It is a cliché saying, overstated and spoken at wrong times. But peering past its commonality, it carries great wait.
I learned this a few weeks back when we were in the inner city of Maputo, Mozambique. It’s a city full of broken and cracked concrete, permeating smells of bodily fluids, broken beer bottles and musty markets. I regret to say, as we traveled I succumbed to the circumstances around me. I let them define me and my attitude. I trotted through most of the day with a sour face on, thinking of the nice tidy places back at home where I use to meet up with friends. A part of me wishing I could go back and speak with them for a moment. My hope for the city was drained as we bypassed street vender after street vender.
On the crammed bus back to the house, my leader Andy struck up a conversation with me. He begins to tell me how incredible his day was, because he stayed in constant communication with the Lord. As he went on he urged me to look at the Lord’s prayer with new eyes. To seek what Jesus actually meant when he said “build your Kingdom here,” because he has the audacity to believe that Jesus does not care about the trash on the street or the potency of the air. He intimately loves the people, no matter the circumstances or even how they are acting at the time.
This past month I have seen miracles. Healings and deliverance are a commonality here. I would not trade this experience for the world. The people here are genuine hearted, selfless, loving and stern. The faith and courageous spirit these people obtain is jaw dropping. I have genuinely gained so much from these people in every single way.One of the greatest lessons I am learning is how to be content in every situation, no matter the circumstances. Not letting the circumstances dictate this life. As well as how to see hope in the hopeless, how to selflessly care for the carless.
It is a tough lesson learning to get over myself. However I praise the great Lord I am learning this lesson now! I know it is a lesson that takes a lifetime to learn, but I am elated to learn this so early in life.
