Under His sky

These last few days have been reentry camp for the Youth In Mission (YIM) students who traveled this summer. They were in 20 different sites around the world. El Paso became their home base as they returned for 2 days of debriefing, story-telling, and sharing what God has done.

One of my jobs was to debrief some teams about their ministry. I also was supposed to record the stories of students as they shared in either small or large group settings.

Oh how God moves... It's absolutely amazing.

I talked with one team that described their site/country as the most beautiful screwed up mess they had ever seen. In the midst of the gorgeous landscape sat a people who were governed terribly. They were in a church where the missionaries left them basically alone to run the ministry. As they bitterly yet lovingly told their stories to me I couldn't help but think that that place was ripe for fresh ideas and for God's hand to move. Why I'm pulled toward discouraging situations, I have no idea... Maybe it's because I think the beauty of God moving in absolutely hopeless situations is unparalleled.

What a powerful God we serve.

In another session we had a group prayer sessions where the students led out in prayers as they felt they should. One girl started praying in such a powerful way that I had to write down her story. Through tears she remembered to God how her friends in Thailand were beginning to gather together to do exactly what we were doing - praising, thanking, worshipping our Maker. She thanked Him for our army of brothers and sisters throughout the world all tied together because of our worship of our Abba under His sky.

I think that's beautiful. We can care about the world for the simple fact that we all - not some - all live under our Maker's sky. That is why we should love others. We are all loved by One.