I simply cannot believe how good God is.
Everyone has an idea of what their dream job would be. I know I do. The ideal situation for me would be a job where I live in an adventurous place, a wild, rare, exciting place. I would travel around an amazing landscape in an off-road vehicle, camp out, hike, backpack, learn a new language and live with people of another culture. I would live without the constant pressure to make money and seek efficiency at all costs. I would be able to develop relationships with astounding people, learn their lives, teach them skills, share ideas, invest in people who can, in turn, invest in other people in the same way. I would need to be able to make only enough money to sustain myself and, one day, a family. It would be nice to make enough to venture out and see even more of the world from time to time.
I'll admit, some of those ideas are a little specific to be coming up with in a general sense. But that's because I have actually found the job that would suit me perfectly! The crazy part is that I applied and actually got it!
I am moving to Africa, to help a faith-based humanitarian organization make a difference in people's lives in a real way. Samaritan's Purse is an international relief organization run by the evangelist Billy Graham's son, Franklin Graham, also a well-known evangelist. The project I am joining is their church reconstruction project in southern Sudan, a very poor country in east central Africa. Decades of civil unrest in the largest and poorest country in Africa have destroyed hundreds of Christian churches in the mostly-Christian southern part of Sudan. The northern part of the country is run by a somewhat hostile Islamic government. And now, as the conflicts have fizzled out, Samaritan's Purse has entered the country to help rebuild those beacon's of light in the otherwise dismal lives of the native people.
My job will be traveling around to the various construction sites to encourage and motivate the local church body to take ownership in the rebuilding of their church. I will have some responsibility to ensure that materials, tools and equipment are in place when needed at the various stages of construction, a kind of logistical function. I will be expected to invest in the lives of brothers and sisters in Christ by teaching them new skills and developing relationships that will certainly be eternal. I will live in a remote location under harsh conditions (90+ degrees in the rainy season, 120+ degrees in the dry season) which will require camping at church sites and eating local food. I will maintain open communication between Samaritan's Purse and the various construction projects. I fancy my position as a "greaser", making things go smoothly so that the most effective use is made of funds entrusted to the organization by its donors for the purpose of advancing God's kingdom here on earth. I'll need to learn the official language of the country, and the most widely spoken, Arabic. How awesome is that!
For a while I have been thinking about devoting my life to doing something more constructive, something mission-based, just something real. I decided that if God is leading me in this direction, and He certainly has been, I will surrender my physical needs to him. It is a scary thing but I decided that whatever it takes to follow His calling for my life I am willing to do. I resolved that if it would be required of me, I would simply let go and trust Him for my financial security, the very thing that culture tells us is of paramount importance over all else in our lives. And I meant it completely. The incredible thing is that my God knew I was willing to take that leap, and he rewarded me. My new job in the mission field actually pays. And it pays good! I trusted Him and he came through!
It's one thing to see the beauty that God made for us in the world. It's one thing to hear people talk about how good God has been to them. It's one thing to hear and know the story of how His son came and sacrificed his life for me. But it's another thing completely to see Him take over the reigns and actually provide in a real, physical way. For Him to answer actual specific requests I'm made of Him in prayer.
I found the job with Samaritan's Purse, applied and began praying that I would somehow get it. I didn't really expect to get the job. I mean, what experience do I have in construction. What qualifies me to be a missionary. Why would Samaritan's Purse find it worthwhile to pay me money to live in Africa. But despite my faithless doubt in what God is capable of, I leave for the field on June 18.
Stay tuned for updates from Yei, in southern Sudan!
