"Love" in Tonga

My summer brought me back to Africa- to the shining faces of the Tonga people. I fell in love with the children of Simukale Village and the hope of their future through Luyando Ministries. They are children full of joy, due to their community being impacted by the love of Christ, shared by the ministry. This is their purpose for service in Zambia: to show love, "luyando," to them. 

We took care of widows, we built a house for orphans, we fed the poor and the weak. This is what true religion is according to James and yet we didn't feel instant gratification or accomplishment, as a well-meaning woman asked me yesterday. It was hard. This was labor. Daily we had to give up ourselves by being kind to others to the point of exhaustion especially when it was hard. I personally felt lonely and rejected most of the trip. The mission field is not for the weak of heart. But then again, where is my mission field and why am I not regularly pouring myself out for Christ? 

As Christ said at his Last Supper as he broke the bread that represented himself, "Do this in remembrance of me." So why have I not been broken here? Why am I waiting for a mission trip overseas to obey Christ by intentionally breaking myself, pouring out myself for the lost, last, and least?

These are things to ponder... 

-My heart is not afraid