LOOKING BACK

As we prepare for the future, one must always look back. Sometimes, this is difficult because of the sting of the past. Other times remembering is a joy. But nevertheless we must always "remember" for learning, loving and listening. God has used this as an instrumental tool in our work in Rwanda.

In 2001, Les and I worked with the youth of our church for over four years. Not having experience with youth other than teaching Sunday School although we always loved children. But youth...well I was a afraid of those teen age kind. You know the punk hair style, piercings in places it hurts to even think about. Some tougher and more difficult than chewing on a rubber tire. Thinking they could care less about anything not in their own realm, specifically adults. However this is where God placed us.

Remembering back, there is one thing God shared with us as a life learning lesson. "Do what I have called you to do and I will direct your paths and give you My Creativity. Just love them and depend on Me." So we did. Our prayers for His creativity, trust for Him to show up came with many times of banging our heads against a wall, much fear and misunderstandings. You see Les and I were never your dynamic duo of youth leaders. Looking at us, one would not say, "Wow they are great for the youth leader position." As a matter of fact, far more qualified people could have replaced us.

However, God began teaching us here. Through all the good and bad times we stayed focused on Him. In asking for His Creativity we did many different events. Cafe De Christo, Sunday Night Break Dancing, Talent Shows, Youth Dinners for the Church, Summer Youth Festivals and much more. I must add in accomplishing all of these things two things became evident. They came to pass only because we knew obedience was the key. Even if something seemed to fail, we knew God called us, we were obedient and He is responsible for the results. The only result we knew or really cared about was loving the youth. Seeing them come to their full potential in God. We recognized the importance in the youth knowing no matter what they looked like or how they lived, they knew we loved them.

Of course our desire in our hearts is to see them get saved and be on fire for God. However, reality is we need to love people and work with them without any expectation. To believe God can work it all out, to have the yearning of your heart for them to have a relationship with God, yet as you face daily life with them the two seem to be direct opposites. Our hearts had to remain pure in knowing God's call and what He had said to us, "Just love them".

Looking back, not on all our errors;which believe me there were plenty. We learned from those errors, however we look back in how God worked out everything. In the moments of unexplained pain and problems, of wanting to quit since we seemed to be misunderstood by parents and others. You see we were not dynamic enough for some. Or we were to strict for others. To many rules. Not cool enough. Other ministries or churchyouth groups are doing so much more.The list could go on, but our focus must be on "What has God said?"

You see there are times in our life, if we depend on others to affirm the work God is doing in us, then we will lose focus on the call He has given. We may not step out in something for fear of failure or what others may say. Or the worst thought as we planned events, "What if no one shows up". One lesson we learned quickly is the amount of people meant nothing. Easy to grasp in our heart, but not in our head. Because in these days how many people show up determines how successful an event is. How many salvation cards are completed, or how many "sinner's prayers" are said. Just a reminder there is no chapter and verse for thinking this way. Just another tactic of the enemy to keep us distracted.

Working with the youth, brought us many joys and relationships now, seven years later as we hear of how they are doing. Some in the Army or Airforce, others getting married and raising families, beginning jobs, some struggling with drugs and life in general while others just beginning their walk with Christ now.

Looking back we see how God used these relationships, this call of dependence on Him and expectant obedience with His command of "Just love them" as He then called us to "the people of Rwanda." Or I should say He gave us a new direction, the call really is the same no matter where we are in our life.

After serving with the youth, God changed directions and asked us to attend Bible College in New York. Little did we know where He would be taking us.