“That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.” 2 Corinthians 4:16-18
Jesus is always bringing me back to Himself. He sweetly draws me in and then brings me to a place of stillness and peace. He has this way of sending me little love gifts throughout each day. This week my gifts came in the form of "former youth kids." I put that phrase in quotes because proximity to my kids doesn't seem to matter. He reminded of some miraculous relationships and I want to share about how they came about because I'm so thankful for the ways He continually affirms my role in ministry.
In 2009 when I came back from Uganda, I was asked to help out with the youth from what I used to call my home church. It had been many years since I attended regularly. (After college I took a job in a church about 15 miles from my home church, so it wasn't until I got back to the States years later that I decided to attend that church again.) The first evening of youth group that I went to was so intimidating. I had been gone from that place for so long that I hardly knew any of the leadership and all of the kids were new to me. I was about 10 years older than the seniors which means even when I did attend before graduating high school, all of those kids would have been 8. I would have had no interactions with them at all. It was decided that I would direct the youth worship team. So the first kids that I really connected with were the ones who wanted to be on the team. As we studied the Word together and practiced our music, we became a tight-knit group. Through that group of kids I was able to start connecting with many of the others. The seniors that year became the group that I spent most of my time with. There was one girl in particular who seemed to keep me, and nearly everyone else at a distance. (Btw, I know she'll read this and if she disagrees with anything, I'll fix it.)
God has gifted me in relationship building and I knew He was asking me to connect with her. One day, on a whim, I decided to take the train into the city to wander around. I texted this girl, not expecting a positive response since we'd only hung out in groups prior to that, but before I knew it I was picking her up and we were heading to the train station. That day changed everything. Something clicked, God moved, and we connected. We spent the next 6 months or so hanging out, sitting outside the church chatting and getting eaten alive by mosquitoes until 1 in the morning. It was clearly a God-ordained relationship. God had brought me back to that church for just that time to be with those specific people. I've seen those kids struggle and fall away and I've seen them grow and make great strides.
The miraculous part of this all is the very little time I've actually spent with them. I was only there for about 16 months before leaving to go back to Africa. In the grand scheme of things, 16 months is incredibly short. (Also in that time many of them left for college, so our time together was even less.) In those short months, God built some incredible relationships. So much so that two of those kids came and spent 3 weeks with me in Uganda. It's amazing to me, not only that they wanted to come hang out with me, but also that their parents had so much trust in me. We're talking two 19-year-olds traveling 9,000 miles, alone, to Africa. (There is NO way my parents would have let me do that when I was their age. They had a hard enough time with it when I was 27.) AND when they got to Uganda, one of them had requested that we be reading through the New Testament while they were there. Um, what? Yes, please! It was an amazing 3 weeks and such a privilege to show them the place I love so dearly.
But wait, there's more. When I got back to the States again, I was only in Chicago for 6 months before I moved here. In those 6 months, God opened even more doors and added to those relationships. There were a few newer girls who had come on the winter retreat with us right before I left the year before who were now a huge part of the group. They just kind of fit right in. One day one of them sent me a text asking if we could grab lunch and talk. I didn't know her very well at all, but I knew that God was going to do something with our meeting. I remember praying for the Spirit to lead our conversation as I drove to meet her that day. I'm glad I prayed... she was seeking some very serious counsel and for some reason God had led her to me. We talked things through, we probably prayed together too, and then we were one our way.
As I quickly approach two years here, I realize that I really and truly have not been around those kids hardly at all. Of course I've seen them every single time I've gone home and we've kept up via facebook and skype, but even those times are few and far between with most of them. That same sweet girl just asked me to formally mentor her. Again... um, what?! Of course!
So my gifts this week as I struggled along were each of these kids. I had my first mentoring session via skype with the one student. What an amazing honor and responsibility to be asked and trusted to mentor this sweet girl. We even reflected a bit on how God ordained this new aspect of our relationship because logically, it just doesn't make sense. Only God could have made it so based on our lack of time together and and the fact that we really don't know one another well at all. Then a day later I got to chat on the phone with one of the ones who came to visit me in Uganda. I haven't been great at keeping in touch with him and he's more of a "here and now" type of kid, but it was so refreshing to chat with him and hear about his life. We even talked about him coming out here for a visit, which would be a huge blessing. Seriously, the fact that he'd be willing to fly out here speaks loudly of God's workmanship in that relationship. And last, but far from least, is a skype session with the first student I mentioned. She is also one that came to Uganda. She's been out here for a visit already and another one is in the works. Amazing. Thanks, Jesus.
These interactions have been beautiful reminders of the fruits of my labors. They have encouraged me to keep going when I just want to run away. What a cool way for the Father to show me that the work He's called me to is never ending and I need to keep pressing on. The best part is that it's not only been reminders from "former kids," but from current kids as well. I've seen so much trust from my students and their parents this week. That's what keeps me going. These students matter to me. Their hearts and souls matter to me. Their lives outside of the church matter to me. All because Jesus says they matter.
I've been so privileged to interact with so many different people from all over the world and "here and now" is no different. The evil one will keep trying to hinder... he'll even bring me to the point of wanting to run, but Jesus is relentless. He will not let up. The ministry that He's given me will move forward in His name and for His Kingdom's sake. I will keep working to set myself aside and allow His light to shine.
"He must become greater, I must become less." John 3:30. That is my prayer tonight.
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