Written by a Cafe 1040 Student
I'm continuing to seek the Father for understanding in what he is trying to teach me. He is still revealing a lot to me about who I am and my constant need for him even as I'm serving overseas. I didn't get on a magic plane to Southeast Asia that made me into a perfect Christian. I need him just as much now as I did when I was back home. But now He has stripped away the distractions and the comforts that have held me back from falling more in love with Him.
While we took a long bus ride between the Metro City and the Muslim village, I looked out the window upon numerous rice fields, run-down buildings, and dirty streets and thought that most people would see this place as a very poor and impoverished place. I heard the Holy Spirit speak to me as we drove by a house with a tarp being used to cover a portion of the house and protect it from bad weather that was now torn in two.
He said, "I have already torn the veil for this country! The work is finished. Stop carrying the weight and let me. I have the power to save them in my timing."
WHAT! My mouth dropped! He is so good, and so faithful. I realized that I had been carrying the weight and burden of trying to "save" these people, forgetting that I don't hold the power within myself to save anyone. I can only lead them to the Saving One, and trust that He will reveal himself to them.
On the same bus ride, we made a stop where the lady in the seat above me (this was a sleeper bus with two levels) was getting off and I saw her feet as she was getting off (we also didn't wear shoes on the bus).
Her feet were cracked and dirty and looked like they had experienced so much and been in so many places. I had just been reading a book called Friend of Sinners by Rich Wilkerson, and he talked about how Jesus washed the feet of the disciples before after the last supper. Jesus lowered himself to do such a low-life task to serve and love the disciples and show them why he came to earth. He came to serve them, love them, and clean them from their dirtiness.
But the crazy thing is that he even cleaned Judas' feet even though He knew he'd betray him. Why would he? Because he loves him even though he chose to sin against him. The Holy Spirit told me to clean the feet of this nation. Not to literally clean their feet (although I totally would), but what he was truly saying was to serve them and love them regardless of whether or not they come to know Jesus as their Savior. He has called me to be obedient and to carry the message of the Good News, to plant and water seeds. I just need to trust in Him to complete the work of salvation in his time.
