Gratitude

It all started at the helm of our second semester. Sri Lanka 2010. God
put a desire in my heart to co-lead the trip. It was a long process,
leading up to the trip. There was much anticipation. Excitement.
Assurance. Frustration. Doubt. Worry. Questions. Reassurance.
Weariness. Reliance. Amazement. Preparedness. Unpreparedness. And then
we hopped on a plane. all 8 of us. From the airport to the end of the
trip I was on an emotional roller coaster. There were periods of
irritation I had as a leader. Testing of character. Perseverance.
Wondering. Learning. Lots of it. Loving. Applying. Transformation. I
won't forget our hosting family. Pastor Adrian who took us in. His
wife, who cared for us and cooked for us. Their son who spent time
discussing with us the challenges of the Sri Lankan people and the reconciliation issues the youth are overcoming. Their
daughter who sacrificed much family and friend time to be with our
team, lead us around, translate for us, keep us alive. I won't forget the kids at the farm whose lives were living testaments to the grace, power, and faithfulness of God. I cannot possibly forget the conquering joy that these kids displayed despite unimaginable pasts. I knew I would learn from my experiences and the teachings throughout the trip, but I was never sure how much I would learn from my time spent with the kids. I learned a lot from them. I will never look at complaining the same. I won't forget our driver, who was kind meek, steadfast, and loyal. I won't forget
the ladies at Ape Kedella who cooked and cleaned up after our messes,
and showed us hospitality. I won't forget the Australian pastor and
the two guys from Bangladesh who shared stories with us and answered
our questions. I won't forget the leaders of Ape Kedella, who were
always so kind to us, who always had a smile for us. I'll be forever
indebted to those in Sri Lanka who poured so much into our lives most likely often
without even knowing it. It was the people here who so radically
changed my world perspective on doing ministry and church altogether.
I will never think of faith in the same light again. God remains always faithful. I will faithfully live out my thanks to the significant people I built relationships with in Sri Lanka, and I will live out my thanks to God for allowing me to spend an entire month in Sri Lanka.
"And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ." Philippians 1:6