It is All About HIM

July 10 2011 / ShareHim in Madagascar, Jun. 17 - Jul. 2 '11 #498
by Maria Reyes


Campaign Site Narrative from Ambohimangakely, Antananarivo in Madagascar. The speaker assigned to this site was Maria Reyes.

As a nursing major at Southern Adventist University, I have always wanted to be a missionary. On this trip I went through many unexpected situations that have changed my life completely. I left Florida for Tennessee, excited for the way God helped my mother and I fund the trip through much sacrifice. I could not wait to see how God would use me in Madagascar. Although I was excited to go preach the word of God, I had mixed feelings. A part of me doubted that this was real; that God actually wanted to use me to tell others about His love. I thought about the people I would meet and wondered if they would like me. Would someone really give their life to God just by listening to me? These little doubts haunted me more and more.

Just a few days before my group’s departure, like a bright light, a situation arose. My passport would expire less than six months after my return to the states, causing me trouble according to a new airline policy. I did not have enough time and money to get a new passport. I prayed for God to help me, as I looked for my passport in a designated folder, the only place it could possibly be. I looked, and could not find it. I looked again, and it was not there. I was in distress to think all the money and effort invested into this trip would go to waste. During this time I cried out to God. I would not be able to travel.

I continued to pray and received a phone call of encouragement from the Florida Conference. This person had heard of the mission trip and called to pray with me and another friend who was also going. This gave me peace and I felt relief somehow. Then I found my passport…in the same placed I had looked for it before, twice. It was not expired. At this point I was content with the will of God (no matter the outcome), because He had already begun to teach me a life transforming lesson. Service is about Him. Not necessarily about me going to serve (although it pleases Him), but about Him using me for Him to be seen and heard by those that must be saved.

God’s plans always persevere, but I had to learn what God’s plan was not. My mindset changed completely. “This is not a vacation with your friends; it’s a divine privilege and calling from God to tell people about a real Savior.” While preaching in Madagascar, God continued to teach me. When at my site there were power outages many times, even with a generator. My translator and I began to sing with the lights and electricity gone. All of a sudden an overwhelming peace took over me. Then a song “The Heart of Worship” came to my mind. As I sang this song, no one watching and barely anyone hearing me…I finally understood.

“It’s ALL about You, Jesus.” I prayed for God to keep the lights of so I could finish praising Him, and the lights came on as soon as the song was over. I learned that God does not need me to tell others about Him. Out of His love He chooses to use His children. I did not need to be an amazing public speaker, know the Bible completely, or save anyone. It was all God’s job. He chooses, those who answer the call go, and God equips them. They must allow themselves to be broken, emptied, and used by God. It is only the Holy Spirit who saves and transforms. He is the reason we preach, we sing, we move, we have our being. He is worthy of more than we could ever offer. He has all power in His hands. He reigns supreme. He is breathe and life. He is love. He says we should remain in Him and His love, and we will bear much good fruit. Service or anything we do. It is ALL about Jesus. Praise be to God!
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