Questions???

When you move to a new place there are lots of questions.  Where is…; How do you…; Why is….; What about…?  But the questions that are filling my mind these days are not questions about the details of living life in South Africa; the questions that are filling my mind are questions about the stories of the people around me.  There are lots of stories that come with living in a new place.  The stories of the people you meet; the stories of how things developed and came to be.  Right now as we are driving in the rural part of South Africa, my head is filled with questions and stories. 

We have been in South Africa for a week today.  During that week we have gotten settled into our home, unpacked our suitcases, we have bought a car and a variety of other things we needed for our home.  We had the privilege to have the Maluleka’s in our home for breakfast and a time of sharing about the vision for the Africa South Field.  We felt the hospitality of missionary friends and colleagues through meals, trips shopping, advice, and other acts of friendship..  We were also able to go to the Africa Regional Office and see and hear about what God is doing there. 

We also had the privilege to meet so many South African’s who are being faithful to the ministry God is calling them too.  We took a trip on Thursday and Friday to Hazyview South Africa.  Which is the site where the upcoming Work & Witness team will be working.  While we were there we were honored to be able to stay in Pastor Robert’s home and meet his wife and son.  We were also able to see several of the other area churches and hear and see the ways that God is working through people who are willing to be used by him. 

One of the churches that we visited started under a tree.  Soon they out grew the space that the tree shaded so they built a church that could seat 60 – 80 people.  Then they out grew that space so they tore that down and built a space that would hold more.  When they out grew that space they built again.  They are currently working a church building that will be to seat 2000 people.  It started under a tree with a few people being faithful to what God called them to.  And now they are continuing to be faithful to what God is calling them to.   To steal the words of Rev Mashangu (Field Strategy Coordinator for the Africa South Field and our boss) “If trees could talk this tree would tell the story of the first pastor who preached here, the story of the first soul that was saved here…” It would tell the story of the conversations and dreams about building a church building, and then the conversations and dreams to continue to grow. 

The questions that we sometimes wonder when it comes to ministry are things like can God use me, will He use me, etc.

But I am beginning to see:

The question is not can God use you?  He created you in His image Of course He can use you. 

The question is not will God use you?  Look around at the hurting people around you and the various needs in your community.  Of course He will use you. 

The question is: are you willing? 

The question is not: who you are or what you have.  The question is are you willing to be faithful with what God has given you and how He has gifted and graced you.  It doesn’t matter who you are or where you are, it doesn’t matter what you have or what you don’t have.  The question is, are you willing to be faithful. 

The location that you are in is not important; whether you are in a small town or village, whether you are in a large city, whether you are in your birth country or not.  The question remains the same; are you willing? 

If you are answer is yes, then the question will become, I wonder what God is going to do next?

Until next time; remembering to keep asking questions and keep telling the stories of God’s faithfulness.