Which neighbor are you?

I was walking the same path I do every day. Seeing the same faces and passing by the same houses, “Morning-o.”  With my bible in hand, dirt on my feet and sweat on my brow I was feeling like a real missionary that morning. That is until my pride got the best of me.

A girl that I pass by every morning walked with us to draw water. She looked at Boakai and said,
“This is the white woman I see every day with her bible, but she never stops to teach us anything.”

Oh man! Talk about conviction!

I want to be known as so much more than the white woman who just carries her bible around.

Isn’t this what so many of us Christians do? 

Walk around, bible in hand, head down just ready to get to what our calling is? 

I wake up every morning knowing my next destination is Mother Blessings. But is it the only destination? Of course not.

Luke 10:25-37

There was a man who bumped into some robbers, they stripped him, beat him and then left him there to die.

A priest saw him and passed by on the other side.

A Levite saw him and passed by on the other side.

These two guys didn’t just look, stop, feel bad and then keep going on the same road. No. It says that they passed by completely on the other side, avoiding the dying man all together.

Because of course, they both had somewhere else to be.

Then there was a Samaritan. Someone you would never find helping a Jew, but he saw him and had compassion. Fixed his wounds, put him on his animal and paid for two days at an inn for him to recover.

He even said if they spend more than just two days worth, he would come back with the balance.

I’m sure the Samaritan man had somewhere to be, maybe he was headed to an orphanage home too, but God wanted him somewhere else that day.

Now, I’m sure I won’t come across any half beaten people while I’m here (and if I do because I just said that, God sure does have a sense of humor)…but I do know what I will come across.

People who have been left half dead by this world and need someone to stop, help patch up their scars and show them mercy.

I was thinking about Martha and her words all day. I was just like the priest and Levite, walking around those who are in desperate need to have the Gospel change their hearts.

The parable of the Good Samaritan is just another great example of what Jesus did for us on the cross.

He saw us, showed mercy when we needed it most, carried us (as He walked) and paid it all for us to be completely restored.

That same day I was trying to find a ride home. Ended up finding a ride with a man named, Joseph, who worked with a nonprofit called Light Evangelism Ministry.

I introduced myself and told him I work at Mother Blessings Orphanage Home.

He just looked at me and said,

“You’re different. You come live with the kids, walk around with the kids, you even ride in taxis with the kids. Yeah, you’re different.”

I had been so frustrated before because I didn’t have a car and my house was so far from where I was doing ministry.

But this was God’s plan all along. Because of course I am never too far from where I need to do ministry, because my ministry is all around me.

Joseph noticed that God was using me, even when I didn’t see it.

Luke 14:11

" For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

On my way to Mother Blessings everyday this week I pray that God will keep opening my eyes to the hurt that is all around me. I pray that I can be like the good Samaritan who not only felt compassion, but showed compassion. Yes, I have moved here for three months for the kids at the home. But that doesn’t mean that’s my only calling while I’m here.

Romans 12:21

 "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."

The only way we can help others to fight their battles against evil is to fight them with love. And to fight them with love, we must think and act like Jesus.

Because when the man first asked Jesus “Who is my neighbor?” (Luke 10:29) He was trying to be deceitful..trying to cancel out the people he didn’t have to show mercy to.

But in the end of this parable Jesus turns the question around and says, “Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” (Luke 10:36)

The question isn’t, who is your neighbor…it’s, how can I be a neighbor?

I’m just a young, inexperienced girl trying to be a good helper.

             This has been the most challenging trip to Liberia so far.

Hearing the very unexpected news about the death of Marie, a few days after I arrived. Seeing that some boys were missing from the home, only to find out they just didn’t want to obey the rules, so they left. Seeing the schools end of semester grades, with most of the kids having incomplete assignments and exams. And to top it off, we’ve been having issues getting all the food to the home on time.

Phew! The devil sure is hitting me from every angle here, all at once.

