Bigger Than Me
Phyllis Detherage

From the beginning of this journey, I was overwhelmingly amazed that God had allowed me to be a part of His work in Central Asia.  From the moment I read the notification that I was going to be part of the team; I was thrilled, scared, overwhelmed, and blessed beyond measure.  What could I do for God and what would God do to me through this experience?  Surprisingly enough, even after being home a week, I’m still discovering the answers to those questions.

There is no possible way to sum up all of our experiences in just a few words; but for me, the greatest joy was being part of something that was so much bigger than “me”.  God allowed me to see Him at work and even better, allowed me to join Him there.  (Thank Henry Blackaby for stating it so eloquently!)  That was a great reminder to me that I need to find that place here in America.  Yes, I work in church.  I teach Bible classes, sing, and play the piano; but there is more to God’s work than weekly routines.  It is about people.  It’s about touching lives with the love of God in a useful and needed way.  Maybe it’s about feeding the hungry, visiting those in prison, or clothing the naked.  Seems to me Jesus had something to say about those things, but for me, I was too busy at church.  Yes, the truth hurts, but it can also heal.

I was humbly reminded of the warmth and importance of fellowship.  The laughter and joy that rang around the supper table was heartwarming!  No one was rushing off to see the latest episode of their favorite television program or the score of the football game, just sweet fellowship.  What makes this really amazing is that often we didn’t even speak the same language as those we were sitting with, yet our spirits had fellowship one with another.  There was unity in our mission and purpose and joy in the fatigue; a job well done for the Lord.

Last but certainly not least was the prayer.  Often we say, “All I can do is pray,” yet that is the very best that we can do.  Prayer is not the last effort of a hopeless situation, but should be the first and most important preparation in any undertaking.  Again I was humbly reminded of how often I try to accomplish things for God in my own strength and just how foolish that is.  Great things are being done for God in Central Asia by a few ordinary people who bathe every move in prayer.  They recognize proudly that God’s “strength is made perfect in their weakness.”  They are not ashamed to request prayer.  They are not ashamed to share their needs and weaknesses.  They are not ashamed of the power of God that sustains them and motivates their every undertaking.

My time in Almaty, Kazakhstan is something that I will cherish and remember forever.  I will remember the faces of the children that for the first time in their lives received their very own copy of God’s word.  I will remember the people that for the first time, heard the message of the saving grace of Jesus Christ.  I will remember the selfless Christians who took us under their wings and allowed us to work along side of them for the glory of God’s kingdom.  I pray that I will always remember what God so graciously shared with me through this experience and that somehow, I’ll be able to share it with others.