Month 10 feels like the start of the final lap of a marathon you’ve ran around a track. (Candidly, I’ve never run a marathon around a track BUT I can imagine, okay, bear with me.)
The routine has grown innate: travel for an atrocious amount of hours, find an adequate place to lay your head, unpack your backpack, tuck away the half of your stuff you carry “just in case” but haven’t needed in months, decide if you want to risk drinking the tap water, scrounge up a post travel day meal, and fall asleep in an unfamiliar place (again). The next day: get your bearings, see the outside world in the daylight (because arriving anywhere before dark is unheard of), find a grocery store, meet with your host, know exactly what questions need to be asked, get a rough idea about what ministry is, rest.
Month 10 means a new country! Which has grown sadly so routine, it is barely cause for excitement anymore. But, alas, we find ourselves in (the kingdom of) Lesotho! (Two kingdoms back-to-back, huh? Pretty cool stuff.)
This country is possibly the most beautiful I’ve been to this year, and my team (Ember) is in the “highlands” for the month. We live in an area called Mokhotlong at about 7000 feet elevation, and are partnered with a church here. We enjoy beautiful views everywhere we go, and see a lot of them as we walk… everywhere we go.
Daily ministry looks like walking to the hospital for a 7:45 a.m. devotion, then returning home, walking to the church/school for manual labor at 10:00 a.m., coming home around 12:30 for lunch, walking back to the church again at 2, and returning home around 4:30. Once a week we help with a soup kitchen at the hospital, we lead a devotion at the local prison, and we also help with the church’s youth group. Just walking to and from ministry activities clocks us at about 6 miles a day.
Back to the marathon analogy…
I feel like we’re at the point where we can see the finish line! Flights home are being booked. Final plans are being made. Apartments and houses are being hunted for. Jobs are being applied and interviewed for. We’re closing in on the final lap.
It’s this strange in-between of excitement and melancholy. We’ve moved on from doing the dang thing to FINISHING the dang thing, and that feels good.
Month 10 is nice, because we’re at the point where we don’t waste our time. Team conversations are pretty direct and honest, everyone’s pursuing the Lord intentionally, and we do our best to make the most of ministry. Thinking about going home and planning for it is no longer considered “not staying present,” so it’s fun and exciting.
But ministry this month, and considering life once we’ve all transitioned back to the states or into the next phase of life, constantly brings to mind the verse in 1 Peter 3:15: “….but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect….”
Our ministry here involves a LOT of structured opportunities to share Truth with people. We’re given the time and space to share almost daily, and… there’s only 5 of us here. So in two different locations at the same time each morning, we share a devotional. And then on Sundays, we prepare to share testimonies and sermons at the churches we visit. And at the soup kitchen, and the prison, and the youth group, we share more of what God says and promises in His Word.
We are put in the position where we must always be ready to share the reason for the hope we have in Jesus.
What a beautiful, challenging, stretching, and glorious gift.
Please pray:
- for health, safety, and wisdom as we wrap up the weeks (!!!!) we have left on the field.
- for provision over every big and small detail as everyone plans for and transitions into the next season.
- for intentionality and compassion toward our teams and ministries in these last weeks on the field.
It’s been rewarding just reading about your ministry. Many blessings for both you and your team in the weeks to come.
Hey Sweet Emily! I’m so glad to hear you’re in such a beautiful place. Breath it all in! One of my favorite verses is I Peter 3:15, what a privilege to be able to tell everyone about the HOPE that is in you. I know the people of Lesotho are being blessed. The Lord has such great plans for your life…..I know you’re looking forward to everything that comes next. We love you Emily! Praying for all the “things”.
Keep fighting the good fight, Em! This is life. Sharing truth whenever and wherever you are. That’s our call as Christians. What a great reminder as you all start to think about life after the race and how you’ll live with a kingdom mindset.
As you talk about walking everywhere..I’m reminded of Romans 10:11-15
11As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” e 12For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” f
14How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
How beautiful are YOUR FEET, Em!! Don’t lose sight of that!!
Riggs. Great post – again(!!!) Love the marathon analogy and how you discuss making the every-day seem not so. We continue to be moved by your ministry and that of your team. I know that you will keep the present your focus knowing that’s the challenge and the gift. Be on the lookout always for the chance to tell your story.
We will keep the prayers coming your way!
EmR! Congrats! Head up, eyes crystal clear – God is good, even in those last striving moments. Way to go team Ember! The start of the next spark.
LOVE THIS. so much!!!!!!!!!!! I can’t wait to continue reading these and also to hug you in less than 3 months!