It is never easy for a farmer when he is preparing land; removing rocks, and roots, and eventually leveling it all up ready to sow some seeds. And it doesn't help it either when some of the seed take months to germinate, and years and years of growing before they can produce the first bloom.
After attending a mission conference with Kenyan missionaries in Kenya a month ago, I couldn't hold myself still with the excitement of seeing and hearing what God is doing through Kenyans in Kenya. Great things are not just happening in Kenya, they are happening all over and around the world through people who have said yes.
I understand that most people's expectation on missionaries is to bring people to Christ - more about conversions. This is something very beautiful and all Christians, missionaries or not, should spread the Truth and the Love of Jesus to everybody. But one thing i have come to learn is that missionary life is not just an event, but a process that could take many years before seeing a seed germinate. Just like it's a process for us to become like Christ so is missions.
I listened to very interesting stories of missionaries who have been in an area for more than ten years and now it's when they are just starting to capture the attention of the local people. You wonder, "they haven't brought, not a soul to Christ"? Well, the truth is for ten years they have lived among these people learning their language and preaching Christ through their lifestyle -through their walk more than talk.
Pamoja is here not only to disciple individuals but to disciple different generations with media, to challenge people's lifestyles and culture so as to become true followers of Jesus Christ. The result we want to see will obviously take time. Just like some plants do. But we do not give up!
What should we do then in the meantime? I believe -and this applies to all of us- that we should start or continue to engage ourselves in meaningful conversation with people around us especially those that do not know Christ. It is time to listen and get involved in their stories. In listening, it's only logical that they would also want to hear our story. A much as conversions are necessary, let's ask ourselves, how many conversations have we initiated with our neighbors. As we have found out, this walk of faith is really a process rather than an event.
Conversations produce believers and more conversations produce disciples and teachers. We are the salt and the light of the earth. We represent Christ on earth.
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