It is ironic that my last post was
about the taxis…because this week, starting on Monday, the taxis in PE went on
strike. The drivers weren’t happy with recent limitations placed on the taxi
routes by the government and have been refusing to run all week long. Thousands of people in the city
have been affected by the strike this week. Workers and employees can’t get to
work, families have lost income, the taxi drivers and other people in the
townships have resorted to violence toward anyone who tries to offer people
rides.
about the taxis…because this week, starting on Monday, the taxis in PE went on
strike. The drivers weren’t happy with recent limitations placed on the taxi
routes by the government and have been refusing to run all week long. Thousands of people in the city
have been affected by the strike this week. Workers and employees can’t get to
work, families have lost income, the taxi drivers and other people in the
townships have resorted to violence toward anyone who tries to offer people
rides.
Obviously, this made it difficult
for our team to get to ministries this week. Many of us who would have been in
the townships during the afternoons went to other ministries. It was
frustrating for me, particularly because I was just beginning to get rolling at
CCMP….seeing relationships start to build, feeling more comfortable with the
people, and coming up with new ideas for the different programs. God certainly
has interesting timing. But, despite the inconveniences we felt personally, our
team spent a lot of time praying for the burdens of the people who are really
affected by this: families who have lost an entire week’s income, those subject
to violence in their communities, workers who walk for hours and hours just to
make it to work.
for our team to get to ministries this week. Many of us who would have been in
the townships during the afternoons went to other ministries. It was
frustrating for me, particularly because I was just beginning to get rolling at
CCMP….seeing relationships start to build, feeling more comfortable with the
people, and coming up with new ideas for the different programs. God certainly
has interesting timing. But, despite the inconveniences we felt personally, our
team spent a lot of time praying for the burdens of the people who are really
affected by this: families who have lost an entire week’s income, those subject
to violence in their communities, workers who walk for hours and hours just to
make it to work.
Really, it all just shows how
desperately we need to depend on the Lord. One thing I’ve learned here is how
unpredictable things are. And you either have to learn to go with the flow,
trusting that God knows what He’s doing, or get stressed out by trying to force
your plans and ideas. But oh how we love to plan! I think God gets a kick out
of changing our plans though. Well, actually, I’m not sure He does get a kick
out of it. How many times have I made plans, thinking I knew best? And how many
times has He changed them? I think it breaks His heart when we aren’t
completely dependent on Him, when we forget to ask Him for guidance and
direction on the big things and the small things. Its as if we’re saying
“thanks, but no thanks, I’ve got this one”. When really, He longs to be in such
close relationship with us, walking so closely beside us, that every step is a
conversation with Him, and nothing is done on our own.
desperately we need to depend on the Lord. One thing I’ve learned here is how
unpredictable things are. And you either have to learn to go with the flow,
trusting that God knows what He’s doing, or get stressed out by trying to force
your plans and ideas. But oh how we love to plan! I think God gets a kick out
of changing our plans though. Well, actually, I’m not sure He does get a kick
out of it. How many times have I made plans, thinking I knew best? And how many
times has He changed them? I think it breaks His heart when we aren’t
completely dependent on Him, when we forget to ask Him for guidance and
direction on the big things and the small things. Its as if we’re saying
“thanks, but no thanks, I’ve got this one”. When really, He longs to be in such
close relationship with us, walking so closely beside us, that every step is a
conversation with Him, and nothing is done on our own.
Every day this week before we’ve
headed out to ministry, I’ve had to pray and pray that I would be open to
whatever God’s purpose would be that day. Looking back, I did a lot of random
things this week. I held, fed, played with and got spit up on by adorable
orphan babies, I sorted through piles of donated clothes at a local children’s
home (no, I’m pretty sure a 15 year old girl wouldn’t wear anything with
shoulder pads), I planned some programs for the kids and teen clubs at CCMP and
remembered how much I love to teach, and I waited for God to show up in the
little things.
headed out to ministry, I’ve had to pray and pray that I would be open to
whatever God’s purpose would be that day. Looking back, I did a lot of random
things this week. I held, fed, played with and got spit up on by adorable
orphan babies, I sorted through piles of donated clothes at a local children’s
home (no, I’m pretty sure a 15 year old girl wouldn’t wear anything with
shoulder pads), I planned some programs for the kids and teen clubs at CCMP and
remembered how much I love to teach, and I waited for God to show up in the
little things.
“Many are the plans in the mind of
a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand”. Proverbs 19:21
a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand”. Proverbs 19:21
We pray that this strike will end
soon, for the sake of those who are severely affected by it. But either way,
may we all joyfully seek God’s glory, even if it comes through the shattering
of our earthly plans. And may we all learn the beauty of dependence on our
faithful and loving Father.
soon, for the sake of those who are severely affected by it. But either way,
may we all joyfully seek God’s glory, even if it comes through the shattering
of our earthly plans. And may we all learn the beauty of dependence on our
faithful and loving Father.
