People vs. Projects

This past week we have been at The Gateway preparing for a group of 300 middle and high school students from Georgia that will be arriving on Sunday.  Next week we will be serving as staff for their trip.  I’m not sure of all of the types of ministry that this project will involve, but I do know that 19 houses will be built around Matamoros, and there will be VBS for the children around the colonias where construction is taking place.  This morning in Leadership Training, the point was made that each aspect of ministry isn’t the objective; rather the objective is to build meaningful relationships.  The goal isn’t to build 19 houses, building 19 houses is a tool that will open doors to form relationships with the people of Matamoros.  For me, that was a great reminder.  Sometimes it’s so easy to get caught up in good things instead of focusing on how those good things can be a way to achieve something far greater and far more eternally valuable.  So often the American mindset can hold us back from truly ministering to people in Mexico.  We are so focused on our projects and our plans and our schedules that we miss opportunities to actually love and serve people where they are.  The culture here is centered on relationships and people instead of on tasks and schedules.  I really believe that Jesus was more focused on people than on projects.  I want to have the same kind of attitude – an attitude that looks for ways to serve others and puts them ahead of my agenda.  It would be so sad to go through the work of building 19 houses and completely miss the true ministry opportunities.  It would be so sad to go through my life doing “good things” and “serving others” while totally forfeiting chances to love people by making time for them because I’m “on a mission”.  My prayer for myself and the group next week (and the prayer for my life) is that we would be open to what God wants to do, whether or not it looks like we expect (and most likely it won’t).  My prayer is that doing good things wouldn’t become a substitute for truly loving others out of the overflow of what Christ has given me.  My prayer is that I would lay down my expectations and allow God to surprise me.  Anybody can build a house – you don’t have to have Jesus to do acts of kindness and service.  What makes these houses different?  What makes this week and this group different from other groups who come and meet needs for people?  I think the difference is that because of Jesus we can offer more than just four walls and a roof – we can offer life, and life in abundance.  We can point them in the direction of the Living Water instead of throwing up some wood and leaving.  I want so badly to care about the things that Jesus cares about, and I truly believe that His heart is for people and for relationships, and part of that is meeting needs and the other part is spending time with people.  I want to get rid of my American attitude and take on the attitude of Christ – the attitude of a servant.  I want to have eyes to see others the way He does and a heart that loves them with His love.  Please pray for me and for the group this week.  I don’t want to miss opportunities to love people because my attention is focused on completing a project.