interruptible for the one

I like to sit on my veranda and watch the birds. Beautiful metallic starlings, brilliant blue kingfishers, and vibrant black and red goneleks stand out against the ever green grass and trees that contrast the blue sky and Nile River. I like to buy flowers in town and walk home as I wave and say hello to all of the boda drivers whom I pass each day. I like to bake apple pies, a lot! I like to watch movies in the evenings. I like to write letters and keep in touch with people in America. I like these little moments. 

I also like to sit in Masese as we argue about the color of our blood and whether or not America has trees and cows. I like to laugh with Lydia, my “bodyguard” as she once again beats me in arm wrestling. I like to laugh with Christine as she dances and models for us, inevitably, every time I see her! I like to laugh with Sarah as I chase her son Michael, who secretly likes me. I like these little moments. 

I don’t lead crusades here. I don’t have programs or projects. My days are filled with relationships. The only things on my schedule that are set throughout the week are prayer with two friends over Masese and Bible study with three women. The rest of my days are filled with these beautiful relationships with beautiful, messy people. Days are filled with hopes and dreams and prayers for chains to be broken and people to walk in freedom through His grace. 

Last week another missionary and I were conversing about the busy schedule of another friend here. Her response was, “Well I guess everyone here is busy. And if they’re not, they’re doing something wrong.” 

I knew what she meant, but it hurt. The mindset that we have to go and go and go and do better is human nature. It’s counterproductive to sit with someone for five hours straight as they tell you their hurts and fears of the future and rejoice over the fact that there is hope in Christ. To sit with one person for five hours? Think of all the multitudes you could reach in that amount of time! Think of the programs and projects and agendas you could fulfill with five hours. 

Think of how Jesus always met the one. Think of how He was able to be interrupted. 

Jesus was interruptible. 

In the book The Rest of God by Mark Buchanan, he talks about how Jesus was always willing to lay down His agenda for the day to meet someone personally. 

“Jesus! My daughter is sick!” 

“Jesus, my brother died!” 

“Jesus, Jesus, Jesus!”

He was going somewhere when He was met by these people, but He was willing to be interrupted. His destination wasn’t diverted — He was on the road to Calvary from the beginning — but He always met people personally along the way.

I want to be interruptible. That’s not human nature, that’s definitely not my nature even. I get annoyed when my plans are thwarted. However, by the grace of God, He is teaching me to meet the one. He is moving in my heart to lay down my plans each moment and be able to come when people call out, 

“Nalem, my daughter is sick.” 

“Nalem, my husband is an alcoholic and I don’t have a place to stay tonight.” 

“Nalem, where am I going to shift when the roads come in?”

Those calls are devastating and I’m not able to meet them. Sometimes I can point them to someone who can help. All the time, I can pray. I can sit with them for hours and hear them. Sometimes, all we want is be heard. 

I don’t have this whole “missionary” thing figured out. All I know is that God has called me in this season to labor for His Kingdom in Masese III. I know that He has given me time and patience and endurance to love a tribe and people who are often overlooked in this region. I know that relationships are hard and long and messy, but God has called me to invest in the one. Discipleship ministry isn’t easy to write home about, because sometimes you rejoice in the softening of someone’s heart, and the next minute you’re broken over hearing they went to the witchdoctor to place a curse on someone. I don’t have numbers or photos to share, but I do have stories of God’s abundant grace being enough in my life, and His steadfast love [hesed] pursuing my friends even when they run. Even when I run. 

I have known God through the one. I have met Him there. 

I encourage you today, wherever you are, to see the one. Yes, God uses programs and projects and crusades, but don’t miss the one. I promise you, He’ll be there, too. 

And in the quietness and glamour that is missed in not being on display, read this article: Hidden. 

That is my prayer for you today, dear reader. May we be a people who seek first His Kingdom over our own agendas.