What Part Do I Play?

Only 5 more days and we will once again be back at Hope of Life in Guatemala. I am so excited to see that our team has grown to 40 members from 11 different churches since our first trip last year.  I can't wait to see what God has in store for this trip.  There have been so many people that have donated their time, money, and items to help us be able to minister to the people of Guatemala.  I have been so blessed to see how people respond to the need we have as a team and the need of those in poverty.

For example, the First Presbyterian Church in Wiggins has no ties to anyone in our group as being a member of their church, yet they have gone above and beyond in supporting this mission.  One of our team members, Kara Taylor, has been sponsored by this church on her two previous trips.  Through this sponsorship, Kara has had the opportunity to meet so many people she wouldn't have otherwise had the opportunity to get to know.  These sweet ladies have been so moved by Kara's stories that she has shared with them from our previous trips, they were searching for ways they could be involved.  I had the chance to meet with these ladies and thank them for their support.  It amazed me that a group of ladies, that didn't even know us,  have spent so much of their time and money using the talents God gave them through sewing.  They meet every Thursday and sew dresses, blankets, clothes, etc... for the children in Guatemala.

Etta Jane Hardy, Marquetta Whittington,
Susan Boudreaux, Kathy Kirker, &
Carolyn Batson
(NOT PICTURED: Margaret Rabby, Belinda Rabby
& Lynn Hightower)

Kathy Kirker

Carolyn Batson

Marquetta Whittington

This week I came across 1 Corinthians 12: 12-20 and it was a perfect representation of these ladies, using what God had blessed them with, to play their part!  It spoke of how God designed our bodies to have different parts. Our bodies are not made up of all hands or all eyes, it has many different parts that cause it to look and function as bodies do!  The analogy is the same for us as followers of Christ.  We all have our own "part" to play that should make up the "church" body, allowing the "church" to function as God designed for it to.  I fully realize not all of us are called to get on an airplane and physically go, but for some of us, that is our "part."  I can confidently say my part does not involve sewing in any manner, but wow at the talent these ladies have to make the stuff they have made.  It amazes me and inspires me at the same time that God can take any little thing and make it significant to someone else to fulfill a greater purpose.   The command to "go and make disciples of all nations" is not for only a few.  It's designed to be accomplished by the church as a whole.  There are so many necessary and needed parts to make missions work!  These ladies are proof of this!  Proof that no matter how old you are, how young you are, how much money you have or don't have, God still wants to use you in a mighty way.

I have been so blessed to watch how God has used so many individuals and churches to meet the needs that we have had for this trip.  Two weeks ago, we needed an additional $5,000 to feed a village with 200 families.  It was an incredible opportunity that would allow us access into the homes of 200 different families living in a village with a total of 600 people. Of those 600 people there is only one pastor (with no home), one church (with no building), and only 12 members to this church.  Being able to have access into this many homes through handing out food bags will give us the chance to share his message and leave a copy of His Word with each family.  We are praying God takes this and lights a fire through this village for people to come to know about his saving grace in a personal way.  However,  this was a last minute cost we were not prepared for, but it was always in God's plan.  We prayed about it and wondered where the money would come from, and watched as God provided above and beyond in ways we couldn't have imagined.  We had multiple churches take up love offerings, individuals donating whatever God laid on their hearts to give, a family providing rib plate dinners to help cover the cost.  It just confirms to me that where God guides, He provides.  A lesson I never want to forget.   So my prayer is that we are all courageous and willing enough to seek him and truly ask Him the question, "What part do I play?"  If we do this, we should be ready to respond in obedience because He will answer.

Please keep our team in your prayers as we travel May 30-June 6th.  I will continue to post blogs daily for those who want to see what God is doing in another small section of the world.  God Bless!