Blessed Be Your Name
Today I struggled with being humble. It was our first day of work and things moved very slowly. More than half of our team headed out to an Internally Displaced People Camp (IDP Camp) and 8 of us stayed behind. Lucy worked with Pastor by being his administrative assistant; Gary and Jeff worked with some of the Haitian workers moving supplies over to the brand new warehouse that was built, Adam and Terri have become our chefs for the week, while Melissa, Deb and I worked in the Clinic with the beloved Kacie and Aubree. Personally I worked on separating 10,000 fish oil pills, which had melted together, into the individual pills. I smelled like dead fish for the rest of the day.
Fish Oil
I really struggled with feeling like I wasn’t doing something important today. All I kept thinking was that this is a stupid menial task. I felt like I wasn’t helping anyone, and I longed to be out in the IDP camp helping those in need. And then it hit me. What I was doing mattered. I was furthering God kingdom. I was doing a simple task, but when I thought about I realized these pills would help make the people of Haiti healthier. The role I played today mattered.
The Warehouse
This inspired me and caused me to excel in the day’s tasks. We packed over 30 bottles of fish oil and vitamins. We painstakingly counted thousands of Creole Bibles, water bottles, and Crocs. Lucy and I challenged our fear of heights and climbed up in to the storage containers. Today was a day of service. A day where we saw God’s kingdom in motion. Our mundane tasks will make the future of NVM a better place. What a humbling feeling…
In the bible, Job lost everything. He lost his family, wealth, and home. Even his wife gave up on God, telling Job to “curse God and die.” But he didn’t. He looked to the skies and said “Lord, Blessed be Your name.” The Haitians have lost everything. Their families, their homes. Yet they still turn to God and bless His name. In suburban Hamilton County most have everything they will ever want and find no reason to need God in their lives. Tonight we sang the song Blessed Be Your Name, and the bridge that goes “You give and take away. You give and take away. But my heart will choose to say, “Lord, blessed be your name.” This hit us like a ton of bricks. God has give us so much, yet has taken so much away from the Haitian people, and some how they are still some of the happiest people I’ve ever met. It’s because they haven’t give up yet. They’re looking to the skies, saying “Lord, blessed be Your name.”
My challenge to all of you at home this week is to praise God in everything you do. Sometimes the menial tasks, can further his kingdom. So while you’re driving to work this week let go of your petty complaints and issues and cry out to God and bless His name. Find His glory, and praise it with all that you are.
If you’d like to hear more about the other half of the team’s trip to the IDP camp head over to getcompelled.com. (You might have to wait until tomorrow.)
