day 3-Called to Worship, Invited to Serve

Written by Mikayla Smith

One funny moment from the day was when I woke up my room at 4AM instead of 5AM because I was confused. It was hilarious to converse over it throughout the day because of how funny it was in the moment. When it actually was 5AM, we collectively walked to the home of a townsperson to join the elders in the community in an hour-long time of intentional prayer. Having already been through this ritual, I found it beautiful to see that it touched and shocked me again. This time though, I could genuinely take it in. I am so glad I was awake and the Lord helped me to stay awake. Amen.

I was so blessed by that time. We prayed for healing, courage, humility, and strength to endure what lied ahead in the week. I don’t know when in the prayer it happened, but I remember becoming immensely aware of God’s glory. It dawned on me that God has chosen me. And that it is truly by the grace of God that I have been chosen alongside all the others surrounding me in that room. He chose us and made Himself accessible to us in our native languages, and we were using prayer as the means to say “thank you.”

There are no words.

Fast forward, we did presentations and during recess for the kids I was able to reunite with many of them. I saw Yanelis, Daniella, Marcel, Saul, Edward, Sophie, Linis, Emily, Michel, Jeannys, and Michael, etc. I am having a hard time articulating the main feeling. I just know that when I think about it I feel a relief and happiness. I love Mari-Sully so much. It was so reassuring to know they hadn’t forgotten me. I remember Yanelis hugged me as though she had been waiting on me. She called me “sister” and it left me shocked honestly.

I wish I could’ve spoken Spanish so that I could’ve inquired about her spiritual walk because I know she was in a rough place. I wanted to understand her so badly. Ugh. Afterwards, we proceeded with presentations and in the end, all three groups we presented to composed, without knowing, a worship song. I’m excited to put all the parts together.

That evening we had worship rehearsal and I enjoyed it so much. It was a different experience than last year. Last year, I was bitter, and that feeling even went as far as to impact the actual worship night. God gave me perspective that I was even able to articulate to my team: Anna-Sophia, Trace, Fran, Enoch, Bianca, and myself. I shared three things with them:

1.) If you view it as a rehearsal according to our culture, we will be frustrated. Therefore, we should view it as worship—then we will be frustrated that it ever has to end.

2.) We are here to serve. Period. Do it as if we were doing it unto God.

3.) And lastly, how we are not needed; we are invited. They have a team, equipment, the language, and the heart. If we do this for the sake of being seen, applauded, and appreciated, we have worshipped in vain.

I praise God for the opportunity to share that with our team. Especially because I needed that. Six hours of worship rehearsal felt edifying. Amen.

(Also fun fact: I was sitting with Michel, Michael, Jeannys, and Emily while we were there. They were teaching me Spanish and I rolled my R for the first time. Joyous.)