Our God.

This weekend I've really tried to reflect on my week in the village. It gets so busy here that I'm having a hard time pulling myself away from being with others, going places and exploring Uganda, or being on the internet, catching up with family and friends. I was talking with Jonah, one of the staff members here, earlier about my week in the village. I feel like my body is crying out because I didn't absolutely love my time in the village and everyone else did. 

As Jonah and I spoke I realized that I had been comparing myself to everyone else. Because everyone loved the village I expected I would also. Now, don't get me wrong, I loved the fellowship with the other MSTs and the children, but I am still  having a hard time embracing the manual labor. I wish I could explain it, but I think the only people who understand my issues are maybe my mom, my sister Stephanie and my friend Deanie. I have exercise induced asthma. It sounds lame, I know. When my body works I can't breathe. Although I longed to help out more I felt useless while I was in the village and that really hardened my heart towards the experience. 

Jonah reminded me that we all have different gifts and talents. God has given each of us a gift and it's ok that I didn't love doing that work, but I rejoice that I can do a little. I suppose there's a high you get, or maybe it's just my competitive edge (That lovely D in me... admissions folks, you get me!) that made me want to work super hard, challenge myself, and cause myself to almost faint from heat exhaustion. Instead of doing what I could, to the best of my ability, I wanted to be the best. I hate that that's how I live life sometimes. I don't want to compare myself to anyone other than Christ. 

This whole situation has reminded me of Romans 12: 1-8 that says,

“Therefore, I urge you brothers, in view of God’s mercy to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God- this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is- his good, pleasing and perfect will. For by the grace given me I say to everyone of you. Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.”

I have been so encouraged to not compare my life, my experience, my circumstances to other people. It's so important to remind myself that God uses me, asthma and all, to bring glory to his name. I need to trust what God has called me to do.

All week I have been praying for passion. I want to see the people here, the situations here, my life and circumstances as God would see them. During worship tonight we started singing “Our God” and the words became real, like a fire in my heart. There’s no one like our God. The lyrics are “Our God is greater, our God is stronger, God you are higher than any other. Our God is healer, Awesome in power, Our God, Our God.” As I sang it I started thinking, is that what I really think? Is there no one like my God, our God? As the song continued the lights completely shut out. The city of Kampala turns black. To me it was a simple reminder to worship our God, all distractions aside. It was an incredible moment. Praise the Lord for reminders like that, even if it does mean not having electricity for the night. He is definitely at work here!