One body, many parts
“Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.” 1 Corinthians 12:27
I don’t have time to write today. Wow- things are a little crazy here right before departure. Even though I feel like everything is in order, I keep getting curve balls thrown my way.
As I’m “putting out fires” in these last few days before I depart for Hungary (followed shortly thereafter by all the interns!), I have been noticing something. It’s been making me smile all day and I wanted to capture the moment here before it disappears in the travel and activities of the coming week.
I’ve been noticing all the parts of JV working separately, but all together for the common goal of bringing the gospel message to young lives in Eastern and Central Europe. Today as I hopped between email, phone, and FaceTime conversations, I noticed:
The missionaries of (un-named, still a secret) country- planning the final details of the Amazing Race. Putting in 16 hour days tying up loose ends- sending kids to bed while thinking out loud with me about different challenges of the Race. Asking me to review race clues for clarity.
A grandma- staying with grandkids in Croatia so mom and dad can be at Intern Training with the interns that will be serving there this summer.
Missionaries in Poland and Czech- training intern leaders that arrived early to help lead and disciple intern teams this summer.
The JV communication team- deciding on how to best promote camps and outreach events on social media. What will our official #hashtags be? Who are our intern teams, so that they can each be represented in what we share?
A dear Czech friend who is in charge of setting up for Intern training- lodging, food, name tags, chairs, equipment. I texted her this morning while she was working from Costa coffee in Ostrava CZ, charting out all the details- and cheering on Czech vs. US in hockey on the side 🙂 #multitasking
Countless people dividing up supplies like camp shirts, flyers, and banners into country groups so that they can be picked up at Intern Training and taken back to their country for the summer.
The financial team here in the states, recording all the last-minute donations and making sure intern accounts are fully updated for the big transfer of funds into each country’s account tomorrow.
Our staff in Wheaton- waiting on last minute mail deliveries of visa documents (join us in praying that those come no later than TOMORROW, by the way…!) and cheering us on.
Isn’t it nice that we are a part of a team? Goodness. As I paused throughout this day to thank God for all the little parts of this enormous undertaking of His, it made me smile.
If we are each willing to do the things he sets before us, we can trust that he will tie those things together with the work and gifting He has given others- all to accomplish His purpose in the world around us! We need each other. God calls us to work together for him- to be the hands and feet that bring his Good News to the world!
Many of you have texted or emailed me in the past few days to say that you are praying for God to protect, guide and lead us all as we plan and then go. So YOU are a part of this team as well. An incredibly important part.
Just another thing that makes me smile as I work today!!
“I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.” Philippians 1:3
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