Community

This past week I've been enjoying big city life. For the most part. (Don't ask me about the ridiculous amount of time I've spent downtown speaking with immigration this week. I will forget all the things I am grateful for.)

In general, I hate cities. They stress me out, and make me want to go lay in a corn field.

The nice thing about cities is that cities have people. Lots of them. And with people comes community.

Yesterday in my discipleship group we were focusing on fellowship, and why it's so important to be involved with other believers. This made me very grateful.

It took me a while to really get plugged in here in Harare, but now that I have, I am so thankful for the people in my life. I get to meet with two amazing ladies every week as we all can learn from each other and the different cultural experiences we have had.

Last weekend I was at a Young Life event. As I sat in an ant-infested tree waiting to take group pictures of the 200 teens gathered there, I couldn't help but smile and think about how much God has blessed me this year.

Like, how incredible is it that there are so many amazing Christians in the world who are excited about discipling others? When I start to get frustrated or discouraged with the great need in the world, it's people like this that inspire me to press on. I love people. Especially young people.

I'm so glad that God has led me to different communities of believers to help me as I grow this year. It's insanely hard to be alone in an unfamiliar place. For a few months I struggled a lot with being motivated to press on in ministry and doubting why I was even here in this country.

Perhaps I am here to be changed. Well duh. I came here knowing it would change my life. But the community God has placed me in this year is one that has made me step out of my comfort zone. I have become less timid in jumping into new things. I'm now an aggressive city driver and have learned to tailgate cars turning through intersections to survive haha. I talk with police officers on the road. Stand alone when there is no one to stand with me. I am building the confidence that it will take to pioneer new ministries in the future.

In my church here I have been able to be a quiet observer. I'm a doer. I'm used to helping with Awana, sound, PowerPoints, children's church, Sunday school, etc. This is great, but boy did I need a break. I'm so thankful for the community of believers that is my church here. I can blend with the congregation during service, but I can't escape invitations to tea and lunch or requests to come sit by new faces.

I've seen how powerful the church in Zimbabwe can be... if they put their minds to it, they could change the world. And that's what community is all about. If we gather together as Christians, we can literally do anything. There is no force that can stop us. So get together in your communities today. Talk to your brothers and sisters in Christ. Get inspired and fired up to keep investing in others and make the Gospel known to all corners of the earth.

There is power in community and fellowship with one another. Alone, the task ahead of us is impossible to achieve. Together, the task ahead of us is impossible to fail.