Daunting Task

by Heidi Heath Garwood

When Kim Breuninger called me last summer from Zambia to ask for my "expertise" on how she could help Zambian Christians deal with the alcoholics that were coming into their churches, I paused and thought, "who me?"

I joke about my "expertise," but God does not. I am a recovering alcoholic myself and realize that God got me sober 10 years ago for "such a time as this." Because of my past struggles, I can share that God is the only thing that will fill that hole that we try to fill with so many things in life—including alcohol.

After returning from Zambia, Kim asked me to put together books and materials for the people she had worked with so they could start an AA meeting. I found out that the nearest organized AA meeting was 100 miles away, so I went to our own recovery AA group here at Twin Lakes and they donated the money to buy and send books to them. We shipped them off, but they got stuck in customs and never arrived.

Soon after, God spoke clearly to me that He didn't just want me to just send the books, but He wanted to send ME. I told Kim that I was ready to go with her team to Zambia where I will be teaching at the women's conference on issues around alcoholism. We will also be bringing books and materials to give to them, including a book on recovery that I have written myself.

Daunting task.

Teaching the women truths about alcoholism........
Helping them to understand the alcoholic(s) in their lives....
Giving them tools to help during the fallout and abuse that occurs when alcoholism is present.........

I see so many obstacles - language barriers, different customs, societal pressures and stigmas -  and all seem insurmountable. Yet, I know God is equipping our whole team for this mission trip, He is putting women together to accomplish His purpose SO much better than I could have planned.

I am responsible for the surrender and He is responsible for the outcome. All praise and glory goes to our precious JESUS!