Joyful, Patient, and Faithful

12 Sep Joyful, Patient, and Faithful

“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer” – Romans 12:12

This verse in Romans was consistently on my mind throughout the past summer as I served with Sparrow Missions.  It was a verse that challenged me immediately when our summer staff read it as a group during a bible study.  But I felt like the Lord continual brought this verse back to me, showing me on a daily basis His power and might, regardless of the situation in front of us.

I would like to share a few of the testimonies of situations God orchestrated and let me be a part of that reflected this verse.

Joyful in hope.
One Wednesday while starting chapel at the Sparrow Academy, I could not help but look into the faces of our precious kids.  That day in particular I was awestruck and taken aback by the feeling of brokenness.  I saw little girls that did not have their fathers waiting for them at home, I observed families that were consumed in grief from the recent and brutal passing of their brother, and I noticed other siblings that struggle on a daily basis with finding food and comfort from their parents.

And what were they doing?  Singing joyfully in the hope of our God.

“En ti, en ti, en ti, soy libre
Sé exaltado, sé exaltado
Tu amor, tu amor, tu amor no se acaba”

For you guys who don’t know Spanish,

“In you I am free
I exalt you, I exalt you
Your love, your love, your love never ends”

In the world’s eyes, these kids should be hurting and wallowing in all the areas of their lives that are lacking.  Yet, they were rejoicing in the hope that Christ gives us, the fact that he takes our brokenness and completes it- He makes us whole.

Patience in affliction.
When the Bordos community was disrupted and many families were displaced, one family that many Sparrow folks had grown to love had to relocate.   They had moved several hours away, so it was such a blessing when our Honduran staff could orchestrate a chance to bring the kids and their mother back to San Pedro Sula for a day.  They joined us for church and we just spent time loving on them, catching up on their family, and seeing how things were going.

It was heartbreaking to hear the kids mother explain the hardships her family was facing.  The struggled with a severe lack of food, the inability to find consistent work, and the poor quality of education for her children.  She described how hard it was for her to sell pupusas (a tortilla with meat in the middle) for even 20 lempiras (less than a dollar) in the community because no one had enough money to buy them.

They were struggling in so many areas.

Yet, when we got to church that day, the worship band began to sing, ‘Christ is Enough for Me.”  One of our other interns, Kristen, looked over during the song and saw this struggling mom exalting her Lord, with arms raised high, displaying that even in the midst of a very real and evident trail, Christ was with her.  He would never leave her and He was truly enough.

Faithful in prayer.
A little of five years ago, Sparrow was able to create a sewing ministry for some of the ladies living in the Bordos.  A core group of eight ladies were taught the trade of sewing in order to create bags, purses, and head bands that they can sell to help create income for their families.

The women have come a long way in the past five years, but there were more mom’s interested in joining the ministry and the existing group had a desire to learn more.  A few of our short-term missionaries, who had helped start the clinic, began to share about a desire for someone locally who could join the ladies each week and teach the existing ladies new skills and new technique, while also starting to train more moms who were interested in the art of sewing.  This vision was shared with the group of ladies during the summer and each committed to praying for someone who might come along side them.

One night, during our evening worship and reflection, one of the leaders of the sewing clinic shared that one of our translators had pulled her aside and mentioned her mom might possibility be interested in helping lead the group.  Our translators mom was a teacher by trade, but she loved to sew.  Are you kidding me!  A lady who teaches for a living and also loves to sew!!  I was in complete shock and excitement.

But God is faithful.  Little did our group know, but our translator’s mom had actually been praying herself for an opportunity to serve in her community.  Her daughters were growing up and getting older, so she had been searching for somewhere to assist and pour into.

It has been just over two months since and this faithful lady has been working with the ladies and devotedly to serving them faithfully.  It was a beautiful picture of God connecting two people, who were seeking the Lord through prayer.

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In my own life, in those moments where I find myself anxious over what is coming next, I must give it to our God in exchange for a joyful and expectant heart.  When everything around me seems to be going wrong and there is no sign of getting any easier, I must lay down my worry and be patient in the promises He has given me.  And instead of trying to handle my own problems, I must run to Him, my father, whose plans always exceed my own.

God Bless, Hannah