems to be the word of the trip. I am slowly and sometimes reluctantly accepting that I will be uncertain of what to expect. The beauty of God’s perfect plan is that no matter what I feel or how much I know, His will will be fulfilled.
We have been working on planting a church in a village outside of town (in Lilongwe, Malawi) named Chimutu, Chichewa for “Big Head”. This church begins tomorrow! HOW EXCITING! In the process of planting this church we have gone to multiple villages surrounding Chimutu informing them of this church that is opening.
Here is a typical invitation:
We enter the town as children look on with curiosity. They emerge from various huts with benches and chairs to make sure we are comfortable. We dance and sing with the kids and adults, do an opening prayer, share a testimony, and then a brief message. We pray over specific people, and then inform them of the time and place of the opening church.
Today was our last day visiting outside village (since tomorrow is the opening). It was hot, sunny and… hot. We had gone to the first village in the morning, and then walked for about ¾ mile to Chimutu. I was drained and quite honestly if given the choice, I would’ve gone back to Mabuya Camp to sleep.
I immediately reminded myself why I was here in the first place. God knew I’d be tired, he knew I’d be sunburnt and hot, but when He wants His will accomplished who am I to stand in His way.
We reached the testimony part of our spiel and the Lord, with a bit of help from Matt :), prompted me to go.
I pulled up my big girl panties, and with a laugh recounted what I had recently read, “Through your weakness, my strength can be seen”.
I shared and although I was physically drained, burnt and thirsty, He used me. Nothing holds the Lord back when He’s in control, not even stubborn me.
My view of “firsts” immediately changed. From me experience new and exciting things for myself and with my own strength, to seeking the Lord and His will first.
Bananagrams with my teammates, pb&j sandwiches daily/twice a day, more dancing with children then I ever could’ve imagined and realizing who is really first on this trip and for the rest of my life is how I’d summarize my first full week in Malawi, Africa.