Am I really helping? Or am I just complicating a very simple solution? Is there even a solution? How do I even begin to fix situations like these?

I’m just a young, inexperienced girl trying to be a good helper.

Paul writes to his young, inexperienced helper, Timothy;

“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.”

1 Timothy 4:12

I’m not sure what Timothy was thinking when he read this part of the letter, but ANYONE makes me point straight to myself. I am my biggest critic. When I start thinking I’m too young, I start to believe it as well.

But let me tell you something about these doubtful thoughts, they are not from God. Not one of them! God wants you to believe that all things are possible through Him. (Phil 4:13) Not only to believe that it’s true- but to live in that truth.

The letter goes on to relieve Timothy a little of all the pressure saying;

“Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholeheartedly to them, so that everyone may see your progress.”

1 Timothy 4:15

Praise Jesus! Hallelujah! PROGRESS!

Wait, progress? Did I read that right? God, didn’t Paul mean the finished product?

I hear God say,

“Molly, progress is what I look at, not perfection. Continue to give Me all of your heart daily and serve Me in everything you do. When you do this, people will know that your progress came from only My hand.”

Oh man, how sometimes the progress I make in the home seems so slow. Then God reminds me of all He has done and all He will do for these children. He not only has commanded people from all over to help them and pray for them, but He has promised them Eternity if only they believe. An Eternity with no hunger, no thirst, no tears, the sun not beating down on them (which sounds really great right about now), shelter and so much more.

God has taught me many things here recently, but the biggest and most important is to keep my eyes locked in on the Kingdom.

“Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done.”

Revelation 22:12

To remember that I daily represent a God who loves the hated, forgives the unforgiven, strengthens with weak and heals the sick.

And even when things go wrong (and they always will), I will know that God is still working behind the scenes.

Paul ends the chapter by saying;

“Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.”

1 Timothy 4:16 

If my life shows Christ then I pray the kids of Mother Blessings will want their lives to show Him as well.

I know that one day when we talk about Marie, the room won’t be full of silence. I know that the boys (who have come back) will start obeying and incomplete exams will be replaced with straight A’s. I know that I will make mistakes, but I also know tomorrow is a brand new day.

And even though none of these problems will not be solved within a three month trip, the kids know I won’t give up on them. If hope is all this young, inexperienced helper can give them…that’s enough.

Seek the Kingdom

Today marks a week since I left for Liberia. I have to admit, it sure does feel like much more than only 7 days! 5,000 miles away always begins to feel like another world. A different life. I'm beginning to slowly weave the two worlds together, each trip making it easier.

Over the past 7 months, I have truly grown to love where I live and who I do life with everyday. During the last four trips when I would come back to America, I would just wish for the time to pass quickly so I could get back to Liberia, where I belong.

This time was different. This trip was different. I was excited, but in a whole new way. Ready to see my Liberian friends and family. Not ready to say goodbye to my American friends and family. God has put so many new godly relationships in my life that it's hard to say goodbye to those, if only for a few months. I know that I will continue to come and go whenever God asks and I know that it will never get any easier, probably only harder.

But I pray that time does not go as quickly this year. I want to soak up every moment as much as I can. Every laugh, every smile and every tear. Wherever I'm at, I hope that I experience everything as if I had chosen it myself. Every moment as if it's my last.

I will enjoy where I am; because where I am, is where God is. Right now. Here. In the present. So, I must live for today, everyday.

I will seek the Kingdom in every moment, for when I do that, I will find myself hopeful of what lies ahead. I will find peace and joy within my soul. I will be able to love so much that my heart will be like a swinging door; love coming in and love flowing out.

Because when you seek the Kingdom of daily, God will lead you to places you never dreamed of being, doing work you never imagined you could do.

...and when God send you 5,000 miles away because He has prepared you to teach the world about His Son's life, everything else that seems to be a big sacrifice, is really no sacrifice at all.

Matthew 6:33

"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."