One body

When Jesus came to earth, it brought together the people for one body. No matter where you came from or where you are going, following Jesus makes you a member of the body of Christ. How amazing is that? We get to live alongside each other and are not expected or told to do it alone. Actually the Bible is very clear that if you work alone that you are weaker than those who work together. Following Christ means fellowship and unity for one goal, to glorify God in everything we do say and stand for!
Ephesians 4:15-16 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
This week we got to participate in hands-on ministry for the first time since being here! On my team’s ( team naya ) second day we did ATL (ask the lord) and so we went into a strip of stores and listened to God on who we should talk to. Elise, my teammate, and I both felt drawn into this tiny antique/thrift store called Margies Attic. Right when we walked in we both went to the elderly lady at the one desk and quickly learned her name was Margie. For about 45 minutes Elsie and I learned a lot about Margies life. She is a mother of three and her husband passed away when her kids were pre-teens. She went on to tell us how she was laid off from her job as a middle school teacher, a job she got so she could be around her kids and have the same schedule as them. She had to pick up smaller jobs on the way and decided to take all of her old things and open up an antique store! She runs the store with her granddaughter and gets to hangout with her 14 month old great granddaughter all day while doing it. Margie shared about how she used to go to church with her husband, but after he passed it was so difficult for her to go back, but she knows that God is the only reason that she survived the grieving process as well as raising her kids, and grandkids. I am praying that Margies business can continue and bring in enough money to support those she’s still supporting at such an old age.
A few stores down we met Joyce. She is the owner of a bootique called Southern Magnolia. We learned that she and her husband lived in Jamaica (her husband worked for a poultry company and the business in Jamaica wanted his hands on help) for two years up until covid hit. During that time she had the opportunity to bless the woman, who to my understanding cleaned her house or worked for her husband’s company to some capacity. Everytime Joyce would come back to the states she would bring more things to Jamaica and was able to give most of it to this woman and her two kids. She explained that this woman’s living situation was living under tarps for a roof, one bed for the three of them and scarce meals. Even though Joyce said that she is not one who goes to church too often, it is still so clear that the holy spirit is working within her and guiding her to bless those around her. She even mentioned Margie is our conversation and how she hopes she is doing alright and wants the best for her. I am praying that her and her husband feel called to reach out to the woman in Jamaica again and check in on her. 
Yesterday me and my squad had a lake day and on the way back we went to Dairy Queen. In line we met Sandy. She was headed to the local high school football game, not because she knew anyone on the team, but rather because that’s what everyone does. My teammate Ceciley and I got to share all about the Worldrace and our upcoming trip! She told us how cool it was that our generation wasn’t all a dumpster fire that is going to ruin the world. Thanks? When we asked her how we could pray for her she was so taken aback. Sandy shared how her sister’s husband has been fighting cancer for many years and is losing his will to live, so prayers for her sister for her mental health and for him to find hope in living again! We asked her multiple times how we could pray for HER, not just others she loves. After a little bit of back and forth about how she is doing fine and lives a great life she gave in and told us that she only has one foot in the door. How she used to be a part of so many bible studies and did “ all the things”, but now only feels half committed to God. So prayers for Sandy that she can get back into her old routines 
My teammate Ella shared her testimony to our team this week. She shared that she is the youngest of 4 siblings, and two of them are adopted, but biological to each other. Hearing the stories of how her family navigated the differences of having two siblings from the same parents, and two from other parents, but being a part of one family. How through it God was a consent in their family! Now they get to celebrate life together as two of her siblings are married, and now Ella is going on a nine month mission trip! Prayers that Ella’s family gets continue to celebrate life together as a whole!
Lastly there is Abby who people also call Wally. She was born into a religion that her family no longer follows. She was raised with no talk of God in her house, but was told that she could do whatever she wanted and they would support her. In seventh grade she learned about God and how gracious and fun He was. Through her parents divorce, battles with depression and never really feeling like she belonged anywhere, she stayed firm in the knowledge of God’s love and approval of her. She knows that God is peace, joy, and love. Abby continues to shine a little differently than others as she is heading to Guatemala in two weeks, Florida tomorrow and all around the world this year. Prayers that she feels the courage to encourage those around her and that they really listen and hear how real the living God is!
The body of Christ is not a perfect person. It’s not lonely. It’s one family of brothers and sisters who all glorify the same God all over the Earth.
1 Corinthians 12:12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.