NOVEMBER

Wow November boasts two really important titles. 1st, November is the 12th month of doing ministry and being on the Race. 2nd, November is the month that I was baptized last year!

I wanted to list the amazing things I’ve had the opportunity to be part of ministry wise in these 12 months on the Race, not to brag, but hopefully to encourage you that ministry looks like anything and everything. All these ministries have helped to shape my faith and perspective of the character of Jesus because for many of these ministries listed below, I didn’t understand at first how they were considered ministry. But, I love how there’s so many unique things we can take part in that give us the chance to love God and love the people around us. 

Cambodia: Making handmade Christmas cards to raise funds for the Battambang Trauma Hospital in Cambodia. There I’ve also played games with, talked to and prayed over the family members waiting for news on their loved ones. My team helped to plan and put on conversational English classes and children’s Bible story readings at Ezra Cafe. Scrubbed the pool at the Overflow guest house in Siem Reap. Cleaned the entire guest house from bottom to top. Helped cook food for the guests. Helped run the front desk with the receptionist. Was the night security at the guesthouse. Taught English to a Khmer man, the husband of one of the receptionists. Talked to and shared Jesus with tourists on Pub Street. Played with the kids in the children’s programs at ICF church in Siem Reap. 

Ethiopia: Taught kindergarten in a small Ethiopian village. Helped in the process of planting trees at the reforestation site in Ethiopia. Helped cook meals for the squad. Taught English to the kids of HOPEthiopia. Did laundry and cooked food with the house moms. Played soccer and volleyball with the kids for hours on end. Walked the little kids to school. Cleaned a fish pond (and almost was attacked by a badger). Built a wall around the garden. Cut grass in the fields. Helped in the building (painting, priming) of the trades training center. 

Nicaragua: Prayer walked in the streets of Nicaragua. Served food and shared the gospel at the garbage dump. Knocked on doors and sat and visited with people. Shared testimonies and scripture at the sporting events on Sundays (and cheered them on!). Helped to host children/youth events. Supported the local churches. Harvested moringa. Used machetes to chop down plantain trees. Potted plants. Weeded the fields. Sorted and organized donated sport gear.  

Costa Rica: Spent a week in the jungle prayer walking, playing soccer, hosting a women’s event, preaching in the church, bringing church to people’s homes and doing manual labor at a church. Evangelized on the streets of San José and the surrounding area. Helped at a feeding program. Taught English to the kids and helped them with their homework. Ran around and played with them. Picked up trash in the community. Visited friends we had made from evangelism. Handed out flowers and encouraging notes. 

And now I’m here in Swazi. 

We go to carepoints, which are places that provide a meal for kids. Our carepoint isn’t surrounded by much, just some homesteads (homes that consist of different buildings that would be equivalent to us having different rooms of our house) that are spread out over the hills. They often walk a long distance to come to the carepoint. We play with them. We sing with them. We sit and hold them. They love being in our arms and taking naps. We dance with the older girls when they come after school. We laugh with them. I love their big smiles. 

My main ministry and reason for being here though, is the seven incredible women on my team. My role these last two months has been to pour into them and lead them in their first three months of ministry. I’ve had the sweet opportunity to encourage them, pray over them and listen to their stories and how God is growing them right now. I’m so honored to be part of this time with them.

My biggest take away from all of these different ministries is that ministry is a lifestyle, not just something you do during set hours of the day. Loving people is a choice, and you can’t just choose to do it when it’s convenient. Loving people looks like being with them, praying over them, and doing whatever is helpful. There’s been many times when I ask myself why this, that or the other is considered “ministry,” but I’m constantly reminded that love looks like so many things. When I’m unsure how doing something is “ministry” I picture Jesus and how He would have acted. Love is an ACTION. Love is a CHOICE. Jesus is love. Following Him is choosing to love people. 

A year ago, being baptized meant that I was publicly proclaiming that I was choosing to follow Jesus with my life. I love that these last 12 months of all different kinds of ministry has helped me to understand that love looks like being with people and meeting them where they’re at. It’s doing whatever needs to be done to be helpful and love someone well. It’s being open to the constant invitation we have to engage, encourage and do life alongside people. 

-Elena