New Perspective

We arrived at the bus station at 1:30 for our two o'clock deparuture time in Moshi. We were headed to Uganda!! Excitement was high as we waited…and waited……and waited……….and waited……………..and waited.

As mzungus (white people) we were a natural target for street vendors, especially while waiting for the bus because we couldn't really go anywhere. The longer we waited the more vendors showed up. As they accumulated I found myself getting frustrated. We were just waiting for the bus. Why couldn't they just leave us alone? My teammates started trading shirts and shoes and wrenches for souvenirs as I warily watched on.

From my place on the porch railing I could see everything. I noticed a man down to my left that didn't look all that excited about selling his wares. The Spirit started nudging me to go talk to him. I wasn't altogether thrilled with the idea. I was hot, and at this point the bus was an hour late. But eventually I gave in and went over to chat.

His name is Mark. He is from Rwanda and is a hiking guide on Kilimanjaro during peak season, but seeing as it is the off season…he was selling souvenirs to tourists. We were both in situations we  weren't completely thrilled about, but God had us there for a purpose bigger than ourselves. 

We talked about Jesus and the church and what community should look like. He asked hard questions and I gave honest answers..even if that meant saying, "I'm actually not sure." We talked for probably an hour before he had to move on.

After he left I moved back up to my perch on the railing, but now I had a different perspective. Before I talked to him I had been frustrated with waiting on the bus. Now I saw that it was late because I needed to talk to him. Thankfulness replaced frustration as I remembered that my life is so not about me. It's about making the name of Jesus Christ famous. God used me to encourage him in his faith and make him think about what God was calling him to do with his life. In doing so I also challenged myself.

The bus arrived four hours late, and as I happily hopped on board I couldn't stop thinking about Mark and how I'd challenged him to look at his life and see if he was living in the will of God. I began to ask myself the same question. For as long as I can remember my desire has been has been world missions. I had decided that I would like to lead a trip with AIM this coming semester. I would do anything to be on the field.

I was having my Jesus Time at debrief a few days later when God asked me a question that really set me back. He asked me if His desire for me in this next season wasn't world missions if that would be ok. Would I still trust Him? Would I still desire to walk in His will as much as I had when I thought the plan was missions?

WOAH.

I told Him that yes, I would still trust Him, but I wasn't thrilled with the idea of not being on the field.

And that's when things got real.

He began to reveal His will for my life in big ways. I had been petitioning the Lord for my future for months and months and had really gotten no reply. But now, it was time. I had entrusted the details of my life to Him, and I was surprised at how thoroughly He answered my petition. Every question I had written down in my journal was answered.

I can't tell you my "5 year plan" or even exactly what the next year looks like, but I know that the next season of my life is a season of discipleship and community. Of knowing God more deeply than I've ever known Him. Of Him preparing me for the absolutely amazing future  He has predestined for me since the beginning of time.

My future is secure in the hands of the Creator of the Universe. It is in Him that I will trust and under the shelter of His wing that I will abide.

"How precious is Your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refugee in the shadow of Your wings. They feast on the abundance of Your house, and You give them drink from the river of Your delights. For with You is the fountain of light; in Your light do we see light."  Psalm 36:7-9