Those Who Provide Are No Better Than Those Who Receive

We switched locations with the medical team yesterday.  We will be working in Nateete, a slum area near Kampala.  The medical team will be working at the Siita Nest orphanage.  Our first stop was church service at the Gospel of Life Church.  We enjoyed African worship, but the highlight was our pastor's message.

He preached on the book of Philipians.  One thing that stuck with me is that we are called to partner with others.  Some people are blessed with abundance while others are not.  As we partner with those in need we out to remember that those that provide are no better than those who receive.  Simply, we are both partners.

Our pastor told us the story about how the partnership between our church in Kailua (Kailua Community Church) and the church in Nateete (Gospel of Life Church) has flourished.  The first time our pastor visited Gospel of Life Church the conditions were very bad.  In fact, shortly after his visit, he received an email telling him the roof of the church had fallen during a heavy rain.  Our pastor asked what it would take to build a new and larger structure.  The answer was $60,000.  Although our pastor and Kailua Community Church (KCC) wanted to help, $60,000 was just too much.  This didn't discourage the Gospel of Life staff and they kept praying to get help to re-build the church.  The amount was never shared with the congregation. 

A few days or weeks later our pastor received a letter from a couple who had sold their home in Kailua.  The letter said they felt the program in Uganda was important and wanted to contribute.  Attached was a check for $61,000, enough for construction of the new church and necessary permits.  Sitting in that church, with the congregation from Natete, while hearing that message was something else.  The congregation cheered and applauded.  The church is simple but solid and large.  Most importantly, the church is clearly having an impact in the local community.  Our pastor highlighted that this was the result of God working thru a partnership and that those providing the resources were no better than those receiving.

My roommate pointed out that when you think about it, those of us, whom up to this point, have been thinking that we are providing, we are actually receiving.  It is so true!  We thought we came here to give but we've been given more than we could have ever expected.  We've been given more of the things that matter most, love and relationships.  This reminds me of a quote by a missionary called Jim Elliot. 

"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which cannot lose." 

So true!  In fact, I would change the quote to say "He is wise who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which can not lose."