Completely inadequate on my own

Friday afternoon we had a personal spiritual retreat....three and a half hours set aside just to get alone and spend time with God. It was really good for everyone since these first couple of days have been overwhelming. Then yesterday we were supposed to have ESL (English as a Second Language) training to get our certification, but it will have to be rescheduled because the teacher did not show up. So I got some reading done and then about 20 of us went bowling last night.

This morning we met for the first time with our "house church." There are about 14 of us in our group, including two kids. This is the way we worship here instead of having an ordinary church service because most of us won't be in a place where we go to a church like we have in the States. We shared testimonies, sang some songs, spent time in prayer, and studied Isaiah 6. It was a good time of worship.

It is good to hear so many people experiencing the same thing. I think many of us have looked around thinking, "Why am I here?" We don't know why God has chosen to call us, but in His grace He has, not because anything we have done. It is easy to feel completely inadequate, elevating the role of a missionary and thinking we don't have what it takes. But I like Jim Elliot's quote, “Missionaries are very human folks just doing what they’re asked. Simply a bunch of nobodies trying to exalt Somebody.” This is what God reminded me of during those three hours: All of us here are completely inadequate to accomplish what He has called us to do unless we are abiding in Him. We are all here because of what He has done in our lives and now we want to share the love of Christ with others. Those three hours He just reminded me of who I am in Christ and that is what matters.