Ants in the Sugar Bowl

This was included in our Cultural Training notebook, and it really struck a cord with me as there are not many other words that convey our calling to serve in Bundibugyo, Uganda. I'm thankful to the author for writing it, and saving me the mental and emotional energy of putting all those thoughts that are deep-rooted in my heart actually out on paper. I love it when other people do that for me. 

What a gift :)

  

 So send I you

To ants in the sugar bowl,

To things that fly, creep, and crawl into the house,

To uncertain water, sporadic electricity,

To long hours, sweltering heat, exhausting days,

To uncomfortable vehicles, crowded jeeps, smelly buses,

 To noisy early, early mornings,

 

To rice, rice, and more rice (beans/potatoes, kimchi...),

To poverty you didn't believe existed,

To masses of people like you have never seen,

To know and work with people who have never known comfort,

So send I you, and I expect you to adjust.

So send I you

To people who will give to you from their poverty,

To friends who will embarrass you with their generosity,

To pastors who will entertain you from their lack, with beauty,

To hungry, receptive, questioning people who want to know God,

To study, to teach, to learn from your study and teaching,

To prove your own motives, values, and beliefs,

To learn about yourself and the culture that has reared you,

To know God and to understand more deeply dependence on Him,

So send I you.

 Are you going? I'll go with you all the way.

  

Elizabeth Givens