Broken Vessels

I'm beginning to close a most beautiful chapter of my life entitled "ARISE." Tonight, as part of that closing, I had my last day of outreach. It was time to say goodbye to our contacts and get their information so they could continue studying if they had so chosen. I must say it was beautiful and touching. I was awed with how God could use me to so bless someone else's life. I don't feel like I gave very much. Yet, tonight, as I said goodbye to two women, they both told my outreach partner, Brandon, and I, how thankful they were that we showed up at their door and how blessed they'd been by us. As they spoke, and I saw how God really had used me, I was touched.

The first woman we visited is named TJ. We hadn't actually been having Bible studies with her during our time here at ARISE, but rather we spent time together and formed a great friendship. She used to be a Seventh-day Adventist, but left the church because of some issues with people. She actually came to church once while we've been here at ARISE--the first time I believe in twenty-five years. She believes, as far as I know, many of the basic tenets of Seventh-day Adventism. However, she still doesn't attend church regularly.

During our last talk tonight, she shared with us (over her homemade cookies and tea) that she wanted to give a donation toward ARISE. This surprised us. She also told us that she was just so thankful that she'd met us and we had come knocking on her door. She told us she felt like this was an "Elisha and the ravens" kind of situation. She was Elisha and we were the ravens bringing her food (she actually said she wasn't sure between Brandon and I who was the raven and who was the food; Brandon said I could be the raven). She lives by herself and has problems with her hands so I'm not sure how much she works or gets out to do things. So to have two young people come and chat with her every once in a while was a bigger deal than I thought.

To be told you're like the raven bringing food is simply beautiful and puts me in awe. I didn't feel like I gave this woman that much. She often would talk to Brandon and I about what was going on in our lives and acted as a mentor. Yet she said we were feeding her! I'm just astounded at how God can use such earthly, broken vessels to do such amazing things.

The second woman we visited is named Chantell. We met Chantell the first day of outreach. I don't believe it was any coincidence either.

A day or so before we showed up, she had just been notified that her license for having a daycare in her home had been suspended. Then we happened to show up on her driveway and ask her if she would be willing to do a survey. She was and was also interested in studying the Bible. So for the past three months-ish, Brandon and I have been studying some different topics with her. The topics included the Word of God, the Sanctuary, the Great Controversy, and the Trinity. She readily accepted what we had to offer and actually was already familiar with much of it. However, all the while she's been carrying the stress of not having an income and being unable to provide for her family as she normally would. Her license was revoked based on some allegations made against her. It has really been a struggle for her since she feels like she's been doing everything right, and yet life is still spinning out of control. There were times when she didn't even get out of bed.

Now, as we're about to leave the ARISE program, she found out she will not be given her license back. However, she told us tonight that she'll continue as a private baby-sitter. She also told us something else that kind of shocked both Brandon and I.

As we were eating our supper and talking about how fast time had gone by, she told us that our studies with her is what kept her going through these stressful months of her life. She said there was a point where she was considering suicide, but the thought of our studies kept her going. I don't know if she was actually at that point, but I do think we made more of an impact on her than we realized, which like I said before, it totally floored me. I guess right now, I'm just in awe of how God can use weak, selfish, easily-intimidated me to bless people. I'm such a broken vessel, yet look what He can do!

"But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us."--2 Corinthians 4:7

Though I'm so weak and plagued by doubts and fears, God uses me. He takes the little that I have to give and multiplies it and then lets me have the privilege of seeing His handiwork and incredible results. I can't wait till heaven when I can see the full and final results of the work done here on earth.

So here's a challenge: Let God use you. Step out of your comfort zone. Hand out a GLOW tract. Talk to someone. Do something. Let Him use the broken vessel--your heart--to win someone else. It's beautiful. It's inspiring. It's a work you don't want to miss out on.

Also, pray for me. Pray that when I go home, I will take with me this vision and desire.