His Good Work

Philippians 1:6

"being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus."

I have known this verse by heart for a long time, but recently it has taken on a whole new meaning. I always thought that the good work that was being referred to was our salvation. God was faithful to complete that work and will keep us secure in that until Jesus comes again. I am seeing now that in the context of God's plan for our lives, this verse speaks another truth.

You see, God started a good work for Africa in my heart years ago. Then, it was only a desire to one day do a short term mission somewhere on that big continent. In countless ways, he confirmed and nurtured that desire until I finally set my feet on Uganda's soil in 2007. That was all it took for me to know that I would never be the same. After that trip the urge to be back in Africa only grew stronger. Through His planning and perfect timing, I connected with Benjamin, who ministers to orphans, widows, and struggling families after Rwanda's genocide. I had the opportunity to spend a week there last summer. That quickly proved that it was only the beginning of my love affair with this country and its people. It was then that God began grooming me for more. Over this last year, I have prayed a lot and sought to release my plans to Him (which is never easy for me). Going for two weeks this year confirmed many things in me. There will be much more to come on that, but for now what I am learning is that He did start a good work in me long ago for Africa. He continued to fuel that desire in me until I saw the dream of going come true. He has taken the initial plan I had and narrowed it down to a specific ministry in Rwanda and allowed me to fall into an indescribable love with a people and a country that I did not, until now call home.

Being back has been hard because my heart aches for another place. It has taken crying out to Jesus more times than I can count and specific reminders of this verse from a wonderful Rwandan to help me grasp that Christ isn't through with this work in me. He started it and only He can see it through.

So despite the heaviness of heart I feel, I will choose to cling to this:

HE is Faithful!!

This is a picture of sweet Benjamin listening to those he loves and serves.