by Kim Breuninger
It was Sunday on the first of day of my seventh trip to
Zambia. I eagerly anticipated my reunion with a dear friend Setilda and her
husband Alfred, pastor of the homegrown church we would attend that morning. The team was excited to hear what the Lord
might say to us this first day of our adventure.
Setilda and
Alfred were waiting outside when we arrived and, after a warm greeting, guided
us into the dimly lit cinder block room. The front row of wooden benches resting
on the dirt floor had been reserved for honored guests. Worship had already
begun so we joined in, dancing and singing, even though the songs were sung in
Nyanja.
Not quite into
the second song, I felt a tap on my shoulder; I was needed in the back of the
room to speak with Pastor Alfred and Kelly, the missionary who’d escorted us
that morning. Kelly and I had previously discussed the possibility, and
cultural probability, that I would be asked to say a word or two in greeting,
which I was prepared to do. As I stepped outside into the sunlight I was sure we
were going to confirm that. However, the words I heard next quickly drained me
of all confidence. Pastor Alfred was
informing Kelly that I (as in, “Who me?!”) was going to be giving the
message to the church that morning! I did my very best to politely decline the honor,
but there was no convincing the good pastor that this honor should pass me by.
It is their tradition.
It came to me then
that this is what Moses must have felt. He did his best to talk God out of the
plan He had for him. (Ex. 3-4) Moses came up with excuses like, “Who am
I?” And, “What if they don’t listen to
me?” and, “I don’t have the words!” And
finally, “Please send someone else to do it!”
My mind thought of our missionary guide, Kelly. I said, “You can do it!
You live here, it’s what you do!” But
that didn't work; Kelly was not the honored guest, I was.
Mission trips are planned with projects in mind; tasks the
team will accomplish. I’m a big planner and very task oriented. I had planned the
trip for my team, a women’s conference for pastors’ wives, and to be part of a
full day of fun for 80 orphans. But God’s plan had more in mind.
God is teaching me that He doesn't send me to be a worker,
He sends me to grow in my faith. My life verse is 1 Peter 3:15, “Always be
prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the
hope that you have.” I suppose God felt
this was a good time for me to put that verse into action.
Remembering God’s
promise to give Moses the words he would need when he needed them, I prayed,
stepped up to the podium, and God did the rest.
I spoke on God’s sovereignty, which had been the topic of our team
devotion that morning.
That night as I
reflected on the day’s events, I reread what I had written in my journal that
morning before we left to visit Setilda’s. It said, “He always knows how things
will go for you. Trust Him. He has it worked out ahead of you.”
This is my prayer
for our whole team; that we would each trust that the Lord knows just how to
stretch each one of us. He knows just where to put us to encourage our growth.
And He knows just what to ask us to do to bring us closer to Him and deepen our
love for Him.
Will you pray
with me?
